We hope you enjoyed your Labor Day Weekend and ISACo is thankful for the hard working men and women who built and continue to build our nation.
This Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) weekly
News and Views e-newsletter highlights an ISACo legislative breakfast event in Tazewell County, contains information about legislation signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker, reports on the Governor's federal disaster declaration request to assist counties and residents afflicted by the massive spring flooding, links to a press release announcing issuance of the first "same site" adult use cannabis licenses, reports on the approval of applications to establish or renew 14 enterprise zones in 2020, highlights federal legislation concerning local zoning authority for small cell wireless network facilities,
provides a final notice
about a funding opportunity for local governments to assist with their 2020 census counts 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.
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ISACo Hosts Legislative Breakfast in Tazewell County
ISACo and Tazewell County Board Chairman (and ISACo Board Member) David Zimmerman hosted a legislative breakfast for area county chairmen in East Peoria on Tuesday, August 27.
The meeting was attended by Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL18) and State Senator David Koehler (D-Peoria) who provided federal and state legislative updates.
ISACo is committed to bringing county officials and their state and federal legislators together to dialogue about issues of concern to counties and their residents.
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Governor Pritzker Signs Bills into Law
Governor JB Pritzker signed the following bills of interest to counties into law:
HB 2124 (P.A. 101 - 0459) - Permissible Closed Meetings
The new law (
available via this link
) provides that a public body may hold a closed meeting to consider the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body. Effective August 23, 2019.
SB 397 (P.A. 101 - 0581) - Court Reporter Salary and Bargaining
The new law (
available via this link
) allows state-paid court reporters to be paid more than what is currently set in statute, and allows court reporters of individual circuits to unionize in lieu of bargaining on a statewide basis. Effective January 1, 2020.
SB 1418 (P.A. 101 - 0584) - Bi-State Development Agency Appointments
The new law (
available via this link
) ensures that appointments to the Bi-State Development Agency represent local governments that contract with the agency and pay for the agency’s services. Effective January 1, 2020.
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Governor Pritzker Requests Federal Disaster Declaration
Governor JB Pritzker officially requested federal assistance following the rampant flooding in Illinois that began in February 2019.
The request specifically names 22 counties for Individual Assistance and 32 counties for Public Assistance. If approved, the federal disaster declaration would make the named counties eligible for grants and loans to assist with storm-related expenses.
The counties for which Individual Assistance has been requested are as follows: Adams, Alexander, Calhoun, Carroll, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jackson, Jersey, Knox, Madison, Mercer, Monroe, Peoria, Pike, Randolph, Rock Island, Stephenson, Union, Whiteside, Winnebago, and Woodford counties.
The counties for which Public Assistance has been requested are as follows: Adams, Alexander, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Fulton, Greene, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jackson, Jersey, Knox, LaSalle, Lee, Madison, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Peoria, Pike, Randolph, Rock Island, Schuyler, Scott, St. Clair, Stephenson, Tazewell, Union, Whiteside, and Winnebago counties.
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IDFPR Announces Initial "Same Site" Adult Use Cannabis Licenses
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced the first "same site" adult use cannabis licenses. These licenses will allow existing medical cannabis dispensaries to obtain an adult use dispensing license.
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Enterprise Zones Approved for 2020
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced that the Enterprise Zone Board has approved 14 applications to establish or renew enterprise zones in 2020.
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NACo Federal Issue Highlight - Local Control Over Small Cell Zoning
On September 26, 2018, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) approved a new 5G wireless network deployment that significantly restricts local authority. The FCC decision not only limits fees local governments can assess telecommunications companies for the placement of wireless service facilities, but it also constrains local governments to 60 days to evaluate applications from wireless companies to attach 5G small cells to existing structures and 90 days to review applications for equipment on entirely new structures.
By narrowing the window for evaluating 5G deployment applications, the FCC rule would prevent local governments from property assessing and mitigating the impact broadcasting facilities may have on the public health, safety and welfare of a community. 5G's reliance on a large network of small cell sites will place a considerable administrative strain on local governments' ability to process the exponential increase in applications for small cells from service providers.
On June 2, 2019, Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced legislation that would place limits on the authority of local governments to regulate the deployment of wireless communications infrastructure within local jurisdictions. The new legislation, titled the
Streamlining the Rapid Evolution and Modernization of Leading-edge Infrastructure Necessary to Enhance Small Cell Deployment Act
, or
STREAMLINE Small Cell Deployment Act
for short, would essentially codify the FCC's recent ruling which is currently embattled in the 10th Circuit Court.
The bill goes one step further than the FCC ruling by enacting a "deemed granted" provision which would allow service providers to place small cells on public property without approval if local governments are unable to process applications within the 60 or 90 day windows.
Simultaneously, Senator Diane Feinstein (D-California) and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA18) have introduced companion legislation (S. 2012 and H.R. 530 respectively) aimed at reversing the FCC's recent ruling.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Urge your member of Congress to support and cosponsor the
Accelerating Broadband Development by Empowering Local Communities Act of 2019
(H.R. 530) and the
Restoring Local Control Over Public Infrastructure Act of 2019
(S. 2012) that would effectively rescind the FCC's 5G order.
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2020 Census Funding Opportunity
Final Notice!
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced that it has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to maximize Illinois' success in the 2020 Census. IDHS will award grants to eligible community organizations and local governments to encourage a complete count in the 2020 Census.
The deadline for submitted applications is September 6, 2019 at 5:00 pm CT.
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The Key to ISACo's Success is YOU!
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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.
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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.
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