Kane County Reporter

Kane County Agriculture Committee met Feb. 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. Call To Order

Committee Chair Kenyon called today's meeting to order at 10:30 a.m.

2. Roll Call

PRESENT Board Member Michael Kenyon

Board Member Leslie Juby

Board Member Bill Lenert

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

REMOTE Board Member Deborah Allan

Board Member Rick Williams

ABSENT Board Member Bill Roth

Board Member Jarett Sanchez

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Vern Tepe

Also present: Co. Bd. Members Kious*, Juby, Lewis, Molina*; KCFB Mgr. Steve Arnold; NIFB Spec. Incandela*; Dev. staff Tansley, Hill; Environ. & Water Res. Dir. Wollnik; Dev. Dir. VanKerkhoff & staff Castro, & McKenna; Spec. ASA Shepro; ITD staff Peters; and members of the press and public.

3. Remote Attendance Requests

Committee Chair Kenyon announced the remote attendance requests for today's meeting. He asked the Committee if there were any objections to Committee Members Allan and Williams attending today's meeting remotely. There were no objections.

4. Approval of Minutes: January 18, 2024

RESULT: APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

MOVER: Bill Lenert

5. Public Comment (Agenda Items)

None.

6. Partners

A. Kane County Farm Bureau Updates (Steve Arnold, Manager)

KCFB Mgr. Arnold provided an Illinois Farm Bureau brochure for the 2024 Local Government Priorities to the Committee. He stated that one of the local government priorities is to obtain County governing boards to pass agricultural resolutions. He announced that the 23rd Annual Shopping Spree for local food pantries event will be on Monday, February 26, 2024 at the Jewel Osco in Batavia. State's Attorney Mosser and Under Sheriff Johnson will be participating in the event. There was a total of $50K of groceries purchased through these shopping sprees over the years. Arnold announced that the 18th Annual Touch-a-Tractor 3-day open house at the Farm Bureau will be on April 12, 13, and 14, 2024. On Saturday, April 13, 2024 there will be a meet-and-greet with legislators and local public officials. Lastly, the sorting of scholarship applications has begun, with a total of 74 scholarship applications entered, and 42 completed. A non-profit organization will give away $40K in scholarship funds this year to 25 students. Arnold looks forward to announcing the scholarship winners in April. (Madam Chairman Pierog arrived at 10:32 a.m.)

B. Northern Illinois Food Bank Updates (Corey Incandela, Advocacy Specialist)

NIFB Advocacy Specialist Incandela reported that for the seven months of FY23, they served an average of 73K neighbors each month. The Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB) is in preparation for a government shutdown starting March 1, 2024 that could lead to potential delays of SNAP benefits.

7. Presentations/Announcements

A. Health Department Staff Introduction (Sophia Hamilton, Community Health Planner)

No report was made.

B. Development Department Staff Introductions (Sarahy Castro, Farmland Preservation Administrator & Catherine McKenna, Planner/GIS Specialist)

Dev. Dir. VanKerkhoff introduced the new Farmland Preservation Administrator, Sarahy Castro and Planner and GIS Specialist, Catherine McKenna.

C. 2022 Agriculture Census Highlights (Matt Tansley, Planner)

Dev. staff Tansley highlighted data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture in Kane County. There are 509 farms identified in Kane County. There was a 17% increase from the 2017 census in value for land and buildings with a total of $3.5M in 2022. The average value amount for farm machinery and equipment is $243,085, which was a 6% increase. The average market value for agriculture products sold was $557,962, which was a substantial increase of 86%. Tansley shared additional data from farmland use practices and the vegetable productions, highlighting their increases and decreases from 2017 to 2022.

Further discussion ensued.

D. Water Resources Updates (Jodie Wollnik, Director)

Environ. & Water Res. Dir. Wollnik provided background on the Illinois drainage districts. The Wind and Solar Law went into effect January 2023, and the County is required to pass an ordinance by June 1, 2023. Wollnik stated that there was an amendment to Senate Bill 1699, which added four requirements to the original bill. One of the requirements is to add a vegetation management plan, and the second to require facilities to file a farmland drainage plan with the County. There was added language which requires the facility owner to compensate landowners for crop losses and other agricultural damages resulting from drainage impacts due to construction. The fourth requirement in the Senate Bill requires wind and solar companies to comply with the Agricultural Mitigation Agreement (AIMA). Wollnik stated that the purpose of this bill is to present proposed measures for minimizing impacts to and restoring privately owned agricultural land in Illinois. The Water Resources staff is working with Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) to look at impacts of the wind and solar law as it relates to counties and county approvals of solar facilities.

8. New Business

None.

9. Reports Placed On File

RESULT: APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

MOVER: Bill Lenert

10. Executive Session (if needed)

None.

11. Public Comment (Non-Agenda Items)

None.

12. Adjournment

RESULT: APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE

MOVER: Bill Lenert

SECONDER: Leslie Juby

This meeting was adjourned at 11:19 a.m

https://www.kanecountyil.gov/MeetingMinutes/7002/24-02-22.pdf