Logan County Board considers adopting consent agenda procedure

[February 20, 2017]  LINCOLN - On Thursday, February 16, 2017, the Logan County Board held their monthly workshop to discuss updates from the various committees and place motions on the agenda for Wednesday's Regular Board meeting.

One focus of discussion was the possibility of setting up a consent agenda to group together routine items.

Board Chairman Chuck Ruben said that at the United County Councils of Illinois meeting, it was brought up that a year-and-a-half ago, "it became legal for counties to have a consent agenda." He said, "Before, we were always told we could not have a consent agenda."

A consent agenda would allow the board to put some of the routine business items and reports into one item on the agenda rather than filing separate motions for each item.

Ruben asked the board about having a consent agenda, and said if they would want to do it, it would have to be by a unanimous vote to set it up. He said the second thing would be to determine what goes on the consent agenda.

Ruben said, "My feelings on it are that we could shorten our board meeting a little bit putting what we now do, [and do a] voice vote only on the consent agenda."

Ruben said, "What I envision is the first thing on our new board agenda would be the consent agenda and under there, it would list each thing on the consent agenda such as the raffles, county reports, and the treasurer's reports."

Ruben said if just one board member wanted a certain item on the consent agenda voted on, the item would be taken off the consent agenda and would go to a roll call vote for more discussion. He said, "I think the transparency will be there as long as we insist that it will be there."

Board member Kevin Bateman asked, "would we bring up consent agenda tonight, and if there is something on there that someone wants pulled out, we vote tonight so it is discussed and voted on, on Wednesday night?"

Ruben said the items on the consent agenda would not be from the committees, but would mainly be items such as raffles.

Board member Gene Rohlfs asked if there were reasons for consent agenda aside from saving time?

Ruben said it would mainly save time on a few items.

Bateman said they would not have to vote four times on four separate raffles because it would just be one voice vote.

Ruben said reports or raffles could be pulled out of the consent agenda if there is a question or controversy.

Ruben said the consent agenda would require a policy change and must be unanimous.
 
 Bateman asked whether they would need Jonathan Wright to write up a legal description.
 
 Ruben said it would not hurt for him to look the policy over.
 
 Ruben made a motion for adding the consent agenda item on the board policies and procedures. Bateman seconded the motion to bring language the board can vote on Wednesday night.
 
 Other committee updates
 
 Executive and Personnel Committee Chairman Emily Davenport would bring forward motions on Wednesday for resolutions to pass the Personnel Policy Manual, and Board Policies and Procedures the committee has been working on the past few months. She would also motion for approval of a new travel expense reimbursement form.
 
 Finance Chairman David Hepler said he would motion Wednesday for a four-year expenditure for highway department signage. The total for materials will be $75,000, which will be disbursed in the amounts of $20,000 for each of the first three years and $15,000 for the fourth year.
 
 The Logan County Board Regular would take place Wednesday, February 22 at 7 p.m. in the Logan County Courthouse.
 
 [Angela Reiners]