Government Center

719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A

Geneva, IL 60134

Kane County

KC Energy and Environmental

Committee

Meeting Minutes

BATES, Tarver, Allan, Kious, Penesis, Strathmann, D. Young, ex-officios Roth (County Vice

Chair) and Pierog (County Chair)

Friday, February 20, 2026

9:00 AM

County Board Room

Call To Order

Chairman Bates called today's meeting to order at 9:00 AM.

Roll Call

Board Member Mavis Bates

Board Member Bill Tarver

PRESENT

Board Member Deborah Allan

Board Member Chris Kious

Board Member Ted Penesis

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth

Board Member David Young

REMOTE

ABSENT

Board Member Cherryl Strathmann

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Also present: Co. Bd. members Gripe*, Juby*, Iqbal*, Molina*, K. Young; Environ. &

Water Res. Dir. Wollnik; Recycling Coordinator Ryan; KDSWCD Admin. Gerdts;

Sustainability Mgr. Hinshaw and staff Powel; PIO Mann; ASA Frank, Spec. ASA

Shepro; ITD staff Peters; and members of the press and public.

Remote Attendance Requests

Chairman Bates announced the remote attendance requests for today's meeting. She

asked if there were any objections to Committee Member Young attending remotely.

There were no objections.

Approval of Minutes: January 16, 2026

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Chris Kious

Public Comment

Committee Member, David Young, explained the substantial damages caused by first

amendment retaliation. He stated that in the U.S. Constitution, the first amendment

provides that Congress shall make no law of bridging the freedom of speech. This

means that the Government is prohibited from punishing or censoring individuals for

what they say. He noted that first amendment retaliation refers to adverse actions

taken by a government official in response to an individuals' exercise of their first

amendment rights. Lastly, Young warned Board Members about committing first

amendment retaliation when communicating through email to make a call-to-action

against a public official or a private citizen.

Environmental (J.Wollnik)

Presentation of the Thomas Weisner Memorial Award from the Conservation

Foundation (not attached)

Conservation Foundation Program Dir., Jessica Mino, presented and awarded

Chairman Mavis Bates the Thomas Weisner Memorial Award.

Overview of Residential Energy Audits

Environ. & Water Res. Dir., Wollnik, stated that energy audits should be

compliant with the federal definition in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and the

2025 Big Beautiful Bill. She noted that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax

credit defined within the bills provides the guidelines, definitions, and

certifications required to qualify. Wollnik added that the National Renewable

Energy Laboratory (NREL) provides an extensive guideline on performing

energy audits to comply with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) requirements.

She explained that Building Performance Institute (BPI) are the Home Energy

Audit Standards utilized in the industry and required to be used by U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The standards provide

a comprehensive list of how energy audits are to be provided for single family

homes. Wollnik provided an overview of the building performance institute audits

and what is required through the program. Evaluations are conducted for health

and safety, cost-benefit analysis and prioritization, combustion appliance and

fuel distribution, indoor air quality and ventilation, moisture control, building

enclosure, heating, cooling, and domestic water, and base load energy

efficiency. Wollnik stated that the next steps for the Kane County Energy Audit

Program next month will be to provide the Energy and Environmental Committee

a review of various levels of energy audits offered by ComEd, Nicor, and HVAC

companies. Additional data supporting the importance of meeting IRS

requirements to complete professional energy audits will be provided to the

Committee, and a revision of the Resolution to only include energy audit cost.

Discussion ensued.

Recycling/Solid Waste (C. Ryan)

2026 Kane County Green Guide

Recycling Coordinator, Ryan, presented the new 2026 Kane County Green

Guide. She highlighted the recycling cart mascot, Loop, who is featured in the

Feed the Cart campaign. Feed the Cart is the largest recycling information

campaign in Illinois history. Ryan noted that within the pages of the guide

readers will find information on what to feed your recycling cart, and

opportunities to recycle items that should not go in curbside recycling carts. She

added that the new statewide programs for recycling house paint and batteries

will provide network locations collecting these items at no cost. The guide

includes lists of materials accepted and not accepted for recycling. Ryan stated

that the County works with its contracted collection partner, eWorks, to operate

two recycling centers open five days a week. Several QR codes are provided

throughout the guide for residents to access recycling location sites, recycling

fees, and events on the county website. Further discussion ensued.

Composting and Food Waste Reduction Grant Project Update (not attached)

Recycling Coordinator, Ryan, reminded the Committee that the goals of the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) Composting and Food Waste Reduction

Grant include piloting food waste composting at multiple large institutions, pilot a

public food scrap drop-off at Fabyan in the off-season, grow a culture of

composting in Kane County through outreach and education, and improve small

grower access to finished compost. She added that the overall outcome goals

will be to divert 2.1M pounds of food that would otherwise be land filled, divert

898K pounds of food between March and November, help normalize food scrap

separation and overcome obstacles, help municipalities improve online

information about existing seasonal programs, and develop a "how-to" guide for

large facilities. Lastly, Ryan announced that there will be a recycling event called

"The Big One" on Saturday, February 28 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the

Courthouse in St. Charles.

Supporting HB5112 to Reduce the Use of Non-Reusable Carryout Bags

An amendment was made for the resolution to be moved forward to the Special

Legislative Committee meeting on motion made by Kious, seconded by Penesis.

Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. Amendment passed.

KC Legislative Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Legislative Committee

Chris Kious

MOVER:

Ted Penesis

SECONDER:

Mavis Bates, Bill Tarver, Deborah Allan, Chris Kious, and Ted

Penesis

AYE:

David Young

NAY:

Cherryl Strathmann, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Supporting SB2852 to Improve Management of Wasted Food

An amendment was made for the resolution to be moved forward to the Special

Legislative Committee meeting on motion made by Penesis, seconded by Kious.

Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. Amendment passed.

KC Legislative Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Legislative Committee

Ted Penesis

MOVER:

Chris Kious

SECONDER:

Mavis Bates, Bill Tarver, Deborah Allan, Chris Kious, Ted

Penesis, and David Young

AYE:

Cherryl Strathmann, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Sustainability (S.Hinshaw)

Available Incentives and Rebates

This presentation was rescheduled to next month's meeting.

New Business

None.

10.

11.

Chair's Comments

Chairman Bates thanked her team for all the hard work they do.

Reports Placed On File

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Chris Kious

12.

13.

Executive Session (if needed)

None.

Adjournment

RESULT:

APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE

Ted Penesis

Mavis Bates

MOVER:

SECONDER: