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Approving Opioid Settlement Revenue Expenditures for Forensic Lab Expenses and Authorizing Budget Adjustment
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WHEREAS, by Resolution 23-94, the Kane County Board authorized the creation of a special revenue fund for monies received by Kane County from funds resulting from litigation and/or settlements of the opioid litigation; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution 23-94, the Kane County Board designated a panel comprised of the Kane County State’s Attorney, the Kane County Sheriff, the Executive Director of the Health Department, the Kane County Coroner, and the Chair of the County Board Public Health Committee as the administrators of the special revenue fund to comply with the terms of the allocation agreement and all reporting requirements; and
WHEREAS, the Kane County Board established the AD HOC Opioid Settlement Fund Committee to support the work of the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, State’s Attorney’s and Coroner’s Offices; and
WHEREAS, the Kane County Sheriff’s Office has established a forensics lab on its premises in coordination with this Committee; and
WHEREAS, the Kane County Forensics Laboratory began testing drug chemicals shortly after opening in June of 2023; and
WHEREAS, the Kane County Forensics Laboratory regularly conducts testing of suspected opioids and is able expedite results to local police agencies and the coroner for criminal convictions and death investigations; and
WHEREAS, both Kane County Forensics Laboratory Technicians Ruppel and Ware conduct testing of these chemicals as part of their full-time positions; and
WHEREAS, on November 13, 2023, the AD HOC Opioid Settlement Fund Committee authorized the Sheriff’s Office’s recoupment of costs as it related to the Kane County Forensics Laboratory, and subsequently on November 7, 2024, and May 1, 2025, for continuing expenses; and
WHEREAS, continued expenses for this lab have been incurred by the Sheriff’s Office totaling $161,908.46 (One Hundred Sixty-One Thousand, Nine Hundred Eight Dollars and Forty-Six Cents), including salaries and benefits for the two employees and equipment and supplies, and it is now seeking a budget augmentation to compensate for these expenses; and
WHEREAS, the expenses (as described in the attached report) support efforts to prevent the misuse of opioids, as well as overdose deaths and other harms from opioid addiction, in Kane County by utilizing and expediting drug chemical testing, as part of a comprehensive program, to target the availability of illegal opioids, enhance supply-side enforcement efforts, expedite determinations of causes of death in suspected opioid overdoses, and generate actionable data that can be used by the Kane County Health Department, first responders, and/or other community partners for harm reduction opportunities by targeting areas substantially affected by illicit opioids.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Kane County AD HOC Opioid Settlement Fund Committee that the expenses submitted by Kane County Sheriff’s Office for payment from the opioid settlement funds, attached hereto, are approved.
Passed by the Kane County AD HOC Opioid Settlement Fund Committee on April 17, 2026.
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John A. Cunningham, MBA, JD, JD Michael Isaacson
Clerk, County Board Kane County Opioid Committee Chair
Kane County, Illinois Kane County, Illinois
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