Cook County Board Meeting January 18, 2012

The County Board Room was filled to capacity with people protesting the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detainer Ordinance.  This observer arrived at 9:55 am and was denied entrance until 10:45 am due to overflow capacity in the chambers.  While the observer waited in line, Commissioner Garcia came out to address the crowd and promised that the policy wording would be returned to committee.

Formal observation began at 10:45.  All commissioners were present except Commissioner Suffredin.  It appeared there had been a series of resolutions concerning retirements and football before observation began.

The Finance Committee, a subcommittee of the whole, convened.  Commissioners Sims, Murphy and Collins voted against all payments to the attorneys working under the Shakman decree. The Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Takashi Reinbold, addressed the fretting about the Shakman decree by observing that the Sheriff’s office was in substantial compliance, and that the Forest Preserve and Recorder of Deeds were getting there quickly.  He predicted the Shakman expenditures would end soon for these offices.

2011 Cook County revenues overall are down $166.3 million relative to 2010.  Most of this is due to health revenues being down.  Without Stroger Hospital, revenue decline was just $9.5 million.

Cook County Health and Hospital Systems CEO Dr. Ramanathan Raju, declared he was embarrassed by the poor results.  He attributed the dramatic decline in revenues to several things:  the large increase in unemployed and no-insurance people seeking care at Stroger Hospital; the fact that Illinois State government had not yet paid $39 million in Medicaid payments to the system; and the financial consolidation of the three hospitals in the system. 

Physician billing just started December 1 where the hospital should get reimbursements from the highest value medical practitioners.  Dr. Raju reports that 28% of its Medicaid applications failed.  This points to the need for better training of personnel who put together the applications.

A 2014 rule in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will allow uninsured people who receive no Medicaid to get it.  Cook County is asking the federal government for a waiver to be able to sign people up early for Medicaid, as many large counties have already done this in Texas and California.  Currently 60% of Stroger’s in-patient and 85% of its out-patient populations are “self-pay/no-pay”, which essentially means Cook County will not be reimbursed for their care.

Commissioner Silvestri asked about the Price Waterhouse contract that has been ongoing.  The contract allows data entry personnel to be charged at $300 per hour.  Dr. Raju will definitely be eliminating the contract.  Commissioner Daley asked about Cook County receiving Medicaid monies directly from the federal government rather than have to wait for the state to make payments.  Comm. Daley remembered this was allowed in 1998.  Dr. Raju will investigate.

An amendment to the responsible bidder process, requiring that contractors pay fair wages, use responsible and trained workers, and other measures, was discussed. Commissioners Collins, Beavers, and Butler complained that the requirement for apprenticed labor eliminated many minorities.  Other commissioners voted to pass the amendment, arguing that even unions are hiring untrained cheaper workers.

After the Zoning Committee was convened by Commissioner Silvestri, the regular Board meeting agenda continued.

A Comcast agreement for all unincorporated Cook County franchise fees to be consolidated and to be paid to the County was approved.

A six month complete review of Bail Bonds by the Cook County Judicial Advisory Council to be presented back to the Board was approved.

Agenda Item 6 concerning charging parking fees at Cook County courthouse facilities, was returned to the Finance Committee for further review to make sure that excluded categories of individuals who would not have to pay parking were finalized.  Commissioners appeared to be in agreement that fees should be charged and disabled veterans and handicapped persons should be exempt.

There was much discussion about an amendment to the ICE detainer.  Commissioner Gorman objected to letting felons out on the street, and that Cook County has not honored ICE detainer requests and in several cases felons have been released and left the country.  Commissioner Garcia called for a roll call vote to send it back to Committee.  Commissioner Daley wanted to make sure the Sheriff can weigh in on what to do and how to respond.  Part and parcel of the ICE detainer requests from the Federal Government is the bail bond issue.  Comm. Murphy said that everyone should have an opportunity to post bond--if ICE wants Cook County to detain illegal immigrants they should pay Cook County to house them.  Comm. Schneider wanted to pass a decently amended ordinance.

President Preckwinkle reminded everyone that in this country people are innocent until proven guilty.

Commissioner Silvestri said we have an obligation to protect people and treat people equally.  The Board voted to send the Amendment to the Legislative Committee with only Commissioner Gorman opposed.

  

The Board approved joint code enforcement between the City of Chicago and the County.  Commissioner Fritchey pointed out that sometimes the City has instituted ordinances that “steal” income from the County.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:20pm.

--Submitted by Observer Amy Little