Meeting Events

Meeting: kuogzg3tcso.stephenson_county_il_administration_committee_meeting_05_13_26

Meeting date: 2026-05-13

Meeting type: administration_committee

This is a deterministic derived artifact, not official meeting minutes. Related records may be grouped for review while complete machine provenance remains in the JSON artifact.

Decisions and Votes

• Approval meeting minutes from April 8th — Passed

  • Summary: Motion to approve meeting minutes from April 8th.
  • Evidence: “4.0 approval meeting minutes from April 8th. Make a motion.”
  • Evidence: “All right. I’m going to go right along and and all those in favor say aye. Aye.”
  • Source timestamp: 00:49

• Approval of claims — Passed

  • Summary: Motion regarding approval of claims totaling $22,504.70.
  • Evidence: “So moved and approval of claims. Under here, I guess, $22,504.70.”
  • Evidence: “All right, all those in favor say aye. Aye. So moved.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:14

• Approval of addendum to agreement for DevNet maintenance — Passed

  • Summary: Motion made to approve the contract addendum for DevNet.
  • Evidence: “So I’m going to make a motion to approve it.”
  • Evidence: “all those in favor say aye. Aye.”
  • Source timestamp: 39:14

• Table Discussion on Burning Waste Ordinances — Passed

  • Summary: Motion made to table discussion until the following month due to too many unresolved issues.
  • Evidence: “I would like to make a motion just to table this until this. I agree. There’s just too many, too many what ifs, too many undefineable things at this point.”
  • Evidence: “I’d like to table it until next month. I agree. Hold a second though.”
  • Evidence: “All in favor say aye. Aye. That one, Ms. Hayes first. Mr. Proctor. Yep.”
  • Source timestamp: 43:37

• Table Committee Motion

  • Summary: Motion to table the matter until next month was made.
  • Evidence: “All those in favor say aye. Aye.”

• Motion to table discussion item — Tabled

  • Summary: A motion was made regarding a topic, which was subsequently tabled until the next month.
  • Evidence: “So, yeah. Okay, so we got a motion in a second, right? All those in favor say aye.”
  • Evidence: “Aye. So that’s tabled till next month or until we have, we’ll talk about it next month as well.”
  • Source timestamp: 50:04

• Approval of engagement letter with Lowenbaum’s law

  • Summary: A motion was made to approve the engagement letter with Lowenbaum’s law.
  • Evidence: “I’m going to make a motion to approve this one. Second.”
  • Evidence: “All those in favor say aye. Aye.”
  • Source timestamp: 51:55

• Adjournment — Passed

  • Summary: A motion was made to adjourn the meeting.
  • Evidence: “All right, make that motion. In a second, all those in favor say aye.”
  • Evidence: “Aye. Okay, thanks everyone, appreciate it.”
  • Source timestamp: 54:37

Procedural Actions

• Meeting Commencement and Prayer

  • Summary: The meeting of the Administration and Legal Affairs Committee was set for Wednesday, May 13th, 2026 at 5 PM.
  • Evidence: “We’re going to go ahead and get started with the meeting of the Administration and Legal Affairs Committee, Wednesday, May 13th, 2026 at 5 PM”
  • Source timestamp: 00:00

• Approval of agenda

  • Summary: The motion to approve the agenda was made.
  • Evidence: “3.0 Approval of agenda. All right. All those in favor say aye.”
  • Source timestamp: 00:49

• Comments period opening

  • Summary: The body proceeded to the comments section.
  • Evidence: “Let’s move on to 5.0 Approval, or excuse me, Comments, 6.0 Publish Comments.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:41

• Committee Motion to Table and Conclude Discussion

  • Summary: The committee motion was formally moved and seconded.
  • Evidence: “That’s the pleasure of the committee’s motion to table and concoct that case. I’ll second that one.”
  • Source timestamp: 49:01

Financial and Contract Events

• Short-term Investments Placed This Week

  • Summary: The speaker placed an additional $2.7 million in short-term investments this week.
  • Evidence: “This week, I placed another 2.7 million in short-term investments.”
  • Source timestamp: 21:48

• Extra funds request for DevNet upgrade — Approved

  • Summary: The speaker requested approval for extra funds for the upgrade from the 2012-6 budget, which involves four equal payments.
  • Evidence: “You’d ask him to get approved the extra funds for the upgrade for the 2012-6 budget. As you can see, the extra money is on charge. One year, excuse me, one year over four equal payments.”
  • Source timestamp: 37:42

Presentations and Reports

• County Treasurer’s Report: Financial Status and Investments

  • Summary: The County Treasurer reported that aggregate receipts increased by over 23,000 from the previous month (last month was 33,000 from the previous month). Total County Funds were down just 1.68% compared to March’s month end. The treasurer also noted receiving decent interest of over $82,000 from eight investment vehicles in April.
  • Evidence: “the aggregate receipts increased by over 23,000 from the previous month. And then last month was 33,000 from the previous month… If you flip to page five, you will see that as of the end of the month, Total County Funds were down just 1.68% compared to March’s month end.”
  • Source timestamp: 20:25

• Investment Vehicles and Interest Earnings

  • Summary: As of the end of April, there were 17 investments across 10 different County funds with maturity days between now and next April.
  • Evidence: “So as of the end of April, we have 17 investments in place across 10 different County funds, maturity days between now and next April.”
  • Source timestamp: 21:37

• Tax Bill Redesign and Mailing Details

  • Summary: The tax bill redesign allowed for additional space to include answers to commonly asked questions and allows printing in full color.
  • Evidence: “The tax bill redesign, which I gave you all each an example here, allowed us not only to satisfy some new state requirements as to what must be on the back side. … I’m really excited about being able to print in full color.”
  • Source timestamp: 23:44

• Annual Tax Sale Date

  • Summary: The annual tax sale will take place on the day following the final tax payment deadline.
  • Evidence: “followed the next day by the annual tax sale.”
  • Source timestamp: 25:54

• County Clerk Report Status

  • Summary: The County Clerk has a resent report scheduled for next month.
  • Evidence: “County Clerk, she got a resented report next month here.”
  • Source timestamp: 28:11

• County Clerk report status

  • Summary: The County Clerk has a report next month, and there were no immediate issues noted.
  • Evidence: “All right, so let’s see here. County Clerk, she got a resented report next month here. So I don’t think there’s any.”
  • Source timestamp: 28:11

• Supervisor of Assessment report status

  • Summary: The Supervisor of Assessment will send a standardizing report and noted that seven townships (Jefferson, Warren, Aaron, Kent, West Point, Bottoms, and Winslow) need reassessment, with three or four more to be reassessed.
  • Evidence: “And then the other one to think of was the supervisor of assessment, seven points range. And he’ll also send in a report that’s pretty much standardizing. He’s has a new employee, he’s learning fast and fitting into the office very well. And she’s doing the same work she can. They’ve got seven townships that need to be reassessed, including Jefferson, Warren, Aaron, Kent, West Point, Bottoms, and Winslow. And then three or four townships will be reassessing”
  • Source timestamp: 28:25

• County Administrator report status

  • Summary: The County Administrator has a report attached to the agenda.
  • Evidence: “7.4, County Administrator, I’ve got a report to. There’s the attachment on the agenda.”
  • Source timestamp: 29:26

• IT Department updates (STQL server and PC box)

  • Summary: The IT department confirmed that everything is ironed out on the new STQL 1 server and installed a new GAL PC box in the circuit clerk’s office for public use.
  • Evidence: “I think we finally got everything ironed out on the new STQL 1 server. Been working with some vendors on regards to that… I installed a new gal PC box in the circuit clerk’s office for the public.”
  • Source timestamp: 32:05

• IT Department contract and network upgrades

  • Summary: The IT department is beginning to re-up contracts for the next year, including ticketing system or Microsoft office quotes, and planning proactive network switch upgrades.
  • Evidence: “Just moving into a lot of this is kind of the season where I start re-upping our contracts for the next year, as far as the ticketing system or Microsoft office. We’ll go off for the quote and see what that’s going to come back.”
  • Source timestamp: 33:09

• County Boardroom Courthouse network repair

  • Summary: The IT department successfully traced and removed a bottleneck in the County Boardroom Courthouse network, ensuring last month’s meeting ran without issues.
  • Evidence: “County Boardroom. Courthouse network has just been a mess from the beginning of time… Believe I removed that bottleneck, did a bunch of testing and last month’s meeting finally went off without a hitch.”

• Contract addendum for DevNet

  • Summary: The Supervisor of Assessments presented the contract addendum for DevNet, noting an upgrade is needed to use the system.
  • Evidence: “Angie, the Supervisor of Assessments, headed bottom of her report. It is the contract addendum for DevNet. I need the upgrade in order to use my system.”
  • Source timestamp: 37:32

• Approval of engagement letter with Lowenbaum’s law

  • Summary: The presentation covered the renewal of a current service contract with Mr. Lowenbaum, noting that council stated bidding was not required and that rates were potentially lower than current ones.
  • Evidence: “All right let’s go on 1-9.4 approval of engagement letter with Lowenbaum’s law. I have that contract as well as there’s an email from Georgia, if I can find it. Basically Mr. Lowenbaum has gone on his own and it’s a renewal of a current service. So council said we didn’t have to send this back out for like bid or everybody.”
  • Source timestamp: 50:45

Metrics

• County Investment Vehicles Status

  • Summary: As of the end of April, there were 17 investments in place across 10 different County funds.
  • Evidence: “So as of the end of April, we have 17 investments in place across 10 different County funds”
  • Source timestamp: 21:37

• Tax Bill Information Display

  • Summary: The redesigned bill includes a pie chart showing where tax dollars are going, which is intended to draw attention to the fine print.
  • Evidence: “So for the first time I could include that pie chart that we’ve had on our website in a while so people can really get a better feel for where their tax dollars are going.”
  • Source timestamp: 24:21

• Electronic Notice and Payment Dates

  • Summary: Electronic notices for bills will go out on May 26th, the same day they will be posted online.
  • Evidence: “Okay, electronic notices for the bills will go out on May 26th, which is the same day that I’m posting the bills online.”
  • Source timestamp: 25:01

• Tax Payment Options and Deadlines

  • Summary: Electronic payment options include all credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, PayPal credit, Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay, EFTs. The first installment is due June 26th, the second on September 4th, and the last day to pay taxes is November 9th.
  • Evidence: “Includes all credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, PayPal credit, Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay, EFTs. … First installment, these are the big dates, June 26th, first half is due then, second installment September 4th, last day to pay taxes will be November 9th”
  • Source timestamp: 25:54

Discussion

• Review of proposed amendments regarding burning permissions

  • Summary: A resident stated that the proposed amendments contradict existing law, noting that open burning is generally illegal in Illinois and requires strict IEPA permits.
  • Evidence: “The proposed amendments do quite the opposite. The Illinois burn ban rules, exemptions, and penalties spells out that even in counties where landscape waste burning is legal, local ordinances can impose additional restrictions or ban it entirely.”
  • Source timestamp: 08:52

• Township Participation for Investments

  • Summary: Getting consensus from township road supervisors to participate in investments is difficult because they are into their season.
  • Evidence: “And so previously I would ask Tony and Township Motor Fuel if we could really call theirs in. And now we can’t do that because we’re into, you know, their season, but sometimes with townships, there’s a little, you know, there are a lot of township road supervisors.”
  • Source timestamp: 22:23

• Tax Cycle Presentation Opportunity

  • Summary: The speaker plans to present on the tax cycle at the UCCI Leadership Academy next week.
  • Evidence: “Then I’m going to UCCI Leadership Academy to present on the tax cycle which everybody is fascinated by.”
  • Source timestamp: 26:41

• Website format walkthrough

  • Summary: The speaker noted that a how-to guide is always helpful because people get used to looking at different formats.
  • Evidence: “Is there a walkthrough of the new format on the website not yet I did not want to put the cart for the horse there so I kind of do that with how to pay the bill I have one of those two but kind of a arrow here’s what this is here’s what this that is in the works good as clearly as it is laid out a how-to is always”
  • Source timestamp: 27:37

• IT Department updates (Stevenson Nursing Center, Land Bank, etc.)

  • Summary: The IT department provided an update covering several items including Stevenson Nursing Center, R1 Land Bank, and various program rollouts.
  • Evidence: “Stevenson Nursing Center, the court continued to tune for the night, R1 Land Bank, Unplanned meeting schedule for 518, sick at Sean site 420,430 and 56. It’s in the packet, but was this for the YouTube folks, I guess.”
  • Source timestamp: 30:15

• IT Department historical challenges

  • Summary: The IT department noted that previous issues stemmed from multiple IT companies operating in the building without coordinating their work.
  • Evidence: “Yeah, it’s just trying to undo years of multiple IT companies being in the building and one didn’t report to the other what they were doing.”
  • Source timestamp: 34:59

• AI usage policy and ADA upgrades status

  • Summary: The AI usage policy is pending final approval from liability insurance, and the revised ADA upgrade approval can be taken off the agenda for now.
  • Evidence: “The AI usage policy, we’re going to table that again. I don’t know if our liability insurance has gotten a bunch of these at the reviewing, but it’s kind of in a backlog there as far as like their final approval on what I… The approval of the revised ADA upgrades I would say we can take that off the agenda for now.”
  • Source timestamp: 35:29

• Chairman Helms follow-up regarding vendor contact

  • Summary: Chairman Helms passed along a company recommendation, but it did not deal with government agencies.
  • Evidence: “Chairman Helms passed along a company that I looked into and they don’t deal with government agencies so they kicked me to someone else.”
  • Source timestamp: 36:05

• Liability insurance approval status

  • Summary: The speaker noted that the final approval for the liability insurance is pending review and should not be rushed until signed off on.
  • Evidence: “I don’t know if our liability insurance has gotten a bunch of these at the reviewing, but it’s kind of in a backlog there as far as like their final approval on what I, they made some requested changes to our last one and I re-sent them what they asked for and I was just asking for final approval I haven’t yet to get that. So until we do and we know that they’re signing off on it I would say that we don’t rush it and get there.”
  • Source timestamp: 35:29

• ADA upgrades agenda item status

  • Summary: The speaker suggested taking the approval of revised ADA upgrades off the agenda for now.
  • Evidence: “The approval of the revised ADA upgrades I would say we can take that off the agenda for now.”
  • Source timestamp: 35:59

• Mandated date extension for project

  • Summary: A mandated date has been extended by one year, setting it until April of 2028.
  • Evidence: “But in the meantime, the mandated date for this has been extended a year. So now we are out till April of 2028.”
  • Source timestamp: 36:13

• AI related item status

  • Summary: The speaker asked to bring back the AI thing if it does not get off the agenda.
  • Evidence: “And then, uh, if it doesn’t look like the AI thing is going to get that off there as well, just bring it back.”
  • Source timestamp: 36:49

• DevNet payment schedule details

  • Summary: The speaker detailed the payment structure: approximately $900 in January, followed by alternating payments of $48 and $55 up until October 26.
  • Evidence: “So that’ll be there talking about. The bottom here is the numbers now. It looks like we have four payments here, approximately 900 in January, and then 48, 55, 48, 55, 48, 55, up until October 26, if I remember right, the increase on, actually next year is even lower.”
  • Source timestamp: 37:56

• Future DevNet cost increases

  • Summary: The speaker noted that there were no increases projected for 2028 or 2029.
  • Evidence: “So, and then 2028 was basically no increase either. So, and then 2029 was no increase either.”
  • Source timestamp: 38:44

• Code amendment scope clarification

  • Summary: A speaker clarified that the subject matter is an administration code, not a zoning code.
  • Evidence: “I just want to start off. This is not a zoning code. This is an administration. It’s been stated that it’s zoning. It’s not.”
  • Source timestamp: 40:12

• IEPA guidance on waste burning

  • Summary: The speaker relayed information from Corey Jacobson of the IEPA regarding landscape waste burning, noting a change in requirements for counties with less than 50,000 population.
  • Evidence: “Mr. Jacobson did reply back to me and stated, if the county has less than 50,000 in population, a company can bring landscape waste to their place of business and burn.”
  • Source timestamp: 41:53

• Code amendment history regarding business ownership

  • Summary: The speaker explained that the zoning department previously removed ‘business owner’ from the code because EPA stated only on-property burning was allowed, but this has since been changed back.
  • Evidence: “Back in 2024, the zoning department went through the ZBA and we removed business owner from that portion of the code because the EPA stated at that time, business owners were not allowed to haul in. They were only to burn what was generated on the property. So after receiving this email from Mr. Jacobson, I went ahead and changed it back to what we had as business owned.”
  • Source timestamp: 42:13

• Business licensing requirement for waste burning

  • Summary: The speaker clarified that Stephenson County does not require a license for property owners regarding business operations.
  • Evidence: “I do for property owners that call me and say, hey, does this person have a license? We know Stephenson County does not require a license. I’ll do that for them.”
  • Source timestamp: 43:12

• Business Licensing Requirements

  • Summary: Stephenson County does not require a license for businesses; the Secretary of State handles licensing.
  • Evidence: “We know Stephenson County does not require a license. I’ll do that for them.”
  • Source timestamp: 43:19

• Public Concerns Regarding Burning Waste

  • Summary: A resident expressed severe concern over burning landscape waste, noting personal health issues (severe asthma) and citing instances where neighbors burned appliances.
  • Evidence: “I have asthma, severe asthma, and I close my windows when my husband burns out in the yard. … If he’s burning something other than landscape waste, if he is burning appliances, my neighbor burned appliances, we called the sheriff.”

• Enforcement Authority for Burning Waste

  • Summary: Multiple county offices (Environmental Health, City office, Animal Control, Sheriff’s Department) were mentioned as potential bodies to write citations.
  • Evidence: “Our code states that any environmental health could write a ticket. My office could write a ticket of city, so please animal control. I am not aware of- The sheriff’s department.”
  • Source timestamp: 45:12

• EPA Regulations on Burning Waste

  • Summary: The discussion noted confusion regarding EPA requirements for burning waste, referencing old verbiage dating back to 1982 and confirming that an air-curtain incinerator is no longer required by the EPA.
  • Evidence: “I can find these back to 1982. So they have an updated thing, so it’s confusing for anybody.”
  • Source timestamp: 46:09

• Illegal waste disposal activities

  • Summary: Discussion regarding illegal commercial waste and landscaping disposal practices.
  • Evidence: “Well, if a business is doing that. Commercial waste and landscaping, that’s what we’re talking about. Right. And that’s why it’s there. So anything other than that is EPA and Sheriff’s Department right away. That’s. Yeah. That’s definitely illegal right now.”
  • Source timestamp: 49:57

• Committee interest and community engagement

  • Summary: A committee member noted the high level of community interest regarding seemingly mundane but important issues.
  • Evidence: “I’d just like to say, kind of reflecting on the past few months, for being the paperwork committee, we’re getting a lot of interest from the community. I think that’s really interesting, really good.”
  • Source timestamp: 52:25

• Community assistance after tornadoes

  • Summary: A speaker thanked people who helped with cleanup and debris removal following recent tornadoes.
  • Evidence: “I was thinking about saying something Thursday night, too, I mean, we had several tornadoes go through, you know, we had one or two city and then Lena and it was just amazing with all the people that came in and helped.”
  • Source timestamp: 53:14

• Thanking attendees for input

  • Summary: A speaker thanked Adam for providing a perspective on the paperwork committee’s work.
  • Evidence: “And Nate. It’s wonderful to get a perspective like Adam said. I mean, we don’t, we sit here in the paperwork committee and we don’t get a lot of feedback.”
  • Source timestamp: 54:10

Public Comment

• Concerns regarding burning ordinance language changes (Agenda Items 9.2 and 9.3)

  • Summary: Karen Fletcher voiced concerns about proposed language changes in the burning ordinance, specifically questioning the definition of ‘same regulations and restrictions’ applicable to other waste and the broad repeal clause.
  • Evidence: “Good evening, my name is Karen Fletcher and I’m here to voice my concerns and objections regarding agenda items 9.2 and 9.3 under the business regarding the earning ordinance language changes.”
  • Source timestamp: 02:12

• Concerns regarding burning ordinance language changes (Agenda Items 9.2 and 9.3)

  • Summary: Karen Fletcher questioned the county’s intent, benefit, and enforcement mechanisms for proposed changes to the burning ordinance, citing negative impacts on residents.
  • Evidence: “Specifically asking and respectfully asking you to the following questions. What is the county’s intent with these proposed changes? And what does the county gain from these proposed changes?”
  • Source timestamp: 04:03

• Request to table burning ordinance discussion

  • Summary: Karen Fletcher requested that agenda items 9.2 and 9.3 be tabled until a future meeting allowing for more research, thought, and collaborative discussion.
  • Evidence: “Respectfully requesting that these agenda items to be tabled with you today and laid over to a future meeting where more research thought and collaborative discussion can be held.”
  • Source timestamp: 04:58

• Concerns regarding burning ordinance language changes (Agenda Items 9.2 and 9.3)

  • Summary: Jack Zaznowski urged the committee to postpone, delay, or dismiss any vote on proposed ordinance changes until additional research and public discussions occur.
  • Evidence: “My name is Jack Zaznowski and to the members of the Administration and Legal Affairs Committee regarding agenda items 9.2 and 9.3. We respectfully urge the committee to postpone, delay or dismiss any vote of these proposed ordinance changes until additional research and public discussions can take place regarding the potential impact on surrounding neighborhoods and residents through Stephenson County.”
  • Source timestamp: 06:10

• Concerns regarding burning ordinance language changes (Agenda Items 9.2 and 9.3)

  • Summary: Jack Zaznowski noted that the proposed amendment to chapter 224-3 would allow landscape waste burning by business owners, which he argued was a significant change with potential broad implications.
  • Evidence: “The proposed amendment to chapter 224-3 would expand the current ordinance language and allow landscape waste burning, not only on the sites where the waste is generated or at sites supervised by the local government, but also by quote unquote business owners.”
  • Source timestamp: 06:40

• Concerns regarding burning activities at Quarry property

  • Summary: A resident expressed concerns about unintended and unsupervised burning activities at the Quarry property owned by Zach Jeffrey, citing safety, air quality, nuisance conditions, and requesting a delay or dismissal of language expanding burning permissions.
  • Evidence: “As a nearby resident of the Quarry property owned by Zach Jeffrey, We already experienced concerns about burning activities at the site. Fires have been left unintended, unsupervised for extended periods of time, raising concerns about safety, air quality, nuisance conditions, and the overall impact on the neighboring properties. A quarry is not intended to function as a large scale burning site. We believe additional reviews are necessary before adopting any language that could substantially expand burning permissions for businesses across Stephenson County. Residents who may be affected deserve the opportunity for further transparency discussion and evaluation of long-term consequences for these changes. We respectfully ask the committee to delay or dismiss these actions until more research is done.”
  • Source timestamp: 06:59

• Public record request

  • Summary: A resident requested that all notes be entered into the public record.
  • Evidence: “And I would like to have all of our notes entered into the public record in the meeting notes. Thank you.”
  • Source timestamp: 07:54

• Illegal burning activities at Fairview Quarry by Zach Jeffrey

  • Summary: A resident detailed instances of illegal burning by Zach Jeffrey at the abandoned Fairview Quarry, including burning trade waste without required EPA permits and citing health impacts.
  • Evidence: “My case in point is Zach Jeffries. As you know, he’s the new owner of the once non-operational, a. Non-operational abandoned Fairview Quarry. He has blatantly ignored the laws and EPA requirements… This trade waste was conducted without a required EPA permits or use of an air curtain destructor.”
  • Source timestamp: 09:54

• Liability concerns regarding property damage from burning

  • Summary: A resident questioned whether the County could assure that Zach Jeffrey had insurance to cover potential civil lawsuits for property damage or injury resulting from burning, or if the County would assume liability.
  • Evidence: “Can the County assure us that Zach has insurance to cover this? Or is the County assuming the liability as you choose to allow this?”
  • Source timestamp: 11:20

• Concerns about proposed ordinance and prior warnings regarding quarry burning

  • Summary: A resident noted that a new county burn ordinance was introduced without public awareness, referencing previous concerns about unattended burning at the quarry.
  • Evidence: “At the April 6th, 26 planning and development meeting, I spoke reference ongoing concerns of Zach Jeffries not abiding by legal requirements and procedures… The next day on April 7th, that one Amazonian director began working on a new county burn ordinance and within two weeks was requesting it being put on tonight’s agenda for approval. Citizens were not made aware.”
  • Source timestamp: 12:59

• Hazardous accumulation of logs at quarry site

  • Summary: A resident reported that Zach Jeffrey built an extremely large pile of logs near a lane, posing a major fire hazard.
  • Evidence: “Yesterday morning, Zach Jeffrey, obviously a retaliation, spent quite some time building an extremely large pile of Loggs, approximately 20 to 30 foot from my lane. It’s about 25 to 30 foot high and 50 foot in circumference.”
  • Source timestamp: 13:53

• Concerns regarding proposed burn ordinance and fire hazard from large log pile

  • Summary: A resident expressed concern about a large pile of logs built by Zach Jeffrey, citing it as a major fire hazard if lit. The speaker also criticized the lack of enforcement against Jeffrey for violations and stated that the prospective burn ordinance is detrimental without coefficients or exceptions added to ordinance 224-6.
  • Evidence: “Yesterday morning, Zach Jeffrey, obviously a retaliation, spent quite some time building an extremely large pile of Loggs, approximately 20 to 30 foot from my lane. It’s about 25 to 30 foot high and 50 foot in circumference. Should he light it, we would not have ingress of egress and that’s a major fire hazard.”
  • Source timestamp: 13:53

• Concerns regarding zoning ordinance changes and waste burning permits

  • Summary: A resident expressed displeasure with the rapid changes to zoning ordinances 224-4 and 224-3, noting definitions are lacking. The speaker questioned if a business owner could burn commercial or landscape waste on their property and raised concerns about limitations for hauling waste into Stephenson County.
  • Evidence: “I’m here to discuss my displeasure with the rapidity in which the changes to zoning ordinance is 224-4 and 224-3 are being requested. In looking at the ordinances, definitions are definitely lacking.”
  • Source timestamp: 16:05

• Request for delay on voting regarding burn ordinance

  • Summary: The speaker respectfully requested that the committee delay voting on approval of the burn ordinance until after they have time to evaluate it clearly and asked for a transcript of their comments to be included in the minutes.
  • Evidence: “So I respectfully request that you guys delay voting on approval of this until after we’ve had time to evaluate it clearly. And if you would put a transcript of my comments into the minutes.”
  • Source timestamp: 18:29