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, Young, ex-officios Roth (County Vice

Chair) and Pierog (County Chair)

Friday, November 14, 2025

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

PRESENT

Board Member Chris Kious

Board Member Ted Penesis

Board Member David Young

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth

Board Member Bill Tarver

Board Member Deborah Allan

Board Member Cherryl Strathmann

REMOTE

ABSENT

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Also present: Co. Bd. members Gripe, Juby*, Lewis, Molina*; Environ. & Water Res.

Dir. Wollnik; Recycling Coordinator Ryan; Sustainability Mgr. Hinshaw and staff

Powell;Spec. ASA & Local Historian Shepro; ITD staff Peters; and members of the

press and public including Gud Marketing Account Manager Lauren Abbott*.

Remote Attendance Requests

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

asked if there were any objections to Committee Members Allan, Strathmann and

Tarver attending remotely. There were no objections.

Approval of Minutes: October 17, 2025

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Chris Kious

Public Comment

Kane County resident and Board Member, David Young, addressed a statement made

by Bill Gates about climate change. He noted that Gates' stance on climate change is

that it is real, however, humanity will adapt. He continued on to quote Gates' comments

on prioritizing health over poverty, and to focus on human welfare. He stated that

ending hunger should take precedence over fractional temperature targets, and that

innovation and clean energy remain vital.

Environmental (J.Wollnik)

2026 Energy and Environmental SMART Goals

Environ. & Water Res. Dir. Wollnik stated that it was mentioned at last month's

meeting to remove Tree Preservation from the Committee goals list. She added

that a document for Smart Goals was provided by Board Member Roth. After

reviewing the document, Wollnik indicated that it would be extensive to create a

smart goal, therefore it would not fit under the heading on the agenda. She

provided a summary page of the Committee goals to be included under the

agenda heading. Further discussion ensued. The Committee provided their

consensus to approve the 2026 E&E Committee Goals.

Recycling/Solid Waste (C. Ryan)

Authorizing Second Extension and Scope of Work Adjustment to Professional

Service Agreement for 2026 Recycling Center and Event Staffing and

Operations

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Chris Kious

MOVER:

Ted Penesis

SECONDER:

Mavis Bates, Bill Tarver, Chris Kious, Ted Penesis, Cherryl

Strathmann, and David Young

AYE:

Corinne M. Pierog

Deborah Allan

ABSENT:

AWAY:

Feed the Cart Regional Recycling Outreach and Education Campaign & Kane

County Deployment

Recycling Coordinator Ryan stated the U.S. Environment Protection Agency

(EPA) issued its Inaugural Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Program

Notice of Funding Opportunity three years ago. She stated that a group of

Chicago regional counties and waste agencies coalesced around the Metro

Mayor's Caucus as the applicant. A proposal was submitted in February 2023. A

notification of the award decision was received in late 2023. The award start

date was June 14, 2024. The award was for a total $2M, and each partner will

receive a sub award of $83K in order to amplify the campaign message locally.

Ryan stated that a Federal Quality Assurance Plan (QAPP) was developed for

the data collection to provide proof that the outreach works, and a Request for

Approval (RFP) was submitted for a solid waste consultant to assist with data

signs. Interviews for a marketing firm were held from June 2024 to April 2025. A

45 person marketing firm based out of Lansing, Michigan called Gud Marketing

was hired as the consultant. The agency specializes in helping governmental

and non-profit clients to create a social image.

Gud Marketing Account Manager, Lauren Abbott, shared information about the

Feed the Cart Regional Recycling Outreach and Education Campaign and Kane

County Development. She stated that Gud Marketing's goals are to get residents

excited about recycling. A key part of getting people excited about recycling is to

was create a new, instantly recognizable regional recycling brand. The primary

audience for the campaign are people in single-family homes in metro Chicago,

and local governments as the secondary audience. Abbott explained that the

overall campaign approach is to include high-visibility ads that capture attention

and interest, drive people to the campaign website to further educate the

audience on the do's and don'ts of recycling. She shared a brief video ad

introducing the "Loop" character for the Recycling Cart. She reviewed the 2025

Campaign tactics currently running including transit ads, digital video, billboards,

social media, and earned media. An official kickoff announcement for the Feed

the Cart campaign generated thirty-one stories in the first 48 hours including TV

and radio coverage. Abbott addressed questions and comments from the

Committee. Further discussion ensued.

Authorizing an Agreement with the Village of West Dundee and eWorks

Electronics Services, Inc. for Operation of the West Dundee Recycling Center in

2026

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Chris Kious

MOVER:

Ted Penesis

SECONDER:

Mavis Bates, Bill Tarver, Chris Kious, Ted Penesis, Cherryl

Strathmann, and David Young

AYE:

Corinne M. Pierog

Deborah Allan

ABSENT:

AWAY:

Sustainability (S.Hinshaw)

No report was made.

New Business

Committee Member Young addressed the conspiracies of harmful chemicals being

sprayed into the atmosphere from aircrafts. He recommended this topic be included for

further discussion at meetings.

10.

11.

Chairs Comments

Chairman Bates reminded everyone that a Committee of the Whole meeting will be

held on Wednesday, December 10 at 12:00 p.m. to discuss solar fields.

Reports Placed On File

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Ted Penesis

12.

Executive Session (if needed)

None.