NEW ITEMS February 4, 2003

NEW ITEMS

Meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners

County Board Room, County Building

Tuesday, February 4, 2003, 10:00 A.M.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

PROPOSED ORDINANCES

ITEM #1

Transmitting a Communicated, dated January 30, 2003 from

JOHN H. STROGER, JR., President, Cook County Board of Commissioners

I am transmitting for your consideration an Ordinance authorizing the execution of a fixed-to-floating interest rate swap agreement between the County of Cook and Lehman Brothers Special Financing, Inc. on $230,540,000.00 of the County's Series 1999A General Obligation Capital Improvement Bonds. Despite the historically low interest rate environment, we are unable to undertake a refunding that meets our hurdle of a 3% net present value savings. A fixed-to-floating interest rate swap offers the County an opportunity to achieve interest cost savings by converting the fixed interest payment of 5% on the County's Series 1999A Bonds to a floating rate based on the Bond Market Association Municipal Swap Index (BMA), which has averaged 3.48% since 1989.

I ask that this Ordinance be referred to the Finance Committee for further discussion.

Submitting a Proposed Ordinance sponsored by

JOHN H. STROGER, JR., President, Cook County Board of Commissioners

PROPOSED ORDINANCE

ORDINANCE Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of One or More Interest Rate Agreements Relating to the General Obligation Capital Improvement Bonds, Series 1999A of The County of Cook, Illinois.

WHEREAS, Section 6(a) of Article VII of the 1970 Constitution of the State of Illinois provides that “a County which has a Chief Executive Officer elected by the electors of the County ... (is) a Home Rule Unit” and The County of Cook, Illinois (the “County”), has a Chief Executive Officer elected by the electors of the County and is therefore a Home Rule Unit and may, under the power granted by said Section 6(a) of Article VII of the Constitution of 1970, exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs, including, but not limited to, the power to tax and to incur debt; and

WHEREAS, the County has heretofore issued its General Obligation Capital Improvement Bonds, Series 1999A (the “Bonds”) pursuant to an Ordinance adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the County on April 6, 1999; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the inhabitants of the County and necessary for the government and affairs of the County to authorize the execution and delivery of one or more interest rate agreements with respect to the Bonds to, among other things, assist the County in managing its debt service payments relating thereto; and

WHEREAS, the County has determined that it is advisable and necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of one or more interest rate agreements described in Section 2.2 (each, an “Interest Rate Agreement” and collectively, “Interest Rate Agreements”):

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF COOK, ILLINOIS, AS FOLLOWS:

ARTICLE I.

Definitions and Interpretations

Section 1.1 Successors and Assigns. Whenever in this Ordinance the County is named or referred to, it shall and shall be deemed to include its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not. All of the covenants, stipulations, obligations, and agreements by or on behalf of, and other provisions for the benefit of, the County contained in this Ordinance shall bind and inure to the benefit of such successors and assigns and shall bind and inure to the benefit of any officer, board, commission, authority, agent or instrumentality to whom or to which there shall be transferred by or in accordance with law any right, power or duty of the County, or of its successors or assigns, the possession of which is necessary or appropriate in order to comply with any such covenants, stipulations, obligations, agreements or other provisions of this Ordinance.

Section 1.2 Parties Interested Herein. Nothing in this Ordinance expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation, other than the County and any counterparty to an Interest Rate Agreement (each, a “Counterparty”), any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Ordinance or any covenant, condition or stipulation thereof. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Ordinance contained by and on behalf of the County shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the County and any Counterparty.

Section 1.3 Severability of Invalid Provisions. If any one or more of the covenants or agreements provided in this Ordinance on the part of the County to be performed should be contrary to law, then such covenant or covenants, agreement or agreements, shall be deemed separable from the remaining covenants and agreements, and shall in no way affect the validity of the other provisions of this Ordinance.

ARTICLE II.

Determinations and Obligations of the County

Section 2.1 Authority for Ordinance. The Board of Commissioners hereby finds that all of the recitals contained in the preambles to this Ordinance are full, true and correct and does hereby incorporate them into this Ordinance by this reference.

This Ordinance is adopted pursuant to Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970. The County has ascertained and hereby determines that each and every act, matter, thing or course of conduct as to which provision is made in this Ordinance is necessary in order to carry out and effectuate the public purposes of the County.

It is found and determined that the execution and delivery of one or more Interest Rate Agreements as authorized by this Ordinance are necessary for the welfare of the government and affairs of the County, are for proper public purposes and are in the public interest.

Section 2.2 Execution of Interest Rate Agreements. The President of the Board of Commissioners (the “President”) or the Chief Financial Officer of the County (the “Chief Financial Officer”) is hereby authorized to execute and deliver from time to time one or more agreements with Counterparties selected by the Chief Financial Officer, the purpose of which is to hedge or manage the County’s interest cost with respect to the Bonds (or any portion thereof), manage the overall debt service costs of the County or to reduce the County’s exposure to fluctuations in the interest rate or rates payable on the Bonds (or any portion thereof) or to insure, protect or preserve its investments from any loss (including, without limitation, loss caused by fluctuations in interest rates, markets or in securities). The stated aggregate notional amount under all such Interest Rate Agreements authorized hereunder shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds outstanding (net of offsetting transactions entered into by the County). Any such agreement to the extent practicable shall be in substantially the form of either the Local Currency - Single Jurisdiction version or the Multicurrency-Cross Border version of the 1992 ISDA Master Agreement accompanied by the U.S. Municipal Counterparty Schedule published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (the “ISDA”) or any additional schedule or successor form to be published by the ISDA, and in the appropriate confirmations of transactions and credit support and security agreements governed by that agreement, with such insertions, completions and modifications thereof as shall be approved by the officer of the County executing the same, his or her execution to constitute conclusive evidence of the Board of Commissioners approval of such insertions, completions and modifications thereof. Amounts payable by the County under any such agreement shall (i) be a general obligation of the County payable from any lawfully available funds or (ii) constitute operating expenses of the County payable from any moneys, revenues, receipts, income, assets or funds of the County available for such purpose, as the Chief Financial Officer may from time to time determine. Any payments received from a counterparty at the time of execution and delivery of an Interest Rate Agreement, whether in exchange for an option to originate an interest rate exchange in the future or otherwise, may be applied to such lawful corporate purposes of the County as the President and the Chief Financial Officer shall determine. Nothing contained in this Section shall limit or restrict the authority of the President or the Chief Financial Officer to enter into similar agreements pursuant to prior or subsequent authorization of the Board of Commissioners.

Section 2.3 Approval of Financing Team. The selection of the following party or parties in the capacities as indicated is hereby ratified and approved:

Capacity	Party or Parties
Initial Counterparty	Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc., or such other counterparty or counterparties as shall be selected by the Chief Financial Officer
Financial Advisors	Public Resources Advisory Group Siebert Brandford Shank & Company, L.L.C. Clark Burrus
Special Counsel to the County	Altheimer & Gray

ARTICLE III.

Miscellaneous

Section 3.1 Authorized Acts. The officers, agents and employees of the County are authorized, empowered and directed to do all such acts and things and to execute and deliver all such documents and certificates as may be necessary to carry out and comply with the provisions of this Ordinance. All acts and undertakings of the officers of the County that are in conformity with the purposes and intent of this Ordinance and in furtherance of the execution and delivery of Interest Rate Agreements authorized hereunder shall be, and the same are, in all respects, approved and confirmed.

Section 3.2 Enactment. This Ordinance shall constitute full authority for the execution and delivery of one or more Interest Rate Agreements. All ordinances, resolutions, or orders, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith, be and the same are hereby expressly repealed.

This Ordinance shall be operative, effective and valid upon its passage by the Board of Commissioners and its approval by the President.

_________________________

Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Daley, seconded by Commissioner Maldonado, moved that the Proposed Ordinance be referred to the Committee on Finance. (Comm. No. 257461). The motion carried unanimously.

* * * * *

ITEM #2

Submitting a Proposed Ordinance sponsored by

EARLEAN COLLINS, County Commissioner

PROPOSED ORDINANCE

RULES OF ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURE AMENDMENT

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS

Article IV of the Cook County Ordinance of Rules of Organization and Procedure is hereby amended, and shall read as follows:

4-8 Prior Notice to Public – Agendas.

Rule 4-8 (d) Matters may be placed on the agenda of a Board meeting by the President or any Commissioner or, with respect to a report of a full committee, by the Chair of the committee. Matters may be placed on the agenda of a committee meeting by any member of the committee. All Commissioners shall be given an opportunity for a hearing on any matter assigned to a committee. If a committee has not acted within forty five (45) days on a matter, the committee shall refer the matter back to the Board indicating no action.

_________________________

Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Collins, seconded by Commissioner Claypool, moved that the Proposed Ordinance be referred to the Rules Committee. (Comm. No. 257462). The motion carried unanimously.

* * * * *

ITEM #3

Submitting a Proposed Ordinance sponsored by

EARLEAN COLLINS, County Commissioner

PROPOSED ORDINANCE

CONTRACTING AND PURCHASING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS,

Article 10 Section 11 is hereby amended by adding the following and shall read:

Bids to Conform to Conditions in Advertisement

10-11.1 All bids shall be received by the Clerk of Cook County and held until the specified time of bid opening. It shall be the responsibility of the Clerk to deliver bids to the Board of Commissioners at the appointed time of bid opening.

Article 10 Section 15 is hereby amended and shall read:

Review of Contracts by County Board and State’s Attorney

10-15 Each contract entered into pursuant to this authority shall be reviewed separately by the Cook County Board, taking into consideration the capability of Cook County to provide such service or perform such function without detriment to the County’s ability to provide the same to the County as a whole. Each contract shall be submitted to the State’s Attorney for approval as to form. (August 2, 1971.) All contracts shall be made available for review by the Cook County Board three (3) days prior to final Board action.

10-15.1 No contract shall be renewed, or increased without being independently evaluated. The results of which shall be reviewed by the Finance Committee for recommendation of action by the Board.

Article 10 Section 18.1 is hereby amended and shall read:

10.18.1 Purchasing Agent shall routinely challenge all using agency request to limit competition particularly sole source purchases, excepting specific technology (equipment, software, and peripherals) unique to agency needs. The negotiation for procurement of supplies, materials, equipment, contractual services, and medicine shall be the sole responsibility of the Purchasing Agent.

A. The Purchasing Agent in collaboration l with the States Attorney’s office shall develop standardized procedures for RFPs. Such standards shall be approved by the Board. All RFPs shall be reviewed by the Purchasing Agent prior to final approval of the contract by the Board.

Article 10 Section 43.6 sub (8) d) and sub (8) e) is hereby amended and shall read:

Purchasing

d) A directive to all buyers that in their informal bid solicitations for materials under ~~$5000~~ $10,000, which are not bid by formal advertising, the buyer shall solicit 50% protected class business.

e) A directive to all buyers that in their requisitions for materials under ~~$5000~~ $10,000, which are not bid, they employ every effort to use minority business whenever possible.

Article 10 Section 43.7 is hereby amended and shall read:

Construction

10-43.7(I) INSURANCE, BONDS AND SECURITY It shall be the financial responsibility of the Contractor to provide all required performance bonds, insurance, or other security.

10-43.7(J) CONTRACT FILE Purchasing Agent shall keep a revolving contract file. It shall provide all of the provisions of the original contract, the dollar amount of the contract, a history of billings and payments, an up to date project status, all change orders and the reason for the change, and an evaluation of the contractors performance. This file shall be made available to the President and Commissioners upon request and the public in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.

10-43(K) CONTRACT RENEWAL All contract renewals shall be based on performance.

_________________________

Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Collins, seconded by Commissioner Claypool, moved that the Proposed Ordinance be referred to the Committee on Finance. (Comm. No. 257463). The motion carried unanimously.

PROPOSED CONTRACT RENEWAL

ITEM #4

Transmitting a Communication from

JAMES M. O’ROURKE, Executive Director, Judicial Advisory Council

requesting authorization for the Purchasing Agent to renew contracts with the following organizations to insure fiscal integrity, program accountability, and optimal outcomes.

Reason: These social service providers impact a high-risk population and have a significantly long history of serving residents of Cook County in need of their specialty services.

CONTRACT NO.	VENDOR	AMOUNT

99-41-689	Project B.U.I.L.D.	$ 195,075.00
99-41-684	Metropolitan Family Services	135,000.00
99-41-690	My Sisters’ Keeper	300,000.00
99-41-686	Probation Challenge	100,000.00
99-41-685	Omni Youth Services	180,000.00

Estimated Fiscal Impact: $910,075.00. Contract period: December 1, 2002 through November 30, 2003. (499-298 Account). Requisition Nos. 34990001, 34990002, 34990003, 34990004 and 34990005.

_________________________

Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, moved that the County Purchasing Agent be authorized to renew the requested contract. The motion carried unanimously.

ITEM #5

The Report of the Stroger & Cermak Hospitals Subcommittee was withdrawn at the request of the sponsor.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE TAX DELINQUENCY SUBCOMMITTEE

ITEM #6

February 3, 2003

The Honorable,

The Board of Commissioners of Cook County

ATTENDANCE

Present: Chairman Sims, Vice Chairman Goslin, Commissioners Butler and Peraica (4)

Absent: Commissioners Collins, Moreno and Murphy (3)

Also Present: Mr. Troy Deckert - Administrative Assistant, Department of Planning and Development; Ms. Fredda Berman - Director of Real Estate and Tax Services, County Clerk’s Office; Judd Harris - Attorney for Village of Robbins

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Your Finance Tax Delinquency Subcommittee of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County met pursuant to notice on Monday, February 3, 2003 at the hour of 11:00 A.M. in the Board Room, Room 569, County Building, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois.

Your Subcommittee has considered the following items and upon adoption of this report, the recommendations are as follows:

257220 VILLAGE OF ROBBINS (NO CASH BID REQUEST). Transmitting a Communication, dated January 22, 2003 from Deborah Sims, Chairman, Finance Tax Delinquency Subcommittee, submitting a request from Judd M. Harris, Esq., Judd M. Harris & Associates, Law Office, Attorney:

The Village of Robbins is requesting tax certificates from the No Cash Bid Program for the tax delinquent properties in the submitted list. The Village of Robbins hereby requests the Cook County Department of Planning, Office of Economic Development, to bid, on behalf of the Village of Robbins, on the tax delinquent properties. The intended use of the parcels is redevelopment. Village of Robbins ordinance number is 5-28-02 states the acquisition and redevelopment of these tax delinquent properties is in the best interest of the Village of Robbins. A certified Resolution formally requesting the Village of Robbins to participate in the program has been submitted along with a current title search of the parcels, a Sidwell map of the area, and photographs of the properties. The benefit of obtaining these parcels and restoring their ability to contribute to the tax base of the community adds both fiscal and social advantages for the Village of Robbins. The Village of Robbins has retained Judd M. Harris, Esq. to file the petitions for tax deeds for the parcels.

PROPERTY INDEX NUMBERS

A list of tax delinquent properties has been submitted as Exhibit “A”.

Chairman Sims gave a brief background regarding the request and stated that the request was made during the prior administration and was received and filed at the end of the term. The subcommittee is now bringing them forward because there are some parcels that the subcommittee can move forward on today. She said previously there were 548 parcels. However, on Friday it became apparent that the subcommittee would only be able to move on 86 parcels. The village is withdrawing 16 parcels, and one parcel is ineligible according to Ms. Berman, thus there are 86 parcels for approval by the subcommittee today.

Commissioner Butler asked whether all 86 parcels are in the package before the subcommittee.

Chairman Sims replied that yes, they are.

Vice-Chairman Goslin inquired whether the Village had signed off on the parcels.

Chairman Sims replied yes.

Vice-Chairman Goslin inquired whether there are 16 parcels that the village did not sign off on.

Troy Deckert responded that the village is withdrawing the 16 PINS. When the original 500 were drawn up a long time ago, the land was vacant. The village has since built a senior citizens center, so they are withdrawing the corresponding PINS. The 16 withdrawn PINS were left in by a clerical mistake. The county will be acting on the remainder of the 500, but to process such a large number would be too cumbersome.

Vice-Chairman Goslin inquired whether the village has a plan for development of the remainder of the PINS.

Mr. Deckert responded that yes, the village has a plan for residential development of these 86 parcels, although they haven’t picked a developer yet or made any redevelopment commitments. There have been three single-family homes sold, and the village thinks that bodes well.

Fredda Berman of the County Clerk’s Office noted that 28-01-106-001 is not eligible for purchase over-the-counter because there is only one year of delinquent, forfeited taxes. There are other delinquencies, but they are subsequent to that year and they are not forfeited. This parcel could be purchased at a later date at the Scavenger Sale.

Judd Harris, attorney for the Village of Robbins, stated that it is the Village’s understanding that they submitted 103 parcels to be acted on, as the original number—548--is too cumbersome a number to act on all at once. He stated that it is his understanding that the County Board will act on the 86 parcels, which is 103 minus the 16 that were withdrawn and the one ineligible.

Commissioner Peraica asked whether the regular procedure is being followed by the County Clerk, i.e. the normal procedure that is required for acquisition of tax deeds.

Mr. Harris responded that the normal procedure to petition for tax deed will be followed when petitions are filed for these parcels.

Commissioner Peraica asked whether the publication and notice requirements are being met.

Mr. Harris responded that this is the preliminary stage, the acquisition of the tax certificate, and that next he has to file petitions for tax deeds according to the Illinois Property Tax Code and all the procedures that are set forth in that law.

Chairman Sims requested that Mr. Harris also address the title search procedure.

Mr. Harris responded that the process was an abbreviated title search including ownership and the existence or non-existence of any liens in favor of Cook County. He stated that he received a letter from Jacqueline Harder on Friday that indicated that while the County Board would try to push these through on an immediate basis, he would still have to provide completed title searches and some other documentation that he expects to have in the next 14 days.

Vice-Chairman Goslin, seconded by Commissioner Butler, moved the approval of Communication No. 257220, including PIN Nos. 28-01-104-002, 28-01-107-024, 28-01-104-003, 28-01-107-029, 28-01-104-004, 28-01-107-030, 28-01-104-005, 28-01-107-042, 28-01-104-006, 28-01-108-044, 28-01-104-007, 28-01-108-048, 28-01-104-011, 28-01-109-001, 28-01-104-013, 28-01-109-002, 28-01-104-014, 28-01-109-007, 28-01-104-016, 28-01-109-010, 28-01-104-108, 28-01-109-019, 28-01-104-019, 28-01-109-020, 28-01-104-021, 28-01-109-021, 28-01-104-022, 28-01-109-022, 28-01-104-024, 28-01-109-027, 28-01-104-029, 28-01-109-028, 28-01-105-023, 28-01-109-045, 28-01-105-024, 28-01-109-046, 28-01-105-027, 28-01-110-006, 28-01-105-028, 28-01-110-016, 28-01-105-033, 28-01-110-019, 28-01-105-034, 28-01-110-020, 28-01-105-035, 28-01-110-021, 28-01-105-037, 28-01-110-023, 28-01-105-042, 28-01-110-025, 28-01-105-043, 28-01-110-026, 28-01-105-044, 28-01-110-027, 28-01-105-045, 28-01-110-030, 28-01-105-046, 28-01-110-038, 28-01-105-047, 28-01-110-039, 28-01-105-048, 28-01-110-040, 28-01-106-002, 28-01-300-001, 28-01-106-007, 28-01-300-008, 28-01-106-008, 28-01-300-010, 28-01-106-011, 28-01-300-017, 28-01-106-013, 28-01-300-021, 28-01-106-015, 28-01-300-024, 28-01-106-016, 28-01-300-026, 28-01-106-017, 28-01-300-027, 28-01-106-018, 28-01-300-028, 28-01-107-017, 28-01-300-029, 28-01-107-022, 28-01-300-030, 28-01-107-023, 28-01-300-032.

The following PIN Nos. were withdrawn: 28-01-109-011, 28-01-109-012, 28-01-109-013, 28-01-109-014, 28-01-109-015, 28-01-109-016, 28-01-109-017, 28-01-109-018, 28-01-109-029, 28-01-109-030, 28-01-109-031, 28-01-109-032, 28-01-109-033, 28-01-109-034, 28-01-109-035, 28-01-109-036.

PIN No. 28-01-106-001 was ineligible. The motion carried.

Commissioner Peraica moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Vice-Chairman Goslin. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

FINANCE TAX DELINQUENCY SUBCOMMITTEE

DEBORAH SIMS, Chairman

ATTEST: SANDRA K. WILLIAMS, Secretary

_________________________

Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Sims, seconded by Commissioner Peraica, moved that the Report of the Finance Tax Delinquency Subcommittee be approved and adopted. The motion carried unanimously.

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

ITEM #7

Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by

JOHN H. STROGER, JR., President, Cook County Board of Commissioners

Co-Sponsored by

JERRY BUTLER, FORREST CLAYPOOL, EARLEAN COLLINS, JOHN P. DALEY,

ELIZABETH ANN DOODY GORMAN, GREGG GOSLIN, CARL R. HANSEN,

ROBERTO MALDONADO, JOSEPH MARIO MORENO, ANTHONY J. PERAICA,

MIKE QUIGLEY, PETER N. SILVESTRI, DEBORAH SIMS, BOBBIE L. STEELE and

LARRY SUFFREDIN, County Commissioners

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Almighty God in His infinite wisdom has called seven bold, intelligent and heroic individuals from our midst; and

WHEREAS, the tragic destruction of the Columbia space shuttle and the resulting deaths of all seven astronauts on board underscores the ultimate sacrifice that these seven individuals made in honor of our nation’s endless pursuit of advanced knowledge; and

WHEREAS, regrettably, prior to the announcement of Columbia’s destruction, many in our nation were totally unaware of the fact that a space shuttle mission had been in progress for over two weeks; and

WHEREAS, over the years, the United States space program has not only been a major source of pride, but a source of innovation, yielding an impressive array of technological advances utilized throughout the world advances such as the CAT scan, MRI, smoke detectors, or even ionic water filtration devices, just to name a few; and

WHEREAS, even though we are in an age where space travel has become routine it was Columbia’s 28th mission and the 113th shuttle flight let’s not diminish the stark reality that space exploration is a risky and often dangerous endeavor; and

WHEREAS, the tragic loss of our seven brave space explores should serve as a harsh reminder that virtually every envelope-pushing initiative has associated elements of risk or danger; and

WHEREAS, in the 100 years since the Wright brothers ushered in the era modern aviation, America’s space program has become an overwhelming success despite the fact that it garners little attention unless tragedy strikes; and

WHEREAS, with the tragic passing of the Columbia crew: Rick Husband, Michael Anderson, David Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark, William McCool and Ilan Ramon, we have lost seven individuals who possessed something far beyond courage, an unrelenting bold determination to confront any challenge head-on in support of our nation’s never-ending drive for increased knowledge and ingenuity.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the more than five million residents of Cook County, does hereby express its deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathy to the family, friends and loved ones of the entire crew of the Columbia space shuttle.

_________________________

Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Butler, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted. The motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC TESTIMONY

ITEM #8

Pursuant to Rule 4-30, George Blakemore, addressed the President and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Mr. Blakemore spoke concerning several issues regarding Cook County.