Cook County Board Meeting July 13, 2010

The meeting was presided over by President Pro-tem Moreno as President Stroger was not present.

Ms. Eden Hurd was appointed to the Cook County Housing Authority to take the place of James Jones for a term to expire on 6/1/15.

The Cook County Dept. of Revenue received the 2010 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award for modernization of the collection process for Home Rule Taxes. The same award was given to Cook County Facilities Management for doing a good job of maintaining County Facilities. Several Unsung Heroine Awards were given to women who were recognized for altruistic activities in the county. Commissioner Silvestri received Oak Leyden Services President's Award for his efforts in assisting disabled adults to move to appropriate housing, thereby avoiding having to be institutionalized.

Commissioners Gorman, Moreno and Murphy submitted a proposal for the audio and video recording of the Cook County Health and Hospitals Board meetings. The proposal passed.

An amendment regarding the posting of the Cook County Board Meeting Agenda and the time lines pertaining to items being placed on the agenda was moved to the Rules Committee.

A proposal passed requiring the Cook County Health and Hospitals System to reward 35% of contracts to minority or women owned companies.

The Assessor's Office had a large printing bill for materials advising senior citizens that their tax exemptions would not be renewed automatically. The request was approved as the exemptions needed to be verified.

An item was passed prohibiting towns and villages other than Ford Heights from using Cook County Sheriffs Police in lieu of their own police departments. The Sheriff will police Ford Heights as the town has no funding for police services, but the cost of same for other villages will not be paid by the County in order to discourage this practice.

--Submitted by Beverly Graham