October 7, 2019

ISACo News and Views

This Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) weekly News and Views e-newsletter reports on ISACo's participation in a Property Tax Relief Task Force Subcommittee hearing, provides updates regarding recreational cannabis legalization, announces that October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, links to a press release concerning off-highway vehicle project grants, provides a link to a new White House resource concerning Opportunity Zones, includes an opportunity to attend a water and wastewater collaboration summit, highlights an ISACo corporate partner and invites counties to join ISACo. 2019 Spring Session Resources ISACo's summary of the major legislative issues addressed during the 2019 Spring legislative session is available via this link. ISACo's 2019 Public Acts - 2019 report is available via this link. Please visit our website (www.isacoil.org) for additional resources and information.

ISACo Participates in Property Tax Relief Task Force Subcommittee Hearing ISACo was invited by legislators to participate in a hearing of the Property Tax Relief Task Force’s School Funding and School Property Tax Subcommittee that was held on Tuesday, October 1, 2019, at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago. ISACo extends much appreciation to Kane County Supervisor of Assessments Mark Armstrong, Kane County Supervisor of Tax Extension John Emerson, Jr., Will County Tax Extension Supervisor Brit Hitchins, Lake County Tax Extension Supervisor Kipp Wilson, Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi and the Cook County President’s Office for attending and offering technical expertise to the subcommittee. Photos from the hearing are available via this link. ISACo has dedicated a page on our website to information about the Property Tax Relief Task Force. This information includes official ISACo activities and correspondence with Task Force members. The webpage is available via this link.

Cannabis Legalization Update Next Round of Adult Use Cannabis License Applications Announced The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced that applications for adult use cannabis licenses for new dispensing organizations are now available on the Department’s website. The applications will be accepted by the Department beginning on December 10, 2019, and must be submitted by 12:00 p.m. on January 2, 2020. Applications will start being reviewed following the January 2 deadline, with seventy-five conditional adult use dispensing organization licenses awarded by May 1, 2020. The IDFPR press release with additional information is available via this link. Disproportionately Impacted Areas Identified for Social Equity Applicants The State of Illinois has also identified disproportionately impacted areas for the cannabis program’s social equity applicants. T he Pritzker Administration is releasing maps that designate which parts of the state qualify as “disproportionately impacted areas” for social equity applicants. More than 2 million Illinoisans live in the 683 Census tracts that make up the disproportionately impacted areas. The map is available via this link.

October Proclaimed Cyber Security Awareness Month in Illinois Governor Pritzker proclaimed October as Cyber Security Awareness Month in Illinois to recognize the importance of raising cyber awareness and to help Illinoisans stay safe and secure online. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is joining with the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT), as well as county and municipal emergency management agencies, to increase awareness of online risks and provide tips on what people can do to prevent problems and maintain the security of cyberspace. A press release with more information is available via this link.

Off-Highway Vehicle Project Grants Announced The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced $580,237 in grant funding that will allow for development and improvements for public access to off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation at four OHV parks in Illinois. A press release with more information is available via this link.

White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council Launches Website The White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council has introduced a new resource for all stakeholders working with the Opportunity Zones initiative. The new Opportunity Zones website ( available via this link ) will serve as a clearinghouse for information about Opportunity Zones and features an interactive map of all 8,764 Opportunity Zones across the United States. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act established Opportunity Zones to incentivize long-term investments in low-income communities across the country. These incentives offer capital gains tax relief to investors for new investment in designated Opportunity Zones. Opportunity Zones are anticipated to spur $100 billion in private capital investment.  More than 8,760 communities in all 50 States, the District of Columbia and 5 Territories have been designated as Opportunity Zones. Nearly 35 million Americans live in communities designated as Opportunity Zones. An estimated  45%  of designated opportunity zones are located in rural census tracts.

Water and Wastewater Collaboration Summit The Rural Community Assistance Partnership and Great Lakes Community Action Partnership are holding a Regional Collaboration Summit in Springfield, IL on October 9-10. The Summit will engage stakeholders that include elected and appointed government officials, state and federal agency staff and others that play a role in water and wastewater utility management.  A variety of speakers will examine the benefits of regionalization and shared services, impediments and barriers to its implementation and potential incentives and programs offered.  The summit agenda and registration information are  available via this link.

Corporate Partner Spotlight This week's  News and Views  e-newsletter highlights ISACo's partnership with Christopher B. Burke Engineering.  Started in 1986, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD. is a full-service consulting engineering and surveying firm specializing in civil, transportation/highway, municipal, traffic, construction, water resources, environmental, structural and mechanical engineering. The company provides not only design services, but also planning, preliminary engineering, permitting, and construction observation. Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD. successfully completed the design, permitting and construction of numerous major transportation projects, flood control reservoirs, pump stations, embankments, water mains and water systems, storm sewers, and large open channels. More information about the services provided by Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD. is  available via this link. Click on this link  to learn more about the benefits and opportunities available through ISACo's Corporate Partner Program.

The Key to ISACo's Success is YOU! Is your county a member of ISACo? If not, why not? ISACo is a statewide association whose mission is to empower county officials to provide excellent service to their residents. ISACo member counties are comprised of forward-thinking public servants who recognize that the challenges confronting county governments require new and innovative ideas, collaborative solutions and collective advocacy at the state and federal levels of government. Members of the association will benefit from education and training opportunities, peer-to-peer networking, shared resources and robust representation before policymakers at various levels of government. ISACo creates and connects county officials to these opportunities and successfully equips them to make counties ideal places to live, work and play. If your county is interested in discussing membership in ISACo, please contact Executive Director Joe McCoy at (217) 679-3368 or jmccoy@isacoil.org. Thank you for your consideration.

News and Views is a service provided by ISACo for county officials and staff. Please feel welcome to share with interested parties. You can contact ISACo Executive Director Joe McCoy at jmccoy@isacoil.org or (217) 679-3368 if we can be of service. Thank you for your support of ISACo.