Bob Brown

On the Record

What are your top ideas for reducing the cost of running county government?

We must hold the line on property taxes. Consequently, county department heads must work to find ways to reduce costs through greater cooperation and by avoiding the duplication of services and equipment. For example, as a member our county board highway committee, I have discussed whether the Highway Department’s road mowing crews could also mow the areas surrounding county buildings, and the economies of using the department’s snow plows to also clear lanes and parking lots in county forest preserves. In addition, at a recent county board meeting I suggested that a county human resources summit be held to identify opportunities for job sharing between departments as well as potential cost savings through better coordination and scheduling of the auto and truck fleet. In short, county government needs to be reviewed and managed more like a single large organization.

What is the greatest challenge facing the county today and how do you plan to address it?

The greatest challenge is continuing to attract and create good paying jobs. As a member of our county board’s economic development committee, I supported funding the marketing programs of the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation to attract and expand “green” manufacturing companies, and the formation of a new County Arts Council to attract and develop businesses related to the arts and entertainment. In addition, our committee cooperated with Northern Illinois University to obtain state and federal grants to install a high-speed fiber-optic network throughout DeKalb County which will attract data communication firms and technology centers. And, we funded the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau to showcase our area and increase the number of tourists and filmmakers. As a result, new businesses have and will continue to establish in DeKalb County.

What recent county board decision do you most disagree with and why?

I did not support the recent drawing of revised county board districts, particularly the final map that divided the town of Cortland and placed its residents in three different districts.

Do you support conducting fewer county board meetings during the year?

I support canceling any county board committee or monthly meeting that does not have sufficient business or critical deadlines on its agenda to justify the time and expense of conducting such a meeting. The current policy to reduce from 12 to 10 the total number of monthly meetings each year is a good alternative to test and evaluate during these tough economic times. However, our county board must always be vigilant to not reduce public access and citizen participation.

Is the county board and its business accessible enough to taxpayers?

County board members and staff must continually strive to make our county government as accessible and transparent as possible through several communication methods. Citizens are invited to attend all county board committee and monthly meetings. The meeting schedules, agendas and minutes are posted on our county website (dekalbcounty.org) and all meeting dates should also be announced in all local newspapers. As I have proposed, county board monthly meetings should be televised and streamed live as well as recorded and made available at any time on our county website. “Town Hall” informational sessions led by elected county department heads and committee meetings conducted by county board members should also be regularly scheduled throughout DeKalb County to bring government to the people.

Do you support the ongoing effort to expand the county jail?

Gangs, drugs and guns are on the rise in DeKalb County. The Sheriff’s Department and local law enforcement agencies must have the police officers, patrol cars and modern technology needed to prevent and reduce crime. I also support the expansion of the county jail. However, I do not support funding the construction of a new jail by greatly expanding the county landfill in order to generate increased county income through more tipping fees paid to dump more garbage from several surrounding counties.