Government Center

719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A

Geneva, IL 60134

Kane County

KC Judicial/Public Safety

Committee

Meeting Minutes

MOLINA, Lenert, Gumz, Linder, Roth, Tepe, Williams & ex-officio Pierog (County Chair)

Thursday, October 12, 2023

9:00 AM

County Board Room

Call To Order

Chairman Molina called the meeting to order at 9:01 AM.

Roll Call

Board Member Myrna Molina

Board Member Bill Lenert

Board Member Michael Linder

Board Member Bill Roth

PRESENT

Board Member Vern Tepe

Board Member Rick Williams

Board Member Michelle Gumz

REMOTE

ABSENT

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Also present: Co. Bd. members Juby*, Kenyon, Kious*, Lewis*, Strathmann*;

KaneComm Dir. Guthrie; Sheriff Hain*; OEM Acting Dir. Mensching; State's Attorney

Mosser & staff Shepro, Hunt*, Frank; Public Defender Conant; Chief Judge Hull, Court

Admin. O'Brien & staff Mathis; Court Srvs. Exec. Dir. Aust; Circuit Clerk Barreiro;

Coroner Russell*; Fin. Exec. Dir. Hopkinson; ITD/BLD Exec. Dir. Fahnestock & staff

Lasky, Smith, Peters; Auditor Wegman; and members of the press and public.

Remote Attendance Requests

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

asked the Committee if there were any objections to Committee Member Gumz

attending today's meeting remotely. No objections were made.

Approval of Minutes: September 14, 2023 & September 22, 2023

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Bill Roth

Public Comment (Agenda Items)

None.

Monthly Financial Reports

Monthly Finance Reports

Chairman Molina stated the monthly financial reports were on file. Fin. Exec. Dir.

Hopkinson commented on the Judicial/Public Safety Budgets. She stated that

most department's yearly benchmarks are below normal, which is a positive for

the County. However, KaneComm is currently over on Contractual Services and

the State's Attorney's Office is over on two funds: Drug Prosecution Fund and

Victim Coordinator Services Fund.

Merit Commission

None.

KaneComm (M. Guthrie)

Monthly Report

KaneComm Dir. Guthrie stated the monthly report was on file. She addressed

the Contractual Services Budget Report. KaneComm pays for many services

and items through their budget at the beginning of the fiscal year. Some items

will qualify for reimbursement through the Emergency System Telephone Board.

Guthrie stated that KaneComm has hired multiple employees between August

and September 2023. KaneComm currently has three employees in training.

Additionally, KaneComm has obtained a new shift manager, Jessica Green, as

well as a part-time Telecommunicator, and a full-time Telecommunicator. Hiring

and training continues to be KaneComm's main focus. Guthrie shared her

excitement of the offices reconstruction projects. This will entail building out a

quiet space for the Telecommunicators, as well as, an office space for the

Operations Manager. She invited the Committee for a tour. Guthrie addressed

questions and comments from the Committee.

Authorizing an Agreement with Tyler Technologies for Computer-Aided Dispatch

Call for Service Export Interface

KaneComm Dir. Guthrie provided additional information on this resolution.

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Bill Lenert

Bill Roth

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Michelle Gumz, Michael Linder, Bill

Roth, Vern Tepe, and Rick Williams

AYE:

Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Sheriff/Adult Corrections (R. Hain)

Monthly Report

Sheriff Hain stated the monthly reports were on file. He addressed the

heightened level of Calls for Service in September 2023. He explained that the

new Control Commander and himself are interested in proactive activity. They

have recently established a couple Criminal Patrol and Traffic Patrol Teams.

The main goal of these new teams is to be more prevalent and present with

self-initiated contact to lessen the aggressive criminal activity. Hain spoke on the

numerous precautions taken at the previous County Board meeting that

addressed the threats made by First Amendment auditors.

Discussion Only: Authorizing the Kane County Sheriff’s Office to Implement a

Standard Security Protocol to Enhance and Maintain Safety Measures for the

Kane County Government Center

Sheriff Hain addressed questions and comments from the Committee pertaining

to the security of the Government Center, Building "A". Discussion ensued.

Committee Member Gumz addressed the scrivener's error in the Now,

Therefore, Be it Resolved clause of this resolution.

Gumz motioned to move into an Executive Session to discuss security matters,

Roth seconded. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

After the Executive Session, Committee Member Tepe motioned to hold this

resolution over to the next Security Assessment Research Committee meeting,

Linder seconded. Motion carried with a 5-2 vote.

KC AD HOC Security Assessment Research Committee

RESULT:

TO:

HELD OVER

KC AD HOC Security Assessment Research Committee

Vern Tepe

MOVER:

Michael Linder

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Bill Roth, Vern Tepe, and Rick Williams

Michelle Gumz, and Michael Linder

AYE:

NAY:

Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

10.

Emergency Management

Monthly Report

OEM Acting Dir. Mensching explained that the new OEM Director, Scott

Buziecki, would be starting on Monday. The office hopes for a smooth transition.

He stated that September 2023 has been one of the busiest months on record

with 26 call outs. Additionally, OEM helped assist with security and emergency

management at the LIV Golf Tournament in Sugar Grove. Mensching explained

that the office did have one resignation last month. With the new job opening,

OEM will be modifying the job description to seek an adequate replacement.

11.

State's Attorney (J. Mosser)

Monthly Report

State's Attorney Mosser stated the monthly report was on file. She explained

that the office has hired numerous employees, including the four interns that

recently passed the Bar Exam. She addressed the overage concerns on the

financial benchmarks. Mosser explained that her Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Hunt's analysis shows that State Attorney's Office is under budget by $300K,

which does not include the $108K in contingency that the Finance Department

holds.

12.

13.

Public Defender (R. Conant)

Monthly Report

Public Defender Conant stated the monthly report was on file. The office has

continued to focus on hiring. She commented on the success of all Judiciary

Departments with the implementation of the Safe-T Act. Conant thanked her

staff for their diligent work on the smooth transition. Conant and Mosser

addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

Judiciary & Courts (Hull/O'Brien)

Chief Judge Hull stated the election for a new Chief Judge occurred. Kane County's

new Chief Judge is Rob Villa and Hull's last day will be December 1, 2023. Additionally,

Kane County has hired Judge Larry Lobe who is assigned to the Child Support

Courtroom. Hull provided a Safe-T Act update. This Act has been the biggest

legislative change to the Criminal Justice Code since it was enacted in 1963. With this

big change, issues will occur and will be addressed. Hull stated that the Kane County

Judiciary has done a great job with the implementation. He noted that no changes

would be made to the new processes until the end of the first quarter. Hull explained

the new time frame and increased workload of weekend court. Staff is now starting

earlier and leaving later, which is not anticipated to change in the future. Hull stated

that they are continuing to work on data collection to track the amount of cases heard

on the weekends and holidays. He noted that this increase would raise the cost of

employee demand, which will affect the overall budget. Discussion ensued on

operational needs of the Safe-T Act.

Hull spoke on the decrease of detainees in the County Jail. He addressed the legal

challenges of interpreting the new law between all Judiciary departments. Hull spoke

on the new Safe-T Act Dashboard on KaneCourt.org. He stated that full transparency is

important not only for the Judiciary Departments, but for the public, as well. The

dashboard is a tool to understand the statistics of the Safe-T Act. He thanked the

Information Technologies Department (ITD) for their work on the dashboard. Hull

described how to use the dashboard. This tool will help staff and constituents see how

the Safe-T Act is being applied and what potential changes will need to be made. He

stated he has been proud of all Kane County's Judiciary Departments with the

implementation of this legislation. Hull addressed questions and comments from the

Committee. Discussion ensued.

14.

Court Services Administration (L. Aust)

Monthly Reports

Court Srvs. Exec. Dir. Aust stated the monthly report was on file. She spoke on

the implementation of the Safe-T Act. She explained that Kane County is an

unique County within the State of Illinois because of the constant meetings

between all Judiciary Departments for the implementation of this legislation.

Aust reviewed the Kane County Circuit Clerk's statistics. Recently, Kane County

has been able to share their research and updated documents regarding the

Safe-T Act with surrounding counties. Kane County will continue to work on

adequate data collection. Aust spoke on budget highlights. Court Services is

currently $400K under in the General Fund. The Juvenile Justice Center's

revenue total is over by $300K. This is due to the juvenile detainee contracts

between other surrounding counties. Aust noted that her staff's caseload has

been remaining the same.

JJC Housing Report

None.

Authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement with McHenry County for Juvenile

Detention Services

Court Srvs. Exec. Dir. Aust provided additional information on this resolution.

Committee Co-Chair Lenert pointed out a scrivener's error within this resolution.

He stated instead of this resolution reading November 31, it should be changed

to November 30.

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Bill Roth

MOVER:

Rick Williams

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Michelle Gumz, Michael Linder, Bill

Roth, Vern Tepe, and Rick Williams

AYE:

Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Establishing a New Sub Department in the General Fund Under Court Services

for a DUI Court

Court Srvs. Exec. Dir. Aust pulled this resolution because Court Services has

taken the payments for offender services out of a Special Fund, not the General

Fund. This resolution was to ask for the creation of a new Special Fund to cover

the costs of the new DUI Court. She voiced her concerns on utilizing treatment

dollars out of the General Fund. Even though legally allowed, this would set a

new precedence of utilizing tax dollars to pay for individual treatments. After

having discussions with staff, Aust stated she is not in position that this would be

the proper way to go about this. She stated that she would need to consult with

others to make the proper decision.

RESULT:

NO VOTE REQUIRED

Authorizing Contract Agreement with One Hope United for Multi-Systemic

Therapy Services

Court Srvs. Exec. Dir. Aust provided additional information on this resolution.

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Bill Lenert

Bill Roth

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Michelle Gumz, Michael Linder, Bill

Roth, Vern Tepe, and Rick Williams

AYE:

Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

15.

Circuit Clerk (T. Barreiro)

Monthly Report

Circuit Clerk Barreiro stated the monthly report was on file. She reviewed the

August collections amount of $69,637. If all collections were collected, the Office

would have received $883K. She addressed staffing of the Initial Appearance

Courtroom (IAC). Typically, each courtroom would be staffed with one Deputy

Clerk. Since the implementation of the Safe-T Act on September 18, 2023, the

Circuit Clerk's Office has been staffing three Deputy Clerks in each. Barreiro

spoke on the collaborative efforts of the entire Judiciary pertaining to the Safe-T

Act. Supervisors have been collecting data to help with the Safe-T Act

Dashboard. The State of Illinois passed legislation initiating an 180-day fines

and fees hold for all detainees released from jail/prison. Barreiro reviewed the

billing process and the difficulties of knowing when a person is released from

detainment. She foresees the possibility of the County being held liable, if this is

not addressed appropriately. Court Srvs. Exec. Dir. Aust provided additional

information on the new legislation. She spoke on the challenges of interpreting

the law. Discussion ensued.

Barreiro stated that the Circuit Clerk's Office has 96 employees, who have

helped with filling the courtrooms adequately. The office will be working on hiring

the new Safe-T Act Clerks once the FY24 Budget is finalized. Barreiro informed

the Committee that the Deputy Clerk's Labor Contract will expire on November

30, 2023, which will affect the overall budget. Barreiro reviewed the current

caseload for each division. She addressed changes within the ticketing system

for the police department. Barreiro addressed questions and comments from the

Committee.