OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Transportation Committee Meeting - May 13, 2026

Board of Commissioners — Wednesday, May 13, 2026
BodyCook County, Illinois
SessionBoard of Commissioners
DateWednesday, May 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

The hour of 1030 having come and gone.

0:04

I'd like to call the Transportation Committee to order.

0:08

Madam Secretary, we please take the Thank you, sir.

0:10

Commissioner Aguilar.

0:12

Commissioner Aguilar.

0:14

Commissioner Naya.

0:16

Commissioner Britton.

0:19

Is present.

0:19

Thank you.

0:20

Commissioner Daly.

0:21

Commissioner Degnan.

0:23

Commissioner Gaynor.

0:26

Is absent.

0:26

Commissioner Naya.

0:28

Absent.

0:28

Commissioner Aguilar.

0:30

Absent.

0:30

Commissioner Laurie.

0:31

Present.

0:32

Commissioner McCasco.

0:34

Commissioner Miller.

0:36

Commissioner Miller, absent.

0:38

Commissioner Marita.

0:41

Morita present.

0:42

Commissioner Rita is present participating remotely.

0:45

Commissioner Kevin Morrison.

0:47

Thank you.

0:48

Commissioner Sean Morrison.

0:49

Present.

0:50

Commissioner Scott.

0:51

Commissioner Stamps.

0:53

Commissioner Trevor.

0:54

Here.

0:54

Commissioner Vasquez.

0:57

Mr.

0:57

Chairman is present.

0:59

And let me revisit those that did not respond.

1:02

I have an absence for Commissioner Aguilar.

1:05

Commissioner Naya.

1:06

Commissioner Gaynor.

1:08

Commissioner Miller.

1:10

Sir, you do have a quorum.

1:12

All right, finding that we have a quorum.

1:13

I'd like to make a motion to allow members who are not present to participate remotely.

1:20

We told by Commissioner Scott, seconded by Commissioner Scott Britton.

1:26

Michael Scott and Scott Britain.

1:28

Thank you.

1:29

Remote roll call.

1:30

Moved by Commissioner Scott, second by Commissioner Britton.

1:32

Commissioner Aguilar is absent.

1:34

Commissioner Naya is absent.

1:37

Commissioner Britton.

1:38

Commissioner Britton is on.

1:39

Commissioner Daly.

1:41

Commissioner Daly is on.

1:42

Commissioner Degnan.

1:46

Is absent.

1:49

Commissioner Gaynor is absent.

1:51

Commissioner Laurie.

1:52

Commissioner McCasco.

1:54

Commissioner Miller.

1:56

Previous votes were all aye.

1:57

Commissioner Marita.

2:00

Morita I.

2:02

Commissioner Kevin Morrison.

2:05

Commissioner Sean Morrison.

2:06

Commissioner Scott.

2:08

Commissioner Stamps.

2:09

Commissioner Trevor.

2:10

Commissioner Vasquez.

2:12

Mr.

2:13

Chairman.

2:15

Chairman 13 eyes for absent.

2:17

They are currently for Commissioner Armaya to the room.

2:20

I will add Commissioner Naya.

2:22

Is that affirmative in the previous votes?

2:24

Yes.

2:27

Yes.

2:28

Commissioner Miller.

2:30

For remote roll call participation, the absences are Commissioner Aguilar.

2:34

Commissioner Degnan.

2:36

Commissioner Gaynor.

2:37

14 3 for remote roll call.

2:39

Thank you.

2:41

We'd like to start with uh public speaking.

2:45

Do we have any public speakers?

2:46

We do.

2:46

Chairman, we have three register for speak speaking.

2:49

The public speaking rules still remain the same.

2:52

And as I call your name, come to the public speaking mic.

2:56

Uh George Blakemore, followed by Jessica Jackson, and then Taiwan Simps.

3:00

You have three minutes to address the body.

3:02

I'll keep time for you.

3:03

Is George Blakemore in the room?

3:06

If not, we'll go right to Jessica Jackson.

3:13

Okay, good morning again.

3:15

All right, so Stanley Moore.

3:18

Um this is not to badge up on you.

3:24

Okay, because you were the first commissioner to meet with me, right?

3:29

To about this case.

3:30

So let's be clear on that.

3:32

So it's not to pound on you per se, right?

3:37

My issue that I have, and I'm glad that you're here, is because it seems to be a pattern of fraudulent town hall meetings, fraudulent press conferences, right?

3:50

By commissioners and aldermen, where you had these town hall meetings in these churches for the community to come out to deal with whatever issue that you all want to put on a press conference.

4:07

When in fact you all already know that those are fraudulent meetings, you all are not helping the community at all.

4:17

You're hauling these senior citizens into these churches, and giving them the false illusion like you're trying to help them.

4:28

You see it over and over and over again.

4:31

You saw it here at this property tax after death thing on uh Saturday, April 11, 2026 at St.

4:41

Paul Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

4:44

That was with Commissioner Michael Scott and Alderwoman Pat Dows.

4:51

Here's another one property after death forum on Saturday, October 12, 2024.

5:00

This one was done by supposed to have been that Bill Laurie and David Moore.

5:07

All the time during that period of time, which Laurie was supposed to be helping me with my case, my probate case that he threw when they had that meeting with the public administrators.

5:20

A fraudulent town hall.

5:25

With Walgreens.

5:36

Again, a room full in this time at St.

5:42

Mark's United Methodist Church.

5:44

Again, with seniors sitting in there thinking they're getting some help and they not getting no help.

5:50

But you all are not doing what you can do actually to help people whose property is being taken.

5:56

Something that y'all know is actually happening to senior citizens.

6:06

Over there at the People Harvest Church with Taurus stamps over there.

6:11

Telling them about CHA when it's a whole church full of seniors that have property taxes.

6:17

We ain't on CHA.

6:20

It's elder abuse at this point.

6:23

It's elder abuse.

6:24

And I'm gonna see to it that we file an elder abuse charge against.

6:29

And now y'all trying to stop those people from getting paid that got that federal finding.

6:35

30 seconds.

6:40

Over and over and over again.

6:42

It's like y'all throwing bricks at the federal government.

6:46

What's gonna make you stop?

6:49

Jail.

6:50

And time is expired.

6:52

Next speaker.

7:08

Please state your name and begin.

7:10

So my name is Taiwan Samspell T I W O N S I M S.

7:15

Um, once again, I'm here to speak about well, not about the same case.

7:19

So the case 25120 458-301 and 25120-869-201 will be resolved perfectly this Friday.

7:32

Um through diligence, I was able to figure out how to present it to the public defender's office so that they might be able to help me.

7:42

Um however, there's a case which started off as 23 OP 72315 when I went down.

7:51

This was this case started March 2023, March 23rd, 2023, when I was attacked by my kid's mom, um Alberta Reed, where she did then destroyed my property.

8:03

Um there was no charges filed.

8:05

I then went the next day to file the order of protection, which is the 23 OP case, and was not given that order protection.

8:14

However, in my attempt to file the parentage case, which will be 23D79597, the respondent Alberta Reed was able to obtain an order of protection against me.

8:26

Now, before we even got over to 50 West Washington, we was at 555 West Harrison where she filed a motion to vacate.

8:34

Miss Reed has been allowed multiple more than one time to allege horrific things against me, and I've not been given the opportunity to stand in the room and say, hey, please make it uh make sense.

8:51

She said that I was I gave the police a gun, a bunch of different things.

8:55

I just want to figure out how.

8:58

If in any way this commission can address it, because also there's a woman over in 50 West Washington, Deanna Williamson who has an order of protection against me.

9:08

She's the manager of the domestic relations.

9:11

Because of my issue of coming down there consistently over and over again, advocating for myself, this woman was being able to get a fraudulent order protection against me.

9:20

And I need these things taken off my life.

9:23

And as I explained, this issue of due process, the public defender's office made nothing but concessions in regards to 50 West Washington.

9:31

So I don't know how this is gonna end.

9:33

They want me to go to trial, and I know that I'm I shouldn't be going to trial.

9:39

So if there's any way, commissioners that you all can direct me, enlighten me, instruct me, guide me.

9:49

I'm more than open.

9:51

Please, Chairman, that concludes your list of speakers for this meeting.

9:59

Thank you, speakers.

10:04

I'd like to uh add Commissioner Alma Naya to the room and also Commissioner Frank Aguilar to the room.

10:10

Move your mic up, sir.

10:11

It's been thank you.

10:18

Remote roll call.

10:20

We will add Commissioner Degnan to the remote roll call.

10:24

Thank you, Madam Secretary.

10:27

Commissioner Frank Aguilar will move the approval of the minutes 2614 to the approval of the minutes from the meeting on April 15th, 2026.

10:38

Seconded by Commissioner Scott Britton.

10:40

All those in favor, please say aye.

10:42

Aye.

10:59

Seconded by Commissioner Scott Britton.

11:02

Or did he leave the room?

11:03

No.

11:03

Okay.

11:04

Seconded by Commissioner Scott Britain.

11:06

Item 26, 1044 is a payment approval.

11:10

This item seeks approval for a single payment tonight.

11:13

Engineering for completion of the contracted professional engineering services for Plainfield Road from County Line Road to East Avenue.

11:21

All work was completed within the contract period ending 1231, 2025.

11:26

But the contract expired before the final approved invoice could be paid.

11:30

Department of Transportation is requesting the county board approval to pay the final payment in the amount of 42,317.

11:39

Item 26, 1045 is a payment approval.

11:43

The item seeks approval for three payments totaling 287,257.82 cents to meet electric company for completion of the contract and maintenance services for the county's electrical and mechanical assets, such as traffic signaling, roadway lighting, stormwater pumping stations.

12:01

All work was completed within the contract period, which ended 1231, 2025.

12:07

But this contract expired before the final approved invoices could be paid.

12:23

A total of 287,257.

12:29

Are there any questions for any of the uh departments?

12:32

Transportation.

12:33

Seeing no questions from any of the commissioners.

12:36

Roll call.

12:37

Thank you, Chairman.

12:38

And this is a bundle roll call for both items 1044 and 1045.

12:42

Commissioner Aguilar, your vote.

12:44

Aye.

12:44

Commissioner Naya.

12:46

Commissioner Britton.

12:46

Aye.

12:47

Commissioner Daly.

12:48

Commissioner Degnan.

12:49

Aye.

12:50

Previous votes were all aye.

12:51

Commissioner Gaynor.

12:53

Absent.

12:54

Commissioner Laurie.

12:55

Aye.

12:55

Commissioner McCaskill.

12:58

Aye.

12:59

Commissioner Marita.

13:03

Maureen.

13:04

Commissioner Kevin Morrison.

13:05

Previous votes were all aye.

13:07

Commissioner Sean Morrison.

13:08

Morrison aye.

13:09

Commissioner Scott.

13:10

Aye.

13:10

Commissioner Stamps.

13:11

Aye.

13:11

Commissioner Trevor.

13:12

Aye.

13:13

Commissioner Vasquez.

13:14

Aye.

13:15

Mr.

13:15

Chairman.

13:17

Chairman, you have 16 ayes, one absent vote for Commissioner Gaynor.

13:22

Item passes.

13:24

With no further items before this body, Commissioner Nyle will move to adjourn.

13:29

Second by Commissioner Sean Morrison.

13:31

All those in favor of adjournment.

13:33

Aye.

13:34

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████████31%
Community Engagement█████████████████████████25%
Criminal Justice██████████████████18%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████18%
Domestic Violence████████8%
Summary of Proceedings

Transportation Committee Meeting - May 13, 2026

The Transportation Committee was called to order shortly after 10:30 AM on May 13, 2026, with Chair presiding. A quorum was established, and a motion to allow remote participation for absent members passed with 14 ayes and 3 absences (Commissioners Aguilar, Degnan, Gaynor). After additional members arrived, the final remote participation tally was 16-0-1 (Gaynor absent). The meeting included public comments, approval of prior meeting minutes, and two payment approvals for contracted services.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (Item 26-14): Motion to approve the minutes from the April 15, 2026 meeting was moved by Commissioner Aguilar and seconded by Commissioner Britton. Approved by voice vote.
  • Payment Approval for Plainfield Road Engineering (Item 26-1044): A single payment of $42,317 to Engineering for completion of professional engineering services on Plainfield Road from County Line Road to East Avenue. Work was completed within the contract period ending December 31, 2025, but the final invoice was processed after contract expiration. No questions were raised.
  • Payment Approval for Electrical & Mechanical Maintenance (Item 26-1045): Three payments totaling $287,257.82 to meet electric company for maintenance of traffic signaling, roadway lighting, and stormwater pumping stations. Work completed within contract period ending December 31, 2025, but invoices arrived after contract expiration. No questions were raised.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Stanley Moore: Expressed strong dissatisfaction with what he described as fraudulent town hall meetings and press conferences by commissioners and aldermen. He cited examples of property tax forums held at churches (e.g., April 11, 2026 at St. Paul CME with Commissioner Michael Scott and Alderwoman Pat Dows; October 12, 2024 event with Commissioner Bill Laurie and David Moore). Moore argued that these events mislead senior citizens without providing real assistance and alleged that elected officials are not helping people whose property is being taken. He threatened to file elder abuse charges and criticized efforts to stop payments from a federal finding. His time was expired after 30 seconds.
  • Taiwan Sims: Discussed two personal legal cases (case numbers 25120458-301 and 25120869-201) that he expects to resolve on May 15, 2026, through assistance from the public defender's office. He also described a separate incident from March 2023 involving an order of protection and alleged that he was not given due process. He mentioned a fraudulent order of protection filed by Deanna Williamson, a manager of domestic relations at 50 West Washington, and requested guidance from the commission on how to address these issues.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion for Remote Participation: Passed 14-0-3 (Aguilar, Degnan, Gaynor absent) initially, later updated to 16-0-1 (Gaynor absent) after additional members joined.
  • Approval of Minutes (Item 26-14): Approved by voice vote.
  • Payment Approvals (Items 26-1044 and 26-1045): Approved in a bundled roll call vote with 16 ayes and 1 absent (Commissioner Gaynor). Both items passed.
  • Adjournment: Motion moved by Commissioner Nyle (likely a transcription error for Commissioner Naya?) and seconded by Commissioner Sean Morrison; all present voted aye.

Meeting Transcript

The hour of 1030 having come and gone. I'd like to call the Transportation Committee to order. Madam Secretary, we please take the Thank you, sir. Commissioner Aguilar. Commissioner Aguilar. Commissioner Naya. Commissioner Britton. Is present. Thank you. Commissioner Daly. Commissioner Degnan. Commissioner Gaynor. Is absent. Commissioner Naya. Absent. Commissioner Aguilar. Absent. Commissioner Laurie. Present. Commissioner McCasco. Commissioner Miller. Commissioner Miller, absent. Commissioner Marita. Morita present. Commissioner Rita is present participating remotely. Commissioner Kevin Morrison. Thank you. Commissioner Sean Morrison. Present. Commissioner Scott. Commissioner Stamps. Commissioner Trevor. Here. Commissioner Vasquez. Mr. Chairman is present. And let me revisit those that did not respond. I have an absence for Commissioner Aguilar. Commissioner Naya. Commissioner Gaynor. Commissioner Miller. Sir, you do have a quorum. All right, finding that we have a quorum. I'd like to make a motion to allow members who are not present to participate remotely. We told by Commissioner Scott, seconded by Commissioner Scott Britton. Michael Scott and Scott Britain. Thank you. Remote roll call. Moved by Commissioner Scott, second by Commissioner Britton. Commissioner Aguilar is absent.

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