steering committee meeting -
10/07/2015
Tri-County LTR Steering Committee Meeting Minutes
Oct. 7, 2015
The Steering Committee meeting of Tri-County Long Term Recovery was called to order at 7 a.m. by Chairman Jim Fassino. In attendance were Terry Bibo, Ben Davidson, Shelley Epstein, Fassino, Kevin Gramm, Sondra Hayes, Jennifer M. Orban, Lu Ori, Mark Roberts.
September minutes: Approved.
Chairman's report: Fassino said LTR has received $35,000 from Washington Illinois Area Foundation. œWith that money and the money we have I believe we can make it to the finish line, he said. Staff is winding down and office expenses will be over at the end of November.
As part of shutdown plans, Fassino asked Davidson for an update on furniture distribution. Davidson said œprobably 80 percent is designated. Roberts said if he gets photos, Community Foundation of Central Illinois will put them on Facebook and other networks. Excess items quickly found new homes when CFCI moved this summer, he said.
Closed files will go to the American Red Cross, so filing cabinets should be available. LTR Facebook, website and phone number will be maintained until the last case is complete. No value was seen in keeping the phone number beyond that point. Fassino and Gramm will meet to investigate the need for insurance coverage.
As far as LTR finances and shutdown, funds are low. Needs outside of administration may not get funded as LTR has funded them in the past. Since there has been no word from Delavan, Roberts was authorized to disburse approximately $2,500 collected for that tornado; he will check with Delavan Mayor Liz Skinner.
Per Epstein's advice, a press release will be sent out a couple of weeks before the office closes.
Vice chairman: Orban said the consensus was LTR does not need another public meeting.
Spirit/emotional: Tricia O'Neal and Corey Campbell were not present. He emailed that he will be part of the Oct. 8 œAt Issues program, and mentioned LTR's transition to COAD. He said the œDon't Let One Disaster Become Another campaign will roll out later this month.
Communications: Fassino said he liked the insurance story for Healthy Cells magazine. Insurance people understand what happened with the tornado in Washington, he said.
Donations:Roberts said not much has happened. There has been no word from Delavan or The McCormick Foundation. œTo their credit, I think they gave us the money and said we can use if for whatever the community needs, he said of McCormick.
Volunteer Management: Davidson said there is not much to report. Jon Oliphant of the City of Washington would like to use Bethany Community Church as a staging ground for a tree-planting day later this fall. Hayes and case manager Chuck Friend visited the church yesterday to check out the space.
Disaster Case Management: Hayes said 53 cases have been closed in the last three weeks. Friend has 29. Ed Murray has 11. Kathy Casey is connecting checks and paperwork to complete 72.
Fassino said there are 18 cases to present today; the rest will be brought on Nov. 4. Hayes said she is hopeful they will be done; Fassino said any that want funding will be.
Hayes said about 10 people are on a list compiled of callers who would like help if there is any money left over.
Funder's Forum: Fassino said there are about 100 cases that have to be paid out over the next few months. Hayes said Casey may be able to help with some of the paperwork long-distance from her home in Florida after going back in a week or so.
Road signs which LTR funded are missing. Roberts said that should be filed under lessons learned.
Pets: Yanko had a last-minute conflict, but said she is nearly done with the Pets best practices report.
Construction Management: Ori said staff hasn't called so he hasn't had much to do. He will help with best practices.
Finance: Gramm said there is a balance of $124,198.76. That doesn't include $30,000 committed for a complex case and six months of expenses equals roughly $60,000, so that doesn't offer much cushion. Total grants are $480,974.67; there is $7,295.46 in checking.
COAD: Davidson said invitations have been sent out. A Facebook group has started with 38 people. So far, there has been no response from Peoria County or Woodford County Emergency Management Agency directors. The COAD meeting on Oct. 27 will focus on collecting contact information and determining areas of responsibility.
Celebration/hand-off: A low-profile thank-you to those who helped LTR is being planned for early November, Fassino said. He suggested a brief session and optional lunch at Five Points or Bernardi's in Washington. Along with Funders and Steering Committee members, the guest list may include the mayors of the affected cities and people who were instrumental in the early days.
œYou know who set you up, Ori said.
COAD: Â 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Bethany Community Church.
Steering Committee Meeting: 7 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the LTR Center.
Funder's Forum meeting: 8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the LTR Center.
The meeting adjourned at 8 a.m.