Kane County Board met Jan. 14.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Special Meeting of the Kane County Board was held at the Kane County Government Center, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A, Geneva, IL 60134.
Chairman Pierog called the meeting to order at 11:30 AM.
2. ROLL CALL
| Attendee Name | Organization | Title | Status | Arrived |
| Corinne M. Pierog | Kane County | Chairman | Present | |
| Deborah Allan | Kane County | Board Member | Remote | |
| Mavis Bates | Kane County | Board Member | Remote | |
| Dale Berman | Kane County | Board Member | Present | |
| David Brown | Kane County | Board Member | Absent | |
| Mark Davoust | Kane County | Board Member | Absent | |
| Ron Ford | Kane County | Board Member | Present | |
| Drew Frasz | Kane County | Board Member | Remote | |
| Michelle Gumz | Kane County | Board Member | Remote | |
| Mo Iqbal | Kane County | Board Member | Remote | |
| Michael Kenyon | Kane County | Board Member | Present | |
| Chris Kious | Kane County | Board Member | Present | |
| Tom Koppie | Kane County | Board Member | Remote | |
| Bill Lenert | Kane County | Board Member | Remote | |
| Anita Lewis | Kane County | Board Member | Remote | |
| John Martin | Kane County | Board Member | Present | |
| Myrna Molina | Kane County | Board Member | Remote | |
| Jarett Sanchez | Kane County | Board Member | Remote | |
| Kenneth C. Shepro | Kane County | Board Member | Remote | |
| Monica Silva | Kane County | Board Member | Remote | |
| Cherryl Strathmann | Kane County | Board Member | Remote | |
| Clifford Surges | Kane County | Board Member | Present | |
| Vern Tepe | Kane County | Board Member | Present | |
| Todd Wallace | Kane County | Board Member | Present | |
| Barbara Wojnicki | Kane County | Board Member | Present |
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & INVOCATION
Member Martin led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
A. Non-Agenda Items None.
B. Agenda Items
Mr. Doug Warlick, a Geneva resident, attorney, and vice chairman of the Geneva Township Republican Central Committee, voiced his objections to the newly proposed map, specifically Geneva Twp. Precinct 11 which was now part of Precinct No. 10 and which was now larger than No. 11. He was of the understanding that the map redraw was to make the districts more manageable and the proposed was the opposite. He suggested to slow down the process, as it appeared rushed, and recommended to divide the new Precinct 10 at the river. He asked the County Board to reject the proposed map.
Ms. Sue Dixon, who is the secretary for Geneva Township Precinct 8, voiced concerns about the mapping process. She stated there will now be more precincts in Geneva Township as compared to prior and how would they be addressed. She also noted in Geneva Township there were lost precinct committeemen due to the remapping. She further asked why was the (mapping) process started later if the law was known on November 15th, who reviewed the maps, and who decided to consolidate the districts? She voiced the challenges that affected both parties. Ms. Dixon felt the Clerk's office had a responsibility for the process and asked the board to not support the new map.
5. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Madam Chair requested a change in the agenda to discuss Resolution No. 22-37. No objections were voiced. (The board moved down the agenda to Resolution No. 22-37.)
A. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSION
· Madam Chair Comments – None.
B. Resolutions and Ordinances
Res. #22 - 37 Appointing Executive Director of Human Resources Management Department and Authorizing Appointment of IMRF Authorized Agent
Human Services Committee Chair Surges and Madam Chair extended appreciation to HR Interim Director Lobrillo and her staff for running the department professionally during the transition. Ms. Jamie Lobrillo also extended her appreciation for consideration and the opportunity she was given.
| RESULT: ADOPTED BY ROLL CALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Clifford Surges, Board Member SECONDER: Chris Kious, Board Member AYES: Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Ron Ford, Drew Frasz, Michelle Gumz, Mo Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Tom Koppie, Bill Lenert, Anita Lewis, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Kenneth C. Shepro, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford Surges, Vern Tepe, Todd Wallace, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: David Brown, Mark Davoust |
Madam Chair Pierog provided opening comments about the importance of the right to vote and what our County’s Veterans’ Memorial stood for as well as the upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. She asked for this board's approval of the maps being presented and to support the resolution.
Information Technology Dir. Fahnestock reviewed a PowerPoint presentation on the proposed maps and explained how the boundary lines/precincts were determined in a three-step process. The splitting of the remainder of the precincts, after consultation with the State’s Attorney’s Office, could be done in June of next year. Fahnestock will be working with Public Service Committee Chair Tepe to address future precinct splits. He then reviewed some of the line adjustments that were made by his GIS team, stating not more than 50 voters were affected.
Fahnestock provided to the board an amended ordinance with an Exhibit B for consideration, explaining the difference between the original ordinance and Exhibit A.
Asst. Chief Deputy Clerk John Duggan explained that while it is a function of the County Board to change the boundaries, the Clerk’s office has to administer the election. The Clerk's office requested the Exhibit B revision because of the need to maintain precincts within a township. Mr. Duggan explained the Clerk was concerned about the compressed schedule of the next primary election and was taking into consideration the candidates' timeline for campaigns.
Member Tepe made a motion, second by Berman, to amend Resolution No. 22-36 to allow for the incorporation of changes referenced in Exhibit B which allow for the alignment of the individual precinct lines to the township lines.
Addressing the amended ordinance that he presented, Director Fahnestock explained the new Whereas language inserted into the proposed ordinance as it addresses the changes made to the precincts so that no precinct is situated in more than one township. The new Exhibit B would amend the current Exhibit A. (Examples followed on the overhead.)
Discussion by the board varied from: 1) why some precincts had over 1200 registered voters when the goal was to reduce precincts under 1200, 2) why were precinct boundaries drawn using voters versus population, 3) was there a legal way to comply with the minimum required rather than hurrying only to correct a change in another year, and 4); what would occur if the proposed maps were not adopted.
Atty. Duggan returned and explained that the Clerk's Office will deal with whatever maps the board supports, citing the County has a statutory duty to address the maps every decennial. In addition, he explained a number of options existed for voters to vote and a 1600-sized precinct was not a difficult precinct size to administer. If more precincts were created, he explained it would cost the county financially for equipment, judges training and payroll, which would be unnecessary at this time.
Asst. State’s Attorney Niermann and Member Shepro explained, in more depth, their interpretation of the state’s election code pertaining to this matter. Other members 1) provided their input on supporting the map changes, 2) acknowledged that combining precincts disenfranchises precinct committeemen, 3) voiced the statute says to divide large precincts and not combine them, and 4) voiced that the costs stated by the Clerk’s office did not make sense. Fahnestock further explained the challenges that would occur if the proposed map changes did not go forward. Asst. State’s Atty. Troost also spoke to the reasons why to consider the map changes, pointing out how the election code changed in November (2021).
Member Shepro also 1) read election code that explained if the board failed to split or combine precincts, or readjust the election districts, the existing precincts would continue until the next regular June meeting, and, at that time the board could readjust the election districts; 2) there was no state mandate; and 3) the word “practicable” was not a requirement when no penalty existed.
Member Strathmann shared comments on how some Elgin precincts handle having more than one committee person, i.e., one will get appointed to another precinct, which may not be ideal but works, especially in this process.
Roll call on the amendment followed:
Aye: Allan, Bates, Berman, Ford, Frasz, Gumz, Iqbal, Kenyon, Kious, Lenert, Lewis, Martin, Molina, Sanchez, Shepro, Silva, Strathmann, Surges, Tepe, Wallace, Wojnicki
Nay: Koppie
Absent: Brown, Davoust
Motion passed on the amendment. Vote: 21-1
Roll call on the original motion, as amended, followed:
| RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [18 TO 4]
MOVER: Vern Tepe, Board Member SECONDER: Dale Berman, Board Member AYES: Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Ron Ford, Drew Frasz, Michelle Gumz, Mo Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Bill Lenert, Anita Lewis, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Vern Tepe, Barbara Wojnicki NAYS: Tom Koppie, Kenneth C. Shepro, Clifford Surges, Todd Wallace ABSENT: David Brown, Mark Davoust |
None.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Madam Chair entertained a motion to adjourn.
| RESULT: APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Michael Kenyon, Board Member SECONDER: Dale Berman, Board Member AYES: Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, David Brown, Ron Ford, Drew Frasz, Michelle Gumz, Mo Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Tom Koppie, Bill Lenert, Anita Lewis, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Kenneth C. Shepro, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford Surges, Vern Tepe, Todd Wallace, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Mark Davoust |
http://kanecountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileView.aspx?Type=12&ID=3177
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