Cook County Board Meeting October 2, 2013

All Commissioners were in attendance.  The Finance Committee met early and passed the following which was later approved by the Board of Commissioners as a whole:

• Amended the Code of Ethical Conduct to add that appointees of or those requiring approval of the Commissioners shall not serve on the political fundraising committee of any elected official or candidate for County office.  And the Code now limits the contribution amount up to, but not exceeding, $1,500 in a candidacy year by appointees to county positions.
• Amended the Rules of Organization to require a signed and notarized affidavit from Presidential appointees or reappointees attesting to their ability to fulfill the requirements of the position.  [Outgrowth of the Metra Board resignation after it was learned a Metra Board member no longer lived in the area he was supposed to be representing].

Health & Hospital Systems CEO, Dr. Raju, reported that 107,000 applications for CountyCare have been received by Cook County under the Affordable Care Act.  The goal is 115,000 by the end of the year.  His 2013 budget projected 56,000 application approvals, and 41,000 have been received from the State of Illinois to date.  Dr. Raju is encouraged that the State is now processing 500 applications per work day–almost an 100% increase--due to staff hiring.

The Commissioners approved a resolution requiring all employees within President Preckwinkle’s office to receive cyber security training.

The Commissioners moved the following to various committees for consideration:

• Concealed Carry Enforcement sent to Law Enforcement Committee.
• Amendment to allow for public camping and the privatization of equipment rentals in/on certain Forest Preserve lands sent to Building and Zoning Committee. 
•  Amendment to create an intergovernmental task force to reduce crime committed by persons with mental illness and/or substance abuse sent to the Criminal Justice Committee. 
•  Amendment to create a Cook County jail diversion program for mentally ill and/or substance abuse detainees or arrestee sent to Legislative & Intergovernmental Relations Committee.  The program’s goal is to intercede prior to a detainee landing in jail and/or the bond courts.  [Note:  per Sheriff Dart on TV’s September 29, 2013 60 Minutes, the CC jail system has 2,500 inmates that are mentally ill and require care].

Submitted by Diane Edmundson