Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting – September 24, 2026

The Cook County Board of Commissioners met on September 24, 2026, to act on a broad consent agenda covering finance, administration, asset management, health, public safety, and appointments. The most substantial debate concerned Chairman Daly's resolution opposing Amtrak's proposed Midwest maintenance facility at the Union Pacific Canal Yard, which the board approved. Most remaining items passed by voice vote, with several commissioners recorded as "present" on select items. Item numbers, names, and dollar amounts are as read in the transcript and may contain transcription errors.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously appointed Commissioner Moore as Acting President Pro Tem, on a motion by Commissioner Britton, with no dissenting votes.
• Approved reappointments: Paul Montez II, Anthony Iasco, and Judith Hamill to the Cook County Zoning Board of Appeals; Edward Loeb to the Woodley Road Sanitary District (referred to Finance).
• Approved an interagency agreement between the Office of the Chief Judge, the Cook County Justice Advisory Council, and Lori's Children Hospital (item 262251, referred to Finance).
• Approved a resolution opposing the proposed Amtrak Midwest maintenance facility at the Union Pacific Canal Yard and calling for a comprehensive environmental review (item 262333).
• Approved a request for the County Auditor to initiate an audit (item 262315) and a 13th District fund transfer (referred to Audit).
• Received and filed the ARPA Behavioral Health Support and Expansion Program Report for December 1, 2023 through November 30, 2024; approved ordinance amendment 262113.
• Roll call: 16 ayes, 6 present on item 262315 only (Commissioners Britton, McCaskill, Moore, Morita, Sean Morrison, and Vasquez), and 1 excused absence (Commissioner Lowry). All items passed; on all other items, the 22 commissioners present voted aye.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Chairman Daly submitted for the record 4,600 petition signatures in opposition to the Amtrak facility, letters of support from Grace Chan (Better Chinese American), Teresa Ma, State Senators Mattie Hunter and Celina Villanueva, Representatives Aaron Ortiz and Sonya Harper, and Alderman Nicole Lee; press-conference support from Maria Papis, Danny Davis, Susana Mendoza, and Mike Quigley; and transparency letters to Amtrak from Senators Durbin, Duckworth, and Garcia, Friends of the Parks, and Friends of the River. He noted that Minnie Minoso Academy submitted 106 signatures from teachers, staff, and parents, and that the Greater Bridgeport South Loop Chamber of Commerce and Chicago Teachers Union members at nearby schools would bring an opposition letter to their next meeting.
• Commissioners acknowledged residents, stakeholders, and labor representatives who testified earlier in the day or reached out directly on the Amtrak resolution and the jail independent-review resolution (item 262018).

Discussion Items

• Amtrak resolution (262333):
  • Chairman Daly, the sponsor, opposed a 24-hour railroad maintenance facility on 70 acres owned by the Illinois Sports Authority, stating it would sit next to Armory Square, Robert Healy School, Minnie Minoso Academy, Air Force Academy, Armory School, Bridgeport Catholic, and T.E. Brown departments, and that Chinatown, Armour Park, Wentworth Gardens, and Bridgeport are "totally opposed." He cited the absence of an Environmental Impact Statement; unanswered questions about noise, vibration, air quality, traffic, safety, and alternative locations; Amtrak's last-minute relocation of a Chinatown public meeting and lack of interpretation services; and said union jobs can move to any location, noting he has never voted against a union contract. He also thanked Mayor Brianna Johnson (as transcribed) for making department heads available to the community.
  • Commissioner Miller expressed support, saying the resolution is not opposed to passenger rail, but the facility is heavy industrial use amid homes, schools, and families; diesel particulate matter, noise, vibration, stormwater runoff, hazardous materials, round-the-clock lighting, truck traffic, asthma rates, property values, and safety are real concerns for residents. She asked the Illinois EPA, the U.S. EPA (which she noted "has been dismantled"), and the Federal Railroad Administration to rigorously review the project and find reasonable alternatives, and reaffirmed her 100% union voting record.
  • Commissioner Britton expressed support, recalling a proposed holding track eliminated near Glenbrook South High School after a groundswell of opposition in the 14th district; he said railroads are "almost a super authority" but respond to elected officials. He said he stands with Labor but "we must respectfully agree to disagree" on this issue.
  • Commissioner Trevor (as transcribed) expressed support, comparing it to the O'Hare Flyer Project in his district and objecting to federal rail projects sidestepping local control and environmental review.
  • Commissioner Alma (as transcribed) expressed support, saying the county lacks jurisdiction but must center residents' concerns and hold all large projects—including data centers—to the same standard of transparency and communication.
  • Commissioner Morrison (as transcribed) expressed support, noting Bridgeport is an Asian-majority community, homeowners' concerns are valid, and commissioners typically defer to the district commissioner.
  • Commissioner Sean Morrison expressed support, citing the board's history of supporting labor and district commissioners and the outpouring of opposition from the community itself.
• Sheriff–Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) IGA (262090): Sheriff's office staff ("Jason"), responding to Commissioner Anaya's questions, said the law enforcement task force will report to the newly established NITA board at the end of December; the draft report will become public; Illinois State Police, Metropolis (as transcribed), and the Chicago Police Department are mandated participants, with other agencies able to join; and NITA will reimburse the Sheriff's office for pilot costs from funds originally set aside by the RTA.
• Chairman Daly commended the Medical Examiner's office for identifying at least 50 families and giving them relief that their deceased loved ones will be remembered, with work continuing.
• Commissioner Stamps thanked public commenters on item 262018 (independent review of the Cook County jail), saying deferral "does not mean dismissal" but an opportunity to strengthen the resolution.
• Commissioner Anaya highlighted two referred items: 262426 (prohibiting disclosure of personal information), noting a 2022 hearing where agencies purchased consumer identities—283 million consumer identities from over 10,000 government and commercial sources—and 261993, which would expand vital-records fee waivers for domestic violence survivors and surviving dependents beyond homeless or shelter status.
• Commissioners praised the Cook County Health Board appointments and congratulated the County Clerk's Office on receiving the U.S. Election Assistance Commission Clearinghouse Award for Excellence in Election Administration.

Committee Concurrences

• Finance: Received and filed legal/expert witness reports, revenue and expense reports through June 30, 2026, and the Cook County Health monthly report (as amended); approved workers' compensation settlement reports (June and July 2026), the risk management settlements report (September 1–30, 2026), and subrogation recoveries; deferred 261514 (contract rights ordinance amendment); approved a Cook County Land Bank line of credit (261849).
• Health and Hospitals: Approved the CCDPH quarterly report for Q3 2026 (261082); deferred 262018 (independent review of the Cook County jail).
• Business and Economic Development: Approved the Greater Chicago Land Economic Partnership update and Class 6B/Class 8 property tax incentives in Des Plaines, Wheeling, Matteson, and Calumet City.
• Asset Management: Approved leases at 525 West Van Buren Street and 120 North LaSalle Street, Chicago.
• Veterans: Received and filed the VACCC FY26 Q2 report (March 1–May 31, 2026).
• Human Relations: Received and filed item 261901.
• Rules and Administration: Approved the Journal of Proceedings and consent calendar journal for July 16, 2026.
• Transportation: Approved diesel/unleaded fuel supply, street-sweeping equipment rental, I-294 Midlothian Turnpike preliminary engineering, e-builder and City Works software licenses, I-294 Pulaski Road interchange work, East Lake Avenue/North Branch Chicago River motor fuel tax work, Schaumburg construction, and Forest Preserve design/engineering items.
• Criminal Justice: Approved the Chicago Cook County Task Force to Reduce Violence Against Women (261965), with all present commissioners added as co-sponsors.
• Legislation and IGR: Approved the Government Alliance for Safer Communities interagency agreement; appointments of Catherine Sorga (Cook County Land Bank Authority Director) and Dr. Alan Jackson, Dr. Khalle Malik, Dr. Moses Simon, Daria Torrell, and Larry Singer (Cook County Health Board of Directors); and the congratulatory resolution for the County Clerk's Office.
• Audit: Received and filed the ARPA Good Faith Purchasing Program review (December 1, 2023–November 30, 2024), the County Auditor's open recommendations status report, and the audit of the Sheriff's Office Commissary.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the Amtrak opposition resolution (262333) with no recorded no votes (22 ayes among commissioners present, 1 excused absence).
• Approved health and insurance contracts, including the Blue Cross Blue Shield medical benefits renewal with an increase to $63 million (December 1, 2026–November 2028), the Caremark Health benefits management increase of $290 million (December 1, 2026–November 30, 2028), the Davis Vision increase of $3,500,000, Cook County Health grants of $686,000 and $990,000, and the Cook County Health preliminary budget (262215).
• Approved the Openlands donation of 50 mature shade trees native to Northeast Illinois; a Huron Consulting furniture donation estimated at $1.3 million; the prevailing wage increase with the Coalition of Unionized Public Employees; and the prevailing rate amendment for Local 73 Sheet Metal Workers.
• Approved appointments of Jamie Myers (Bureau Chief, Asset Management) and Megan Carlone (Administrator, Animals and Rabies Control), and the Cook County Health Board directors listed above.
• Approved transfers including $200,000 of ARPA funds (Connect Communities to Sustainable Communities pillars), $23,830 for late vendor invoices, $300,000 for the Treasurer's office, $89,000 for office-based rental, and two $150 veterans assistance transfers (262149 and 262383, as transcribed).
• Deferred to the October 22 board meeting: Beacon Sales/QXO and Macro Supply/Johnson Pipe contracts; also deferred 262146 (budget reclassification report), 261514 (contract rights ordinance), and 262018 (jail independent review resolution).
• Recorded "present" votes: six commissioners on 262315; Commissioners Anaya, Britton, Kevin Morrison, and Morita on 262041, 262042, and 262046; Commissioner Moore on 262159; Commissioner Morita on 262071 and 262199. Commissioner Lowry was an excused absence.