Cook County Asset Management Committee Meeting - June 10, 2026
Cook County Asset Management Committee Meeting - June 10, 2026
The Cook County Asset Management Committee convened on June 10, 2026, at 9:15 AM. The meeting focused on a single agenda item: a $13.25 million increase to the countywide Job Order Contract (JOC) program. Commissioners expressed concerns over transparency, procurement authority, and contractor performance, leading to a divided vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- George Blake Lore spoke about the importance of investing in young people and urged commissioners to remember their heritage and community obligations, particularly when accepting campaign contributions.
- Tywan Sims testified about his experience with the domestic relations division, alleging manipulation of court documents and denial of due process in a child custody and order of protection case. He pointedly asked when he was deemed unfit, stating he faces a behavioral clinical exam requirement.
Discussion Items
- Item 26-0842: Authorization for Chief Procurement Officer to increase contract with multiple vendors for countywide JOC program by $13,250,000.
- Catherine Leonardo (Deputy Bureau Chief, Bureau of Asset Management) presented the item, noting the increase addresses increased capacity for the FY26 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), particularly for health and hospitals and public safety portfolios. Projects include sewer replacement at Provident Hospital, water main replacement at Skokie Courthouse, emergency generator work at the DOC campus and courthouses, and fire alarm upgrades at county corrections, courts, and health facilities.
- Earl Manning (Director of Capital Planning) provided details on the JOC program: current contract authority is $197.25 million; at end of 2025, $94.51 million was spent; the program helped avoid $7 million in costs; average contract size is $638,000.
- Commissioner Degnan raised concerns about the Chief Procurement Officer (Rafi) extending the contract by two years (through January 2028) without board notification, under new procurement code authority. He expressed discomfort with the lack of transparency for a nearly $200 million contract and noted a stop-work order on the 5th floor boardroom project. He requested more granular oversight and voted present.
- Commissioner Moore asked about vendor details, including BMI Construction, Stingray Electric, and MQ Sewer & Water contractors, seeking confirmation of local status, union signatory status, and MBE/WBE certification. He also questioned the timeline for completing the boardroom (estimated 80% complete, work resuming within a week).
- Commissioner Naya emphasized the need for transparency, asked for the difference between JOC and CMAR contracts, and confirmed that internal union employees (under COP agreements) have first opportunity to perform work under the JOC program.
- Chief Procurement Officer Rafi confirmed the renewal was time-only with no money attached, and that the $13.25 million increase is expected to be sufficient through the contract end (January 2028), with no additional funding requests anticipated for these vendors.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to approve Item 26-0842: Vice Chair Aguilar moved, seconded by Commissioner Naya. The motion passed despite a present vote from Commissioner Degnan and Commissioner [Commissioner Moore – name not fully captured]. The chair noted the motion passes despite the division.
- Commissioner Degnan stated he will propose rule changes next month regarding notification requirements for contract extensions.
- Meeting adjourned after approval of item 26-0842.
Consent Calendar
- Item 26-1660: Approval of minutes from the May 13, 2026 meeting – passed unanimously.
Vote Summary
- Item 26-1660: Approved by voice vote (all ayes).
- Item 26-0842: Passed with a split vote; Commissioners Degnan and [Moore] recorded as present.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you. I'd like to reconvene uh asset management. Can you please add Commissioner Naya to the role? Ma'am, at your recess meeting, we had a number of members that were absent. Commissioner Aguilar is now present. Commissioner Naya is now present. Commissioner Moore. Commissioner Moore is present. You do have a quorum. All members present with the exception of Sean Morrison. Great. Are there any public speakers? You do have public speakers in this order, please. Jessica Jackson, Taiwan Sims, George Blake Lore. If you're in the room, please come to the mic. Whatever order you show up now is fine. Please begin speaking once you're there. And give us your name. We are blessed with our young people. It means uh the technology, it means the building, it means the computers. But what about the human access? The human that's the most important of all the human. And and if we don't use our young people, they are gifts. They are pearls, they are diamonds. And when we can't shape them up and shine them up, uh uh, we have lost. So uh I I'm spent these other activists have gone. They're focused on their issues, and good, they should. But the access uh of the county, what is the big greatest county? It's staff, it's people but these people are not working in the interest of our community. Now you are now uh they say I moved on uh to DC. Uh well, you are accessed uh to uh uh in your position as a commissioner here. What motivates our people? Is it money? Is it money? And who sponsors our people? Who was uh uh I was like who sponsors George little baby George, uh-huh, my daddy, my mama. I didn't have to get but they took care of me. So our people got to go back. We got to be selfish. You don't owe them nothing, and you have that little group or whatever that that's put you up and donated money to you to go to DC, but your lines is supposed to be to your blackness. They say you come from a professional uh a black family. You got history. You can't let us down when you go to DC. You got to know that. Know who you are. Your assets is your blackness. Now whoever sponsored you and gave all this hundreds of thousands of dollars for your campaign. No, you're a black lady. And you must never forget that's the access that you have your history, your legacy, or your family. People talk very uh highly of you, and they didn't get to be professional or blacks by other white folks paying them.
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