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Kane County

KC Public Health Committee

Meeting Minutes

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

Vice Chair) and Pierog (County Chair)

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

9:00 AM

County Board Room

2025 Committee Goals

• Continue to administer rabies vaccinations and microchips to Kane County pets

• Capitalize on a new health department facility

• Increase direct programming to serve residents

• Maximize use of technology

• Demonstrate public health expertise

_______________________________________________________________________

Call To Order

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

Roll Call

Board Member Cherryl Strathmann

Board Member Alex Arroyo

PRESENT

Board Member Leslie Juby

Board Member Ted Penesis

Board Member David Young

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth

Board Member Bill Tarver

REMOTE

ABSENT

Board Member Jarett Sanchez

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Also present: Co. Bd. members Bates*, Gumz*, Gripe, Kious*, Molina*; KCAC Admin.

Youngsteadt; KCHD Exec. Dir. Isaacson & staff Alleman, Onwuta, & Peterson; Fin. Dir.

& Health Facilities Snowden*; ITD staff Peters; and members of the press and public.

Remote Attendance Requests

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

She asked the Committee if there were any objections to Committee Members Tarver

attending remotely. There were no objections.

Approval of Minutes: December 17, 2024

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

David Young

Public Comment

Committee Member and Kane County resident Young stated that today, January 22, is

the National Protection of Unborn Children Day. He asked the Committee to take a ten

second moment of silence. He spoke on the Vaccine Adverse Reporting System

(VAERS). He stated that new data was added to the website, on the immunizations

page explaining what VAERS is, and how people can report something. He shared his

appreciation for this being added on the website. Young addressed the ten to fifteen

pages explaining the adverse effects of vaccines, including the Covid-19 vaccine. He

mentioned he had difficulty finding these pages on the website, and suggested that this

information be more easily accessible to the public. Young reminded the Committee

that the VAERS reporting system is managed by the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Lastly, he stated from

the beginning of the Covid-19 vaccines, there have been over 38K deaths, over 219K

hospitalizations, over 29K reports of Myocarditis and Pericarditis, over 17K reports of

bell's palsy, over 5K miscarriages, over 22K heart attacks, and approximately 73K

people have been permanently disabled. He strongly recommends these statistics be

put on the VAERS website.

Kane County resident Meyer referenced an article from a pro-vaccination standpoint

titled "Louisiana Forbids Public Health Workers from Promoting Covid-19, Flu, and

Mpox Vaccines." The article states that in November 2024, a group of high-level

managers at the Louisiana Department of Health were told that department leadership

had a new policy, and that advertising and promoting the Covid, Influenza, or Mpox

vaccines must stop. Meyer noted that governments are recognizing the fact that there

are dangers of vaccines.

Finance/Budget

Monthly Report

The monthly finance reports are on file. No additional report was made.

Animal Control

Monthly Report

KCAC Admin. Youngsteadt stated that all of the reports are on file. He

announced that the back-up generator was installed this week.

Authorizing Number of Procurement Cards Issued to Kane County Animal

Control and Each of Their Transaction Limits

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Leslie Juby

MOVER:

David Young

SECONDER:

Cherryl Strathmann, Alex Arroyo, Leslie Juby, Ted Penesis, Bill

Tarver, and David Young

AYE:

Jarett Sanchez, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Executive Director

Health Department Updates

KCHD Exec. Dir. Isaacson introduced his staff to the new Board Members. He

explained the ten essential Public Health Services. These services provide a

framework for public health to protect and promote the health of all people in all

communities. He provided an organizational chart showing all of the

department's within their divisions, including division of planning and information

management, community health, disease prevention, and health protection.

Isaacson noted that the Health Department manages its funding through three

primary funds, including the Opioid Settlement Fund, the General County Health

Fund, the Kane Kares Fund, and the American Rescue Plan Fund for Behavioral

Health Project (ARPA). The County Health Fund is about $9.5M for the 2025

budget, and the Kane Kares Fund is $685K. These are the main funding

operational sources for the health department. Isaacson noted that the Health

Department gets $0 funding from the general fund. A special tax levy for $2M

helps support the department. Over 40% of revenue is derived from grants, and

when project funding ends, expenses are cut. The budget reflects a projected

7.8% increase in grant funding. Discussion ensued.

Isaacson provided information on all drug and Opioid overdose emergency

department encounters from over the last six years. There has been a decrease

in drug overdoses, and there continues to be reductions in overdose emergency

encounters, but the numbers are still high. The Health Department staff continue

to educate residents on administering Naloxone, and spread awareness on

substance abuse within the communities. Isaacson provided a data chart

showing the proportions of all drug and opioid emergency encounters by gender.

The opioid emergency encounters for males have a higher percentage than

females. From 2021, there was a reduction in fatalities for Kane County

residents, but the numbers are still high. Much discussion ensued.

Authorizing Opioid Response Community Implementation Project

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Ted Penesis

MOVER:

Bill Tarver

SECONDER:

Cherryl Strathmann, Alex Arroyo, Leslie Juby, Ted Penesis, Bill

Tarver, and David Young

AYE:

Jarett Sanchez, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Old Business

None.

10.

11.

Reports Placed On File

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Alex Arroyo

Executive Session

The Public Health Committee entered into Executive Session at 10:16 a.m. to discuss

the release of closed session minutes on a motion made by Young, seconded by Juby.

Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

RESULT:

APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE

David Young

Leslie Juby

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Cherryl Strathmann, Alex Arroyo, Leslie Juby, Ted Penesis, and

David Young

AYE:

Jarett Sanchez, and Corinne M. Pierog

Bill Tarver

ABSENT:

AWAY:

Release of Closed Session Minutes

12.

Return to Open Session

The Public Health Committee returned to Open Session at 10:21 a.m. on a motion

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

RESULT:

APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE

David Young

Ted Penesis

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Vote on Release of Closed Session Minutes

The Committee came to a consensus to vote on the release of closed session minutes

on a motion made by Juby, seconded by Young. Motion carried by roll call vote.

RESULT:

APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE

Leslie Juby

MOVER:

David Young

SECONDER:

Cherryl Strathmann, Alex Arroyo, Leslie Juby, Ted Penesis, and

David Young

AYE:

Jarett Sanchez, and Corinne M. Pierog

Bill Tarver

ABSENT:

AWAY: