Kane County Reporter

Kane County County Board met March 27

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 on March 27, 2024. 

Chairman Pierog called the meeting to order at 1:02 P.M. and asked for the roll to be called. 

2. ROLL CALL 

PRESENT: Board Member Dale Berman 

Board Member Michelle Gumz 

Board Member Leslie Juby 

Board Member Mo Iqbal 

Board Member Michael Kenyon 

Board Member Chris Kious 

Board Member Bill Lenert 

Board Member Anita Lewis 

Board Member Myrna Molina 

Board Member Bill Roth 

Board Member Jarett Sanchez 

Board Member Monica Silva 

Board Member Cherryl Strathmann 

Board Member Clifford Surges 

Board Member Vern Tepe 

Board Member Rick Williams 

Board Member David Young 

Chairman Corinne M. Pierog 

REMOTE: Board Member Deborah Allan 

Board Member Mavis Bates 

Board Member Gary Daugherty 

Board Member Mark Davoust 

Board Member Ron Ford 

Board Member Michael Linder 

ABSENT: Board Member Bill Tarver 

3. REMOTE ATTENDANCE REQUESTS 

Madam Chair asked for consensus to allow Board Members Allan, Bates, Ford, Linder, Davoust to attend the meeting remotely. Board consensus received. (Member  Daugherty remoted in for closed session.) 

Also present: Chief Dpty. Clerk Weilandt and Dpty. Pollock; Finance Exec. Dir. Hopkinson; Bldg. Mgmt. /I.T. Exec. Dir. R. Fahnestock; Public Health Exec. Dir.  Isaacson & staff Snowden*; Animal Control Admin. Youngsteadt*; Auditor Wegman; ARPA Grants Mgr. S. Fahnestock; ASA Frank, Shepro, Brady*, S. Ford; members of the press & public. 

4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & INVOCATION 

Board Member Strathmann led the assembly with the recital of the Pledge of Allegiance. Chaplain Ed Hunter, St. Joseph's Hospital, Elgin, said the invocation via  remote.  

5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None 

6. PUBLIC COMMENT (Agenda Items) 

Madam Chair invited the public to comment on agenda items at this time.  

Kathy Plesper* (phonetic) voiced concern about E&Y Risk Assessment report for the  new health facility, dated January 8, 2024, and it being addressed to Suzanne Fahnestock, village president for Maple Park (Molina steps away at 1:12 pm), while she  served as a Kane County employee for a few months in 2021. She requested clarification of the dates and approved funding for the report. Ms. Hesper voiced  concern about the relocation of the health department from Aurora where low-income  families need the facility, to a location in St. Charles, where the need is low and the residents do not need it. Further concerns were voiced as to the high cost of the proposed facility, where extra funds were coming from to build the facility, and compliance issues. 

Dan Barreiro, Aurora, thanked the board for its service, commended the health department for improving the quality of life for its residents, and working with the department over the years. He voiced his surprise the building was being relocated,  shared the number of positive programs resulting from the health department and commended the entire department for taking care of its residents. 

Mr. John Hull*, St. Charles, voiced concern about a board member making a comment after a prior meeting that the public's comments were divisive, which he found  accusatory. He clarified the public was representing its beliefs as county taxpayers. He reminded the board should be open to the comments of both sides and make the best decisions for the county. He did not support relocating the health department and raising taxes.

Ms. Jen Hanson*, representing AID, shared the number of programs the county's  health department was involved in with AID, the growing demand for services, and the need for a more centrally-located building to reach more individuals. AID supported the  relocation of the health department. 

Ms. Rosanne Erickson, asked the board to not support the health building due to its cost and the federal funds that will be sought. While the services were needed, the  extra space was not, nor the price tag, or the increased taxes. She asked the board to live within its budget.  

Ms. Kim Siever (phonetic), Geneva, expressed her concern about rising prices and those needing the health services having to travel more. She recommended the county provide in-home services. Spending more money and increasing taxes was not solving the issue. She asked the board to spend with its limits.  

Brian Anderson, Sugar Grove, thanked Board Member Sanchez for his work on the APRA grant funds, commended Board Members Gumz, Lenert and Williams for their  non-partisan input on how the funds are being spent, with prudence. He asked for the  board to be fiscally responsible. Mr. Anderson referenced information from the E&Y report as it related to the pandemic. Furthermore, E&Y reported that if the county does not comply with the procurement requirements, the funds will have to be returned. He wanted less government and he asked the board to read the risk assessment as the  E&Y report has warned the county. He supported re-purposing an existing building for the health department. 

Ms. Kathy Schoewalter*, expressed her concern that county taxes were pricing her and  others out of Kane County. She asked the board to think about future generations, have a foundation to bring up the next generation, and to not construct a new health  facility.  

Mr. Esposito believed the health department was doing a very good job, but the  concern was about spending money and the federal government co-owning the  building. Referencing Exhibit A of the E&Y report, his understanding the health department was going to add more staff than the current 89 staff. He recommended the health department rent space versus spending money and adding head-count. 

Public comments were placed on file on motion by Kious, second by Lewis. Passed unanimously by voice vote.  

7. PUBLIC COMMENTS (Non-Agenda Items) 

None.  

8. RESOLUTIONS/ORDINANCES 

A. Public Health Facility Update (M. Isaacson) 

Kane County Public Health Exec. Dir. Michael Isaacson, walked through a Powerpoint about the missions and goals of the health department, reviewed a few key slides discussing how grants work and how staff is affected by various grants, essential health services, and the need for the health building over the long-term. He reiterated there  has been no tax increase in 14 years and his department works within his budget. He shared some of the collaboration his department has been doing with public health and how the facility will address future needs.  

Board dialog included questions about expansion and grant funding of employees for the new building. Currently, there was no room to expand services at the current location. 

Roger Fahnestock introduced Ernst & Young representatives Gary Burke and Will Miller to address questions from the risk assessment report. (Surges steps away, 2:07  pm) Mr. Burke shared a brief history of its involvement with the county as it relates to ARPA. (Surges returns 2:09 pm) He explained how the risks were identified and classified for the county, shared that if procurement was not followed or if the federal  funds were not used, the funds would have to be returned. Furthermore, if federal funds were used, the federal government would be considered a co-owner of the county's building. but should the county change how to utilize the funds or dispose of the building in the future, it would trigger "disposition" where the federal government  could ask for its share of the building's then fair market value. Further details followed  on how risks could be mitigated.  

Board questions followed on how many buildings received ARPA funds in the United  States: 1,977 and of those buildings, nine opportunities were utilized, which amounted to less than half of one percent. Mr. Burke also expanded upon the notion that there needed to be a link between how many people are affected and what the project would apply to that affected class. Other clarification followed regarding risks and mitigation measures the county should follow, thereby creating a proactive record for the Treasury. Other clarification of risk, as determined by the county, were explained by Mr. Burke. 

B. Public Health Facility Building Options (R. Fahnestock) 

Buidings Mgment/I.T. Exec. Dir. Fahnestock walked through his presentation recapping the identified conditions and issues that reinforced the need to discuss a new health building as well as the possible need to go into closed session to discuss some options. In reviewing and drafting the Facilities Master Plan, the health department building was identified as being a priority. A review of four scenarios his office  considered were shared on the overhead. The three resolutions on the agenda were for a new building.  

Board discussion followed on the timeline of construction, not completing the building within its required timeline, and the county having to still pay the invoices. Dialog ensued.  

9. EXECUTIVE SESSION (if needed) 

Motion by Tepe, second by Gumz to go in to closed session at 2:58 PM to discuss the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body and for the purpose of discussing pending litigation against the county. Roll call:

RESULT: APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE 

MOVER: Vern Tepe 

SECONDER: Michelle Gumz 

AYE: Deborah Allan, Dale Berman, Mark Davoust, Ron Ford, Michelle  Gumz, Leslie Juby, Mo Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Michael Linder, Bill Lenert, Anita Lewis, Myrna Molina, Bill Roth, Jarett Sanchez, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford  Surges, Vern Tepe, Rick Williams, and David Young 

ABSENT: Bill Tarver 

AWAY: Mavis Bates, and Gary Daugherty 

The board returned to open session at 4:28 PM. 

------------------------------------------------ CONSENT AGENDA ------------------------------------------------ 

The Chairwoman asked if anyone would like to remove an item from the Consent  Agenda. Member Kious removed Item Nos. 24-034, 24-035, and 24-040. After some discussion, it was determined that Resolution No. 24-035 would be discussed and  voted upon due to its significance to the ARPA. The other two resolutions, depending upon the board's decision would not have to be raised for discussion.  

------------------------------------------END OF CONSENT AGENDA ------------------------------------------ 

Authorizing the Use of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds 24-035 for the Construction of a Health Department Facility for Kane County Residents 

Member Sanchez moved to discuss Resolution No. 24-035, with the  potential for approval. Second by Member Kious.

Discussion followed as to either postpone the resolution or vote upon it. The  roll was called to approve Resolution No. 24-035:  

RESULT: FAILED BY ROLL CALL VOTE 

MOVER: Chris Kious 

SECONDER: Jarett Sanchez 

AYE: Myrna Molina 

NAY: Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Gary Daugherty, Mark Davoust, Ron  Ford, Michelle Gumz, Leslie Juby, Mo Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Michael Linder, Bill Lenert, Anita Lewis, Bill Roth, Jarett Sanchez, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford Surges, Rick Williams, and David Young 

ABSENT: Bill Tarver 

ABSTAIN: Deborah Allan 

AWAY: Vern Tepe 

(Because Res. No. 24-035 failed, the other two resolutions -- Resolution Nos. 24-034 and No. 23-040 were moot.) Authorizing the Use of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Lost 24-034 Revenue Recoupment Funds for the Construction of a Health Department Facility for Kane County Residents 

RESULT: NO VOTE REQUIRED 

Authorizing a Budget Adjustment Assigning $5 Million from 24-040 Health Department Fund #350 Fund Balance to be Used in Capital Line Item for New Public Health Facility 

RESULT: NO VOTE REQUIRED 

10. NEW BUSINESS 

None. 

11. ADJOURNMENT TO TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2024 

The Board adjourned at 4:38 PM. 

RESULT: APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE 

MOVER: Clifford Surges 

SECONDER: Ron Ford

https://www.kanecountyil.gov/MeetingMinutes/7295/24-03-27%20COB%20-%20minutes-special.pdf