GREATER EGYPT REGIONAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
(GREATER EGYPT)
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION
MARCH 10, 2015
The Regular meeting of the Commission convened on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 7:03 p.m. at Commission
Office in Marion, Illinois.
Mr. Robinson introduced Jeff William, new representative from Jefferson County.
Commission Members Present: Jason Ashmore, Neil Hargis, Cindy Humm, Steve Leek (Franklin County);
Don Gass (West Frankfort); Bill Alstat, Robert Hopkins (Jackson County); Steve Draege, Jeff Williams (Jefferson
County) James Epplin, Fred Kelly, Brian Otten, Sam Robb (Perry County); Eric Pflanz (DuQuoin); Jim Marlo, Jeffery
Robinson (Williamson County).
Commission Members Absent: Gary Kraft (Benton); Robert Clodi (Rend Lake Conservancy District); Julie
Peterson, John Rendleman (Jackson County); Kevin Baity (Carbondale); Don Siefert (Kinkaid-Reeds Creek
Conservancy District); Steve Damron, Robert White (Jefferson County); Ron Neibert (Mt. Vernon); August Kellerman
(Pinckneyville); Ron Ellis, Darren Pulley (Williamson County); Mark T. Krones (Carterville); Steve Miller (Herrin);
Robert Butler (Marion); Gary Bartolotti (Assembly of Local Governments).
Staff Present: Cary M. Minnis, Executive Director; Jenny Richardson, Administrator; and Margie Mitchell,
Program Director.
Others Present: Mrs. Steve Draege.
Call to Order
Mr. Robinson, 1st Vice Chairman, called the meeting to order. Ms. Richardson reported and Mr. Robinson
determined that a quorum was physically present. Ms. Richardson recorded the proceedings of the meeting.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Commission, Treasurer’s Report, and List of Bills
Motion was made by Mr. Alstat and seconded by Mr. Marlo, approving the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of
the Commission of February 10, 2015 as received. All members present voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Robb and seconded by Mr. Gass accepting the Financial Report of February 28,
2015, as received. All members present voted "AYE". Motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Pflanz and seconded by Mr. Kelly, authorizing the payment of expenditures over
$500 on the List of Bills as distributed. All members present voted "AYE". Motion carried. It was noted that the
invoices from Louchmueller Group for the Freight Study, the Long Range Transportation Plan Study, and the Giant
City Corridor Study. The total amount of the bills is $71,232.24.
Correspondence
None
Old Business - Administrative
None
Old Business - Program
Staff Program Report to the Commission
Motion was made by Mr. Pflanz and seconded by Mr. Otten accepting the Staff Program Report to the
Commission of February, 2015, as received. All members present voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Water Quality Management Planning
Mr. Minnis noted that staff is working on the Hurricane Creek Watershed study in the Herrin area, with the
kick-off meeting scheduled in April.
EDA
Mr. Minnis reported the Strategies section of the CEDS is not in the format to be handed out and discussed.
The CEDS is one of the most important documents staff prepares as it keeps the five county region eligible for EDA
grants. This past year Mt. Vernon, Waltonville, and the Southern Illinois Airport received EDA grants. The new CEDS
guidelines are being followed. The strategy section is important; staff wants the CEDS document to contain useful
information. The document will be placed on the web for a 30-day review period. The CEDS will be brought to the
county boards and to the Commission for approval in April.
Mr. Minnis reported the court hearing for the loan is supposed to be in March. A business has approached us
for a loan, but has not submitted the application.
DRA
Mr. Minnis noted that the projects approved-Herrin, Benton-West City EDC, and the Southern Illinois Airport
have not received their letters to proceed with their projects.
Mr. Minnis reported he is working with the Southern Illinois Economic Development Committee to plan their
annual conference. Want to have the new Director of Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to speak as
well as Chris Massigill, DRA.
Transportation Planning
The Policy Committee approved a contract for the Marion Overpass/Underpass Study in an amount not to
exceed $50,000 with Crawford, Murphy, and Tilley (working with Zeigler and Clarida Engineering). Mr. Minnis
requested authorization sign the contract. The funds will come from the MPO grant.
A motion was made by Mr. Ashmore and seconded by Mr. Kelly that the Executive Director be authorized to
execute the contract with Crawford, Murphy, and Tilley for the Marion Overpass/Underpass Study in an amount not to
exceed $50,000. The motion carried.
The Technical Advisory Committee reviewed the RFQs for A Master Bike Plan for Carbondale in their
corporate limits and a Downtown One Way Street Study in Herrin to include a Pedestrian Walkways. The scores were
so close that the communities requested interviews with the two top candidates. The interviews will be held at their
April meeting.
Mr. Minnis noted we have not had a Director of Transportation Planning this Fiscal Year. After interviews by
the Hiring Committee, the Policy Commission approved offering the position to Joe Zdankiewicz, date of hire to be July
5. He has worked for IDOT for 30 years and is retiring as of July 1. He has high qualifications for the position. He will
be an employee of the Commission
The other study the Committees discussed was a feasibility study for a road between route 37 and 51, an eastwest alternative to Route 13. Before a RFQ is prepared and sent out want to discuss with new staff if any work can be
done in-house.
Staff received an invitation to meet with the new Secretary of IDOT and District 9 staff in Springfield.
Discussed the priorities of the area and he showed an interest in rural planning. We have previously received small
planning grants from IDOT.
Hazard Mitigation Grants
Mr. Minnis noted the appraisals on the mobile homes have been received from Murden Appraisals. They are
under review by IEMA, it is hoped that we can buy these mobile homes soon.
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New Business – Administrative
Audit Proposal
The Commission received a proposal for the FY 2015 Commission Audit from Emling & Hoffman. FY 2014
audit cost was $6,400. Their 3-year proposal was for $7,000 for FY 2015 and then $100.00 more each year for two
additional years, cost would be less if a Single audit is not needed. The Executive Committee recommended that staff
seek other proposals.
Budget Amendment
Copies of the Budget Amendment for FY 2015 was distributed to members present. A budget amendment is
needed as the SIMPO budget was amended. In the SIMPO budget staff for nine months was included and we haven’t
had staff. The personnel costs of $50,000 were transferred to Contractual Costs. Also put contractual costs in the EDA
grant as the part of the IDOT matching grant for the freight study. The additional SIMPO Contractual amount will pay
for the Marion Overpass/Underpass Study.
Mr. Minnis reviewed the Income and Amounts Budgeted for the Fiscal Year noting some are multi-year grants,
Annual Budget, the Personnel Cost Worksheet, Statement of Employee Benefits, Indirect Costs, and Allocation of
Personnel to projects.
A motion was made by Mr. Ashmore and seconded by Mr. Kelly to approve the Revised FY 2015 Budget as
of March 10, 2015 as received. All members present voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Schedule of Salary Grades
Copies of a Revised Schedule of Salary Grades were distributed to members present. Staff (J. Richardson and
M. Mitchell) was asked to leave the room. Mr. Minnis discussed the need to update the salary schedule to better
accommodate the Director of Transportation Planning position. He also discussed corresponding increase in salary for
existing staff would happen if approved.
A motion was made by Mr. Alstat and seconded by Mr. Kelly that the Revised Salary Schedule as
recommended by the Executive Committee be approved as received. All members present voted “AYE”. Motion
carried.
New Business - Program
HUD Grant
As reported last month, staff was contacted by Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) that they are
taking the lead on a national grant project coming from HUD for areas recently declared disaster areas that meet certain
criteria. Two census tracts, one in Herrin and one in Jackson County qualify for this grant. In Jackson County road
elevation to Walkers Bluff, elevation of Fox Farm Road to the airport and work in Carbondale re Pyles Fork Creek. The
Phase I information has been submitted along with preliminary engineering report. There are no match requirements.
Unfortunately no eligible projects were identified in Herrin.
Adjournment
There being no further business, a motion was made by Mr. Kelly and seconded by Mr. Robb to adjourn the
meeting. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Handouts
List of Bills
Revised FY 2015 Budget
Schedule of Salary Grades
Copies of all background documents furnished to the Commission in connection with this meeting are on file in the
office of Greater Egypt, Marion, Illinois.
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