public meeting -
05/13/2015
Tri-County LTR Public Meeting Minutes
May 13, 2015
The public meeting of Tri-County Long Term Recovery was called to order at 3:01 p.m. by Vice Chairman Jennifer M. Orban. In attendance were Terry Bibo, Ben Davidson, Shelley Epstein, Jim Fassino, Kevin Gramm, Orban, Lu Ori, Alyssa Pollock, Amber Wells. Representing the press was Tim Shelley, editor of the Washington Courier.
March minutes: Approved. There was no public meeting in April.
Chairman: Fassino said LTR is seeing increasing dollar amounts for the remaining cases. Financial arrangements are expiring for case workers. Mark Kwiat left at the end of April; Caleb leaves this month. Their service has been recognized with cake, gift certificates and cards. He offered kudos to the staff for the work they've done. He said LTR will talk to some of the funders about the possibility of underwriting some of the remaining case workers. There is a chance to streamline the check-writing process, which becomes cumbersome when multiple funders work on a single case.
Treasurer: Gramm said, as of today, there is $3,180.95 in checking. He said $284,026.33 has been granted as of April 20. There is a fund balance of $287,486.23. With pending items removed, the balance is $282,986.23.
Spirit/emotional: Tricia O'Neal and Corey Campbell were unavailable. Orban said they have been working on flyers for œNo Disaster Left Behind with United Way. A Bradley University intern is helping to collect information on response to the disaster.
Communications: Epstein mentioned a story in today's paper which says the Weather Channel's œTornado Alley feature on May 18 will include the Tazewell County tornadoes. Mark Roberts' story in InterBusiness Issues was well-received. There have been some smaller stories involving tree-planting efforts, and may be a piece in the Journal Star on a donation of shelving units rom the Fairdale area which is being returned now that Fairdale has had its own tornado.
Donations: Roberts was unable to attend. He and Julie Siebert have had discussions with the people in DeKalb and Ogle Counties about the donations process. Roberts initiated a conference call and was part of a group which went up to meet with people in the affected area on May 11.
Volunteer Management: Davidson said the official portion of volunteer management appears to have ended Nov. 15; needs have dropped. The volunteer hotline was reopened to assist with Washington's tree-plating efforts on April 24. There were about 50 volunteers. He was invited to speak with emergency responders at the Tqzewell County Emergency Management Association; Bethany Community Church will be written into the county's emergency plan. He met a lot of people who may be helpful in the effort to expand the LTR concept beyond Washington/East Peoria/Pekin. Pollock noted these would be excellent contacts if Davidson heads the Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) currently under discussion.
Disaster Case Management: Pollock said there are 154 open cases and 887 closed cases. Some are active cases. Others are waiting for checks to close. They are preparing for the case management transition July 1. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul managers are done; Tom Pelger is working on other priorities for that organization now. The Salvation Army is nearly done; Capt. Katherine Clausell is being transferred. Pollock said they will work to get summary information with Clausell's input before she leaves. Wells is helping Ogle County get set up, as well as working in the LTR office here until June 19.
Pets: Yanko was not present. She is still working with the Illinois Department of Agriculture on a pet trailer for disasters, although that does not seem to be a priority in Springfield. Fassino may assist with communication from LTR to the ag department, if necessary.
Construction Management: Ori said he continues to help as requested, but the load has lightened. Wells complimented him as œan amazing asset to LTR. Funder's Forum: Fassino said his Funder's Forum comments were included in the chairman's report.
Other business: Fassino said the LTR Steering Committee will meet at 7 a.m. Wednesday, June 3, so that Orban can attend. He said he is considering a œshutdown committee to begin organizing for LTR dormancy. The office will be closed no later than Nov. 30. Excess equipment needs to be donated or stored. There also needs to be a plan for the website and Facebook pages. œI think that's a really important process that needs to be done right, he said.
Orban said it is important to record what happened during the original organization. Pollock said when it is documented, it could be left with the COAD leadership.
Wells said one thing to consider is what will be done with cases that linger on past the official end of LTR. Pollock said five to 10 cases may remain, it should be on the list of œHow's that going to be handled?
Fassino mentioned the May 11 trip to DeKalb, where he, Bibo, Epstein, Gramm, Pollock, Roberts and Wells met with representatives of the two potential new LTRs there. He said they are not at odds, but very different. Joplin helped Tri-County so much, and he appreciates the people who went to help, plus Wells' extra work. A quick tour after the workshop revealed parts of the small town to be œpretty much destroyed.
Pollock said a œCare for the Caregiver workshop is being finalized; it will be held June 10 or 11. She said they will need help to publicize the event.
There was discussion of a contractor fraud case which showed œeverything that's done is done wrong, according to Ori. If a work/needs list is prioritized, Davidson said it is possible some of the churches might be able to provide labor for some of it. Fassino said that might open up some funding for materials, knowing there's labor to get the work done. LTR has liability insurance. Davidson said if he can get job descriptions, including what could be done by volunteers, he would offer them to the Washington Ministerial Association, which meets on the second Wednesday of each month.
Open forum: No comments.
With time to spare, Pollock was asked about COAD. She said a small group will meet next week. Davidson will lead the meeting. He said he may reach out to Morton churches later, since they had indicated some interest in the LTR concept a few months ago.
Steering Committee meeting: 7 am. Wednesday, June 3, at the LTR Center.
Funder's Forum meeting: 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 3, at the LTR Center.
Public LTR meeting: 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, at the LTR Center.
The meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.