North Egypt News

Illinois Community College District No. 521 Board of Trustees met Nov. 2.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

MINUTES OF MEETING OF DECENNIAL COMMITTEE MEETING

The third meeting of the Rend Lake College Decennial Committee took place within the Board of Trustee Retreat Meeting.

CALL TO ORDER Chairman Larry Manning moved to begin the Decennial Committee meeting at 9:07 PM at the Four Seasons Hotel, St. Louis, Mississippi Room.

ROLL CALL Mr. Jeff Jones, Secretary, called the roll for the Decennial Committee.

Those present were:

Mr. Ron Daniels

Mr. Jeff Jones

Mr. Brian Dorris

Mr. Larry Manning

Mr. Tony Wielt

Mr. Wyatt Hamson (Student Trustee)

Mr. Terry Wilkerson

Mrs. Lori Ragland

Mr. John Gulley

Those absent were:

Dr. David Asbery

Mr. Joe Coy

Others present were:

Mr. Chad Copple, Mrs. Kim Wilkerson, Mr. Henry “Buster” Leeck, Mrs. Cathy DeJarnette, Mrs. Amy Epplin, Mr. Kent McKown, Mr. Donnie Millenbine

NEW BUSINESS The final meeting of the Decennial Committee will be on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024 after which the report will be signed and delivered to the County Board Chairs of the applicable Rend Lake College District counties.

A timeline of the Allied Health project regarding CDB timing was provided to the group. (Handout included)

OLD BUSINESS More in-depth discussion was had on the inefficiencies of the Illinois Capital Development Board in specific reference to the Rend Lake College Allied Health Building project. A copy of the unofficial October 18, 2024 Decennial Committee Minutes was provided for reference.

Items that Rend Lake College (RLC) does well include: Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests are received at least one per week, and we successfully track these records. RLC is efficient in reallocation of space for student usage. Our Information Technology department ensures our data is protected. RLC tuition has been held flat for 8 consecutive fiscal years now. We collaborate with many cooperatives including Syngenta and John Deere, etc.; as well as, aggressively purse grants to run programs more efficiently. RLC has apprenticeship programs with local companies such as Phoenix Elevator, Continental, etc. For the past ten years, our tax rate has steadily decreased. The number of residents served through CEO & EDGE and other similar programs has increased. RLC and Southeastern Illinois College (SIC) also has a productive and beneficial alliance.

RESUME BOARD RETREAT MEETING Chairman Larry Manning asked for a motion to reopen the Board of Trustee Retreat Meeting; Mr. Wielt motioned; seconded by Mr. Daniels. On a roll call vote, all voted yes. Student Trustee voted yes. At 9:43AM,

Chairman Manning reconvened the open session of today’s Board of Trustee Retreat meeting.

REPORT FOR COMPLIANCE WITH DECENNIAL COMMITTEES ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY ACT

I. Unit of government submitting this report:

NAME OF UNIT: REND LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT #521

Note: Each unit of local government that levies a tax, other than a municipality or county must file this report per Public Act 102-1088.

II. Information about our Institution

A. We are located in Jefferson County. Our community college district consists of the major portion of Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson and Perry, large areas of Wayne and White counties and small unpopulated portions of Washington and Williamson counties.

B. The population of our district is 114,413, as of the 2022 population figures produced by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB).

C. We have 183 full-time employees and 137 part-time employees as of Fall 2024.

D. Our annual operating expenditure budget for FY2024 is: $20,677,411

III. Information about Our Committee

A. Committee Members:

Committee Chair/Trustee: Larry Manning

Trustee: Brian Dorris

Trustee: Jeff Jones

Trustee: Ron Daniels

Trustee: Joe Coy

Trustee: Tony Wielt

Trustee: Dr. David Asbury

Student Trustee: Wyatt Hamson

College President: Terry Wilkerson

Resident: Lori Ragland

Resident: John Gulley

Note: Per 50 ILCS 70/10(b), the committee membership must include all the elected or appointed members of the township board (Supervisor and Trustees) and two residents appointed by the Supervisor.

B. Dates that our Committee Met - (50 ILCS 70/20)

First (Organizational) Meeting

(must occur prior to June 10, 2023): May 09, 2023

Second Meeting: October 18, 2024

Third Meeting: November 02, 2024

Final Meeting: November 05, 2024

IV. Statement of Input from Residents

A. During each of the Decennial Committee meetings, each of our resident community members as well as any other meeting attendees who are residents of our community college district were encouraged to share their input and perspective.

V. Committee’s Purpose

This committee was formed in compliance to Public Act 102-1088. The purpose of this committee is to study, evaluate, and report local inefficiencies to the local county boards in the community college district.

VI. Data Reviewed by Decennial Committee

The following items were reviewed and discussed by the Decennial Committee:

1. Illinois Community College Trustee Association (ICCTA) - outreach

2. Illinois Capital Development Board – Allied Health Building Project

VII. Our Committee’s Recommendations

1. The Illinois Community College Trustee Association (ICCTA) does give a fair amount of information to its members through monthly meetings and updates via email. This organization’s effectiveness seems equivalent to the needs.

2. Several inefficiencies were found in the Illinois Capital Development Board handling of projects, particularly the RLC Allied Health Building project.

VIII. What Have We Done Well? (List any budget/levy freezes or reductions in the past decade; list new programs or services offered to residents over the past decade; list any ethics ordinances adopted; timely FOIA compliance; responsiveness to public; list any new intergovernmental agreements or social services offered; list any increase in number of township residents served, etc.)

1. Items that Rend Lake College (RLC) does well include: Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests are received at least one per week, and we successfully track these records. RLC is efficient in reallocation of space for student usage. Our Information Technology department ensures our data is protected. RLC tuition has been held flat for 8 consecutive fiscal years now. We collaborate with many cooperatives including Syngenta and John Deere, etc.; as well as, aggressively pursue grants to run programs more efficiently. RLC has apprenticeship programs with local companies such as Phoenix Elevator, Continental, etc. For the past 10 years, our tax rate has steadily decreased. The number of residents served through CEO & EDGE and other similar programs has increased. RLC and Southeastern Illinois College (SIC) also have a productive and beneficial alliance.

IX. What Inefficiencies Did We Identify/What Are our Next Steps?

1. Over the twenty-year timeline (provided/attached) as a priority for the Capital Development Board (CDB)… when finally approved as a project, (Rend Lake College Allied Health Building), the college has had to tie up resources in excess of two million dollars for over four years with little to no progress. This does not count the salaries and time of the college staff to prepare and participate in meetings both internally and externally with the CDB. The overall cost of the project continues to increase which commits the college to additional funds and smaller square footage. The college has had to re-allocate existing space over the time of the proposal to meet the needs of its students as a band-aid approach, while the CDB fumbles around with delays and detours in the process.

This is not the only debacle we have experienced with CDB… in fact it is common knowledge across the community college system and other state and local departments that the CDB is a fiasco, waste of tax payer funds, and barrier to progress rather than its intended mission.

Our next steps are to attempt to leverage efforts to complete this current CDB project and then pursue opportunities outside of the purview of the Capital Development Board.

X. What Can We Do Better or More Efficiently?

1. Operate and pursue opportunities outside the Capital Development Board’s process until corrected by legislation.

XI. Our committee’s recommendations regarding Increased Accountability and Efficiency:

1. These reports should be forwarded beyond county boards to the state legislature, governor’s office, and other public bodies to highlight improvements that are needed within the state.

2. Specifically, capital projects for colleges should be routed and managed through the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) where the funds can be administered in a timely and appropriate manner. This will keep costs down and promote advancement in the state.

Note: This Report must be filed with your County no later than 18 months after your first committee meeting.

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