Government Center

719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A

Geneva, IL 60134

Kane County

County Board

Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

1:00 PM

County Board Room

***SPECIAL MEETING***

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.

ROLL CALL

Board Member Dale Berman

Board Member Michelle Gumz

Board Member Leslie Juby

Board Member Mo Iqbal

PRESENT:

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

Board Member Deborah Allan

Board Member Mavis Bates

Board Member Gary Daugherty

Board Member Mark Davoust

Board Member Ron Ford

Board Member Michael Linder

Board Member Bill Tarver

REMOTE:

ABSENT:

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.

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.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None

PUBLIC COMMENT (Agenda Items)

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

(* = remote)

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.

PUBLIC COMMENTS (Non-Agenda Items)

None.

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.

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.

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

Vern Tepe

MOVER:

Michelle Gumz

SECONDER:

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

AYE:

Bill Tarver

ABSENT:

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

for the Construction of a Health Department Facility for Kane

County Residents

24-035

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

Chris Kious

MOVER:

Jarett Sanchez

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina

AYE:

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

Bill Tarver

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:

AWAY:

Deborah Allan

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

Revenue Recoupment Funds for the Construction of a Health

Department Facility for Kane County Residents

24-034

RESULT:

NO VOTE REQUIRED

Authorizing a Budget Adjustment Assigning $5 Million from

Health Department Fund #350 Fund Balance to be Used in

Capital Line Item for New Public Health Facility

24-040

RESULT:

NO VOTE REQUIRED

10.

11.

NEW BUSINESS

None.

ADJOURNMENT TO TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2024

The Board adjourned at 4:38 PM.

RESULT:

APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE

Clifford Surges

Ron Ford

MOVER:

SECONDER: