Kane County Committee of the Whole met July 25.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
1. Call to Order
Chairman Pierog called the meeting to order at 4:01 PM.
PRESENT Board Member Mavis Bates
Board Member Dale Berman
Board Member Mark Davoust
Board Member Michelle Gumz
Board Member Leslie Juby
Board Member Michael Kenyon
Board Member Chris Kious
Board Member Anita Lewis
Board Member Michael Linder
Board Member Myrna Molina
Board Member Bill Roth
Board Member Monica Silva
Board Member Cherryl Strathmann
Board Member Bill Tarver
Board Member Vern Tepe
Chairman Corinne M. Pierog
REMOTE Board Member Gary Daugherty
Board Member Bill Lenert
Board Member Rick Williams
ABSENT Board Member Ron Ford
Board Member Jarett Sanchez
Board Member David Young
AWAY Board Member Deborah Allan
Board Member Clifford Surges
REM NO VOTE Board Member Mo Iqbal
Also present: ITD/BLD Exec. Dir. Fahnestock & staff Peters; Sp. ASA Shepro; Fin. Exec. Dir. Hopkinson; KCHD Exec. Dir. Isaacson; ASA Tabor; PIO Mann; Chief of Civil Frank; Auditor Wegman; KCAC Admin. Youngsteadt*; Treasurer Lauzen; IT CIO Lasky*; Cir. Clk. Barreiro; Bldg. Mgmt. Project Mgr. Files; Mayor Schielke of Batavia; Trans. Chief of Staff Rickert; and members of the press and public including CMAP Exec. Dir. Erin Aleman and Jason Dwyer from Wight & Co.
2. Roll Call
3. Remote Attendance Requests
Madam Chairman Pierog announced the remote attendance requests. She asked the Committee Members if there were any objections to Members Allan, Daugherty, and Iqbal attending the meeting remotely. There were no objections.
4. Pledge of Allegiance
Madam Chairman Pierog asked County Board Member Bates to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
5. Approval of Minutes: May 23, 2023 and June 27, 2023
Both sets of minutes were approved individually by unanimous consent, moved by County Board Member Kious.
RESULT: APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT
MOVER: Chris Kious
6. Public Comment (Agenda Items)
None.
7. Presentations/Discussion
A. Plan of Action for Regional Transit Update (Erin Aleman, CMAP Executive Director)
CMAP Exec. Dir. Erin Aleman provided an update on the Plan of Action for Regional Transit. She stated that CMAP is currently developing recommendations to address challenges within the transit system. She noted the benefits and importance of regional transportation, such as alleviating traffic congestion. She spoke on how the Covid pandemic changed the way transit was being utilized in the area, which led to cutbacks in service. She presented funding sources, half of which come from regional sales tax. She announced the creation of a committee to research transit efficiencies and determine the long-term financial viability, coordination, and areas for improvement of Kane County's transit system. (Surges arrived - 4:21pm) She mentioned that CMAP will be presenting more information in September 2023. Much discussion ensued regarding enhancements and costs.
B. Facilities Master Plan Update: New Building for Kane County Health Department (R. Fahnestock/M. Isaacson)
ITD/BLD Exec. Dir. Fahnestock provided an update on the Facilities Master Plan. He noted that they are in the process of narrowing down needs, such as location and accessibility. He stated that current priorities lay with which departments have applicable funding. He announced a Special Committee of the Whole meeting on August 9, 2023 at Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva at 3:00pm. He presented health department location challenges, including building code compliance. (Allan* arrived - 4:34pm) He shared current photos of the facility.
KCHD Exec. Dir. Isaacson detailed an increased demand for services, such as those that address homelessness, senior services, food insecurity, suicides, and overdoses. He mentioned spatial needs for a training and/or conference center, which can be utilized by the entire county. Fahnestock spoke on the cost comparisons between renovating current buildings and buying new ones. He stated that the next step towards Facilities Master Plan implementation would be proposing design plans to the Administration Committee, followed by an ARPA funding request. Much discussion ensued.
C. Local Government Distributive Fund (K. Hopkinson)
Fin. Exec. Dir. Hopkinson provided a presentation on the Local Government Distributive Fund. She highlighted the history of this fund and how it is distributed amongst Illinois counties based on population. Much discussion ensued regarding fund contributions by the sales tax accumulated from the five cannabis dispensaries in Kane County.
D. Budgeting for Vacant Positions (K. Hopkinson)
Fin. Exec. Dir. Hopkinson provided a presentation on Budgeting for Vacant Positions. She explained the process of building the county budget with the help of department heads and the County Board. She highlighted the guidelines and objectives of the budgeting process, such as requesting that all departments evaluate two new budget line items. These two new budget line items are Cost of Living and Merit Pay. She noted that the goal is to identify and address potential budget challenges. She presented a chart that depicted a decent margin between budgeted salaries/benefits and what was actually spent over the last eight years. She spoke on the current Kane County policy on vacant positions, as well as those of comparable counties in Illinois. Much discussion ensued.
8. Executive Session
The Committee of the Whole entered into Executive Session at 5:53 p.m. to discuss the release of Closed Session Minutes on a motion made by Linder, seconded by Berman. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
RESULT: APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE
MOVER: Michael Linder
SECONDER: Dale Berman
AYE: Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Gary Daugherty, Michelle Gumz, Leslie Juby, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Anita Lewis, Michael Linder, Myrna Molina, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford Surges, Bill Tarver, Vern Tepe, and Corinne M. Pierog
ABSENT: Ron Ford, Jarett Sanchez, and David Young AWAY: Mark Davoust, Bill Lenert, and Bill Roth
9. Open Session
The Committee returned to Open Session at 5:59 p.m. on a motion made by Kious, seconded by Bates. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
RESULT: APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE
MOVER: Chris Kious
SECONDER: Mavis Bates
AYE: Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Gary Daugherty, Michelle Gumz, Leslie Juby, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Anita Lewis, Michael Linder, Myrna Molina, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford Surges, Bill Tarver, Vern Tepe, and Corinne M. Pierog
ABSENT: Ron Ford, Jarett Sanchez, and David Young AWAY: Mark Davoust, Bill Lenert, and Bill Roth
A. Vote to Release of Closed Session Minutes
RESULT: APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE MOVER: Chris Kious
SECONDER: Cherryl Strathmann
AYE: Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Gary Daugherty, Michelle Gumz, Leslie Juby, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Anita Lewis, Michael Linder, Myrna Molina, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford Surges, Bill Tarver, Vern Tepe, and Corinne M. Pierog
ABSENT: Ron Ford, Jarett Sanchez, and David Young AWAY: Mark Davoust, Bill Lenert, and Bill Roth
10. Public Comment (Non-Agenda Items)
None.
Adjournment
RESULT: APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE
MOVER: Michael Kenyon
SECONDER: Mavis Bates
This meeting was adjourned at 6:01 PM.
https://www.countyofkane.org/MeetingMinutes/6672/23-07-25.pdf
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