This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter includes funeral services information for Commissioner Dennis Deer, announces the start of State Fiscal Year 2025, congratulates DuPage County Chief Policy and Program Officer Sheryl Markay on her retirement, reminds Illinoisans to practice safe grilling during the 4th of July holiday, reports on a list of recipients that received grant award money for Energy Planning and Efficiency Projects, invites county officials and staff to join an ISACo Policy Committee, shares what ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, provides a link for county officials and staff to register for the National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference, announces upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Comcast and invites counties to join ISACo.
Funeral Information for ISACo Vice President Dennis Deer
Start of State Fiscal Year 2025
Today marks the beginning of State Fiscal Year 2025! As we embark on this new fiscal year, we look forward to continued growth, innovation, and progress in our state’s initiatives and programs.
ISACo Honors Illustrious Career of DuPage County's Sheryl Markay
On June 25, ISACo President Matthew Prochaska, Emeritus Board Member Jim Healy and Executive Director Joe McCoy were privileged to attend the final county board meeting of DuPage County Chief Policy and Program Officer Sheryl Markay.
Sheryl is retiring after a career in public service spanning 42 years across two states. Her final almost 22 years of service has been on behalf of the elected county officials and residents of DuPage County. Over the years Sheryl has made significant contributions to county government in DuPage County and other counties throughout the state through her collaboration with ISACo and its predecessor organizations. Sheryl is one of those experienced and knowledgable "go to" people who makes things happen and gets things done.
ISACo President Matthew Prochaska presented Sheryl with a plaque and ISACo representatives each spoke about Sheryl's superlative career and wished her well in her next adventure. ISACo thanks DuPage County Board Chairwoman Deborah Conroy and the County Board for allowing us to participate in the meeting. And thank you for everything, Sheryl!
Grilling Safety a Priority this 4th of July and Summer
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is reminding Illinoisans to make sure they are following proper safety practices when using their grills this holiday weekend and throughout the rest of the summer. July is the peak month for grill fires followed by June, May and August.
Grilling safety tips from OSFM are available via this link.
Additional Recipients Awarded for Energy Planning and Efficiency Projects
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded an additional $649,482 in grant funds to seven 7 units of local government that applied for funding through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. The EECBG Program supports municipalities and counties with the development or revision of existing strategic energy or climate action plans. Such plans will help prepare local governments for future project funding opportunities offered by the State or Federal government.
The recipients are:
• City of Carbondale (Jackson County)- $135,607
• City of Colona (Henry County)- $30,000
• City of East St. Louis (St. Clair County)- $149,975
• Peoria County- $100,000
• Village of Broadview (Cook County)- $145,400
• Village of Itasca (DuPage County)- $48,500
• Village of Westchester (Cook County)- $40,000
The press release is available via this link.
Join ISACo's Policy Committees
ISACo policy committees shape the Association's legislative advocacy efforts. Meetings are held virtually and committees meet four times per year unless committee members desire to meet more frequently. Service on an ISACo Policy Committee is contingent upon the county being a member of ISACo or the applicant being a member of an affiliated association.
Policy Committee opportunities are as follows. Committees with links are already meeting, although there are openings on all policy committees.
Please click on the image below, complete the form and e-mail it to Legislative Advocacy and Research Manager Nekya Hall at nhall@isacoil.org.
What We're Reading
Pritzker Signs Bill Creating New Department of Early Childhood (Capitol News Illinois)
Big Plans for Future of the State Fairgrounds (Illinois Times)
Illinois Gas Tax is Set to Increase on July 1. Here's What to Know (SJR)
How Illinois Soybean Farmers Deal with the Effects of Climate Change (CBS News)
Illinois May Soon Return Land Stolen from Prairie Band Potawatomi Chief 175 Years Ago (CBS News)
2024 NACo Annual Conference & Exposition
(July 12-15, 2024, Hillsborough County, Florida)
The National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference is the premier gathering of elected and appointed officials from the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs. Conference content includes discussion of federal policies impacting counties, workshops lifting up county best practices, engaging general sessions, mobile tours across our host county, and more. NACo members also have the opportunity to influence the association’s direction and future during the Annual Business Meeting on the final day of the conference.
Click on this link to register for the conference.
Upcoming NACo Webinars
NACo has announced the following upcoming webinar opportunities. ISACo is a proud partner with NACo and encourages counties to participate in NACo membership and activities.
Counties Leading Through Change, A NACo EDGE Webinar
(Monday, July 1, 2024, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)
Local government leaders are working harder than ever to do more with less, balance competing priorities and navigate significant change, and doing so with challenges of the great resignation, the grey tsunami, quiet quitting, growing talent competition, decreasing employee engagement and overall retention. This interactive session will be presented by Dr. Tim Rahschulte, CEO of the Professional Development Academy and chief architect of the NACo High Performance Leadership Academy, who will detail current-state challenges of local government and will provide solutions that leaders can immediately apply in their daily roles to mitigate the negative implications of these challenges and navigate the increasing complexity of change.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
What to Know Before You Go to NACo’s Annual Conference
(Tuesday, July 2, 2024, 2:00pm-3:00pm CST)
Join NACo staff to learn ways to maximize your NACo Annual Conference experience and to answer your questions.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
Supreme Court Review for Local Governments: 2023-2024 Term
(Monday, July 8, 2024, 12:00pm-1:30pm CST)
Hosted by the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), join legal experts in a discussion of the Supreme Court’s important decisions of the term impacting local governments. The Supreme Court heard several monumental cases this term, including cases related to:
- Homeless encampments
- First Amendment social media for government employees and officials
- An employment standard for transfers under Title VII
- Impact fees and more!
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
Powerful Partnerships: How Coal Communities and Utility Companies are Working Together
(Thursday, July 25, 2024, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)
Is your coal community facing a coal-fired power plant closure or transition? Join the BRECC National Network this July and learn how utility providers and local governments are working together to mitigate and respond to economic shocks. This BRECC National Network learning session will feature examples of county and utility partnerships that support energy transitions.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
Building a Behavioral Health Continuum of Care: The Role of Rural Leaders and Behavioral Health Directors
(Tuesday, August 6, 2024, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)
Counties play a critical role in supporting community members living with behavioral health conditions or experiencing a behavioral health crisis. To build an effective and robust behavioral health system, counties need strong leadership to promote dialogue in the community and implement programs and policies that benefit all residents.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Comcast Corporation is a global media and technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’ largest video, high-speed internet, and phone providers to residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and operates news, entertainment, and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks and Resorts. Sky is one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies, connecting customers to a broad range of video content through its pay television services. It also provides communications services, including residential high-speed internet, phone, and wireless services. Sky operates the Sky News broadcast network and sports and entertainment networks, produces original content and has exclusive content rights.
With more than 6,000 local employees, Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region (https://chicago.comcast.com) serves customers in central and northern Illinois, including the Chicago area, northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan.
Click here to learn more about Comcast.
Become an ISACo Member!
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 Member Services and Communications Manager Tiffani Homer at (217) 679-3368 or thomer@isacoil.org. ISACo member counties are listed here. Thank you for your consideration.