MINUTES OF THE
McHENRY COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY
June 27, 2017
The rescheduled meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the McHenry County Housing Authority was called to order byChairman Leathers at 1:30 PMJune 27, 2017at the offices of the Housing Authority, 1108 N. Seminary, Woodstock, Illinois.
ROLL CALL:
Commissioners Present:Keith Leathers, Chairman
Mary Reid, Vice Chairman
Evelyn Carter
Lyn Orphal
Commissioners Absent:Kevin Myers
Mary Donner
One vacant position
Also Present:Julie Biel Claussen, Executive Director
Holly Lyons, Technical Services Director
Francis Gosser, Attorney
Sue Miller, McHenry County Board Liaison
Commissioner Comments/Public Comments:Ms. Miller stated that she appreciates the welcome from the Board of Commissioners and has been reporting to the Public Health and Community Services Committee. The Committee appreciates the reports.
Minutes: Commissioner Orphal moved, seconded by CommissionerCarter, to approve the minutes of May 15, 2017. There was unanimous approval, and Chairman Leathers declared said motion carried.
Financial Reports: Commissioner Reid made a motion to adopt financial reports. Commissioner Carterseconded the motion. Discussion: Biel Claussen presentedthe financial reports for May 2017. The Section 8 program had a gain this month in the Administrative portion of $7,655.75. Biel Claussen noted that the revenue is down from last year, but the expenses are also. The Administrative Reserve is $335,386. In Public Housing there was a gain of $2,079.36 this month with $272,325.62 in the operating reserve account. The Cost Allocation shows the allocation of the overhead expenses of $36,253.47 in May. Biel Claussen noted that there was a fairly large postage expense this month, as the machine was filled. The SilverTrees I hada positive cash flow of $2,807.85 with 9 vacancies this year, a 4.5% vacancy rate.SilverTrees II had a gain this month of $2,492.18and a year to date profit $8,097.39 with9vacancies for this year. GreenTrees had a gain this month of $352.43,with a year to date loss of $6,063.34 and 54 vacancies this year. The MayLIHEAP report shows 87% ofthe entireclient benefits spent with the federal grant rolling over to the new program year. The Weatherization report shows that the HHS Federal program is 91% spent. The DOE program is 74% spent and the State funds are over spent, but the overage will be reallocated to next year’s funding. The CDBG Rehab report shows 50% of the funding spent with 5 homes in progress. All of this year’s funding has been committed. The Rental Housing Support shows the last payment to landlords for this program year. There is a balance left due to some units dropping off the program. The CSBG grant was 83% drawn. Shelter was provided for the Willowbrook fire victims and some of the Marengo explosion victims. Only salary and administrative costs have been drawn from the 2017 CSBG grant. The 2017 Senior Dental Program is 38% drawn. The Veterans dental program is 74% drawn. The Renaissance Apartments has a gain this month of $2,084.27with a year to date profit of $19,828.34. A vote was called on the motion and the Commissioners all voted aye. The motion carried.
Bills Due: The bill from Attorney Gosser in the amount of $4,112.50 was presented. Commissioner Reid made a motion to pay the attorney’s bill in the amount of $4,112.50 and Commissioner Orphal seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken and the Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the motion. The motion carried. Biel Claussen presented the yearly license fee for our computers in the amount of $1,925. Commissioner Reid made a motion to approve the $1,925 bill for the computer license. Commissioner Orphal seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried by unanimous vote. Biel Claussen presented the bill for the telephone system warranty in the amount of $97.92. Commissioner Reid made a motion to pay $97.92 for the telephone system warranty. Commissioner Orphal seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously.
Legal Status: Attorney Gosser stated that he had spent a lot of time on a Section 8 landlord issue.
Programs:
Section 8 – There are currently 874families receiving Section 8 rental assistance. One landlord did not renew the contract for the Rental Housing Support Program and we had to relocate two tenants to new units. Biel Claussen presented the annual budget for the Section 8 program stating that it is difficult to estimate the revenue due to uncertainty regarding the federal budget. The President’s proposed budget anticipates a 2% reduction in Section 8, so she used that figure in estimating the funding that MCHA would receive. Commissioner Reid made a motion to approve the Section 8 Budget and Commissioner Carter seconded the motion. A vote was called and all of the Commissioners voted in favor of the motion. The motion carried. Biel Claussenpresented Resolution 2017-04 accepting a grant from the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s Rental Housing support Program round 1 2017 Renewals. Commissioner Reid made a motion to approve Resolution 2017-04 as presented. Commissioner Orphal seconded the motion. All of the Commissioners vote aye and the motion passed.
Public Housing – Biel Claussen noted that the vacancy in Harvard has already been filled by a women working with Turning Point and claiming the homeless preference. Biel Claussen presented Resolution 2017-03 approving the Public Housing Operating Budget. Commissioner Reid made a motion to adopt Resolution 2017-03 as presented and Commissioner Orphal seconded the motion. All of the Commissioners voted in favor of the motion and the motion carried.
LIHEAP – Biel Claussen noted that there is not LIHEAP report for this month as the program ended at the end of May. She stated that she was looking for approval to send herself and Linda Elliott to the LIHEAP conference on July 18, 2017 at a cost of $158.20 plus mileage. Commissioner Orphal made a motion to approve attendance of the Executive Director and LIHEAP Coordinator at the LIHEAP Conference and associated expenses $158.20 plus mileage. Commissioner Reid seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken and all of the Commissioners voted in favor of the motion. The motion carried.
Weatherization – Mike attended the Weatherization workshop and learned that we can now weatherize rental units, but would need to pay contractor’s prevailing wage. All of the new funding received has been allocated.
Rehab Program – All of the CDBG 2016 program funding has been committed.
CSBG–The department continues to provide disaster assistance when needed. The Marengo explosion displaced 5 tenant families with no rental insurance. MCHA was able to provide shelter.
Senior Housing: Melissa gave an update of the vacant units and her efforts to fill them. The bed bug issue has been taken care of and also the mice infestation. Biel Claussen presented the GreenTrees budget for fiscal year 2018. This budget has been already approved by Rural Development. While GreenTrees had a loss for fiscal year 2017, Biel Claussen noted that MCHA is working to address vacant units to improve the revenue. Commissioner Reid made a motion to approve the GreenTrees FY 2018 Budget. Commissioner Orphal seconded the motion. The Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the motion and it passed. Biel Claussen presented the SilverTrees I FY2018 budget. Commissioner Reid moved to approve the SilverTrees I FY2018 Budget. Commissioner Carter seconded the motion. A vote was taken and all of the Commissioners voted in favor of the motion. The motion carried. . Biel Claussen presented the SilverTrees II FY2018 budget. Commissioner Reid moved to approve the SilverTrees II FY2018 Budget. Commissioner Orphal seconded the motion. A vote was taken and all of the Commissioners voted in favor of the motion. The motion carried.
Renaissance Apartments – There are currently 188 people on the wait list.
Executive Director Report: Biel Claussen noted that the Community Development Housing Grant Commission voted in favor of funding the repairs to Renaissance Apartments, allocating $75,000 to the project. This must be approved by the County Board. The 2018 CDBG application for owner-occupied rehab program will be considered at the September meeting. There was a recommendation to fund the HOME program owner-occupied program in the amount of $75,000.
Administrative Business:
Senior Services Grant Commission: Commissioner Reid stated that there is a meeting scheduled for July.
Resident Advisory Board - Biel Claussen stated that the Board needs a member that would represent GreenTrees. Commissioner Reid made a motion to appoint Lyn Busky to the RAB as a representative for GreenTrees Apartments, Huntley. Commissioner Carter seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously.
Compensation Committee – Insurance. Biel Claussen presented the insurance schedule noting that there was only a slight increase due to the fact that 5 employees moved from PPO to HMO, which reduced costs. Our insurance broker had supplied 2 other insurance proposals and this was cheapest. Commissioner Reid made a motion to accept the medical insurance renewal. Commissioner Orphal seconded the motion. All of the Commissioners voted in favor of the motion and the motion passed.
Resolution 2017-05 Prevailing Wage – Biel Claussen presented Resolution 2017-05 regarding paying the prevailing wage for state funded projects. Commissioner Reid made a motion to adopt Resolution 2017-05 Illinois Prevailing Wage. Commissioner Orphal seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Comments / Public Comments: Biel Claussen stated that the Compensation Committee would need to meet in July and that she would need a performance review. Chairman Leathers appointed himself, Commissioner Orphal, Commissioner Donner and Commissioner Reid to the Compensation Committee. A meeting date of July 13, 2017 at 8:00 AM at Home State Bank was set.
Commissioner Reidmade a motion to adjourn the meeting at 2:45PM. Commissioner Carterseconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted:
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Julie Biel Claussen, Executive DirectorKeith Leathers, Chairman