Government Center

719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A

Geneva, IL 60134

Kane County

KC Public Health Committee

Meeting Minutes

STRATHMANN, Sanchez, Arroyo, Juby, Penesis, Tarver, D. Young, ex-officios Roth (County

Vice Chair) and Pierog (County Chair)

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

9:00 AM

County Board Room

Call To Order

Vice Chairman, Bill Roth, called today's meeting to order at 9:00 AM.

Roll Call

Vice Chairman, Bill Roth, announced that there was not an in-person quorum for

today's meeting. No votes could be taken. This meeting will be for information and

discussion only until an official quorum is established.

Board Member Alex Arroyo

PRESENT

Board Member Ted Penesis

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Board Member Leslie Juby

Board Member Bill Tarver

Board Member David Young

Board Member Cherryl Strathmann

Board Member Jarett Sanchez

REMOTE

ABSENT

Also present: Co. Bd. members Linder; KCAC Admin. Younsteadt; KCHD Exec. Dir.

Isaacson and staff Onwuta, Barrett, Alleman; ITD/Bldg. Exec. Dir. Fahnestock; ASA

Ford, ASA Carlin, Spec. ASA Shepro; ITD staff Peters; and members of the press and

public including Wight and Company President, Jason Dwyer.

Remote Attendance Requests

Vice Chairman, Bill Roth, announced the remote attendance requests for today's

meeting. She asked if there were any objections to Committee Members Juby, Tarver,

and Young attending remotely. There were no objections.

Approval of Minutes: December 17, 2025

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Ted Penesis

Public Comment

None.

Finance/Budget

Monthly Report

The monthly report is on file. No additional report was made.

Animal Control

Monthly Report: Brett Youngsteadt Animal Control Administrator

Kane County Animal Control (KCAC) Admin., Brett Youngsteadt, stated that the

monthly reports are on file. He announced that vaccine clinic dates for the 2026

calendar year will be on Saturday, April 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.,

Wednesday, May 13 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, June 27 from 10:00

a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Saturday, August 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Wednesday,

September 16 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, October 10 from 10:00

a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Youngsteadt stated that vaccine clinics continue to grow every

year, and he projects a good turnout for 2026.

Executive Director

Health Department Updates: Michael Isaacson Executive Director

Kane County Health Department (KCHD) Exec. Dir. Isaacson announced that a

new partnership with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Kane County

was launched to better support children who are involved in the court system,

and potentially held in foster care. More information will be presented at future

meetings.

Respiratory Illness Report: Apryll Elliott Assistant Director for Communicable

Disease

Dir. of Health Protection, Uchenna Onwuta, stated that respiratory illness

surveillance is an ongoing collection and analysis of respiratory illness data. Her

team track trends, seasonal patterns, and identify increased illnesses.

Additionally, emergency department (ED) visits, lab-confirmed viruses, and

severity indicators such as pediatric deaths are also monitored. Onwuta noted

that respiratory illness surveillance is not focused on individual cases, but on

population-level trends. By monitoring multiple indicators, public health can

understand when respiratory activity is increasing and take action to reduce

spread and severe outcomes. Respiratory illness surveillance also provides

guidance to hospitals in making respiratory season decisions, including staffing,

bed capacity, and infection prevention planning. She shared a snapshot of the

respiratory illness surveillance webpage where you can access the surveillance

dashboard, and the published weekly reports. She noted that there are

additional useful resources such as interim work exclusion guidance for

healthcare personnel with acute respiratory viral infections (ARI), and printable

materials are available such as proper hand washing. The dashboard provides

an overview of the activity seen in Kane County for ARI overall, influenza,

COVID-19, and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The ARI for Kane County in

the week of January 3 was considered high. Onwuta stated that on the ED visits

webpage, individuals can view the weekly percentage of ED visits by respiratory

season, and weekly ED visits by age group. Onwuta addressed questions and

comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

Vice Chair, Bill Roth, announced that Madam Chair, Pierog, arrived at the

meeting at 9:25 a.m. and stated than an official quorum has been established.

Authorizing a Professional Services Proposal with Wight and Company for the

Elgin Satellite Health Department Office Renovation Design

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Alex Arroyo

MOVER:

Ted Penesis

SECONDER:

Alex Arroyo, Leslie Juby, Ted Penesis, Bill Tarver, Bill Roth, and

Corinne M. Pierog

AYE:

David Young

NAY:

Cherryl Strathmann, and Jarett Sanchez

ABSENT:

Authorizing an Emergency Appropriation and Budget Adjustment for the Elgin

Satellite Health Department Office Renovation

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Alex Arroyo

MOVER:

Bill Tarver

SECONDER:

Alex Arroyo, Leslie Juby, Ted Penesis, Bill Tarver, Bill Roth, and

Corinne M. Pierog

AYE:

David Young

NAY:

Cherryl Strathmann, and Jarett Sanchez

ABSENT:

Old Business

None.

11.

Executive Session (if needed)

The Public Health Committee entered into Executive Session at 9:57 a.m. to review the

release of closed session minutes on a motion made by Penesis, seconded by Arroyo.

Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

The Public Health Committee returned to Open Session at 10:01 a.m. on a motion

made by Arroyo, seconded by Penesis. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

Vice Chairman, Bill Roth, announced that the closed session minutes were reviewed in

Executive Session. A formal vote to review and approve the minutes could not be taken

because they were not formally included on this month's agenda by a staff oversight.

The minutes will be included on next month's agenda for a formal approval and vote.

The Committee provide consensus.

RESULT:

APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE

Ted Penesis

Alex Arroyo

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Alex Arroyo, Leslie Juby, Ted Penesis, Bill Tarver, David Young,

Bill Roth, and Corinne M. Pierog

AYE:

Cherryl Strathmann, and Jarett Sanchez

ABSENT:

10.

Reports Placed On File

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Ted Penesis