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 10, 2024

9:00 AM

County Board Room

Call To Order

Chairman Molina called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM.

Roll Call

Board Member Myrna Molina

Board Member Bill Lenert

Board Member Michelle Gumz

Board Member Bill Roth

PRESENT

Board Member Michael Linder

Board Member Vern Tepe

Board Member Rick Williams

REMOTE

ABSENT

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Also present: Co. Bd. Members Kenyon, Kious*, Lewis*; KaneComm Dir. Guthrie &

staff Burkett, Freeland, Vasquez; OEM Dir. Buziecki & staff Sprague; Sheriff Hain*;

Coroner Russell; State's Attorney staff Frank*, Hunt*, Shepro; Public Defender Conant;

JJC Supt. Davis; Circuit Clk. Barreiro; ITD staff Peters; 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 Linder, Tepe,

and Williams attending today's meeting remotely. There were no objections.

Approval of Minutes: September 12, 2024

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Bill Roth

Public Comment

None.

Monthly Financial Reports

Monthly Finance Reports

Chairman Molina stated the monthly financial reports were on file. No additional

report was made.

Molina requested that the Committee move to the monthly Judiciary & Courts

report and resolution. The Committee provided consensus.

Merit Commission

None.

KaneComm (M. Guthrie)

Monthly Report

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

two new telecommunicators, Briana Vasquez and Cole Freeland. She

announced that KaneComm has had two employment anniversaries.

Telecommunicator Jim Holden celebrated 23 years and Kezia Moore celebrated

five years. Guthrie stated that KaneComm has continued to focus on hiring staff

and testing. She also continues to advocate for more office and training space.

She reported that KaneComm has trended the same for calls for service, but

has had an increase of approximately 1,200 phone calls. The incidents that

KaneComm is handling for the police agencies are coming through as phone

calls and not calls for service. Guthrie addressed questions and comments from

the Committee.

Emergency Management(S. Buziecki)

Monthly Report

OEM Dir. Buziecki stated the monthly report was on file. He introduced the

Office of Emergency Management's (OEM) new Planner, Nicole Sprague. He

provided a brief educational and work history of Sprague. He reported that

volunteer hours are trending higher than last year. Currently, volunteers are on

pace to have approximately 14K volunteer hours for 2024. Lastly, Buziecki

stated that OEM hosted a New Volunteer Academy Graduation Dinner. OEM

has acquired 11 new volunteers. Buziecki addressed questions and comments

from the Committee.

After Action Report - July Tornadoes

OEM Dir. Buziecki shared the Kane County Severe Weather and Tornadoes -

After-Action Report and Improvement Plan. He spoke on the importance and

purpose of an After-Action Report (AAR). He shared the 32 core capabilities and

five mission areas of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He

highlighted those capabilities and mission areas that were met with these past

storms. Buziecki summarized the challenge levels of how the Office of

Emergency Management (OEM) performed during these storms. He addressed

the reporting issues that were faced. Buziecki addressed questions and

comments from the Committee.

Buziecki continued with summarizing the challenge levels. The bottom line is

that Kane County has experienced 10 tornadoes during the 2024 calendar year

and 12 since July 2023. Buziecki stated that these minimal damage tornadoes

have allowed the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to better prepare

and improve protocols for future events. Buziecki addressed questions and

comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

Buziecki shared before and after photographs of office improvements that have

been completed.

Personnel Credentialing Plan

OEM Dir. Buziecki shared the Kane County Office of Emergency Management

(OEM) Personnel Credentialing Plan (KCOEM-PCP). He explained that the

National Qualification System (NQS) is a nationwide effort to standardize

training, experience, and abilities for Emergency Operations Center personnel.

The plan is a requirement of the Federal Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA) and Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) for all accredited

jurisdictions for all full-time staff funded in-part by the Emergency Management

Performance Grant (EMPG), in order to retain accreditation and remain eligible

for grants. The use of FEMA's National Qualification System (NQS) will ensure

Kane County maintains a fully functional and qualified Incident Command staff

within the County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). This plan provides

policies, guidance, and procedures to qualify and credential Kane County

personnel for performing emergency operations functions. Buziecki reviewed

OEM strategies and procedures of how staff is credentialed.

Authorizing the Purchase of Vehicle from Morrow Brothers Ford for the Office of

Emergency Management

KC Executive Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Executive Committee

Michelle Gumz

Bill Roth

MOVER:

SECONDER:

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

Roth, Vern Tepe, and Rick Williams

AYE:

Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

10.

Sheriff/Adult Corrections (R. Hain)

Monthly Report

Sheriff Hain stated the monthly report was on file. Over the last two days, the

Kane County Justice Center (KCJC) has relocated over 100 detainees to

LaSalle and McHenry County. He spoke on the security purposes that

surrounded this relocation. He stated that the reason behind this move was to

consolidate the population of the KCJC to one of the two towers. This will

expedite the closing of the center's camera project and addresses the Union's

concerns about officer mandates. Hain explained that many officers have been

utilizing their paid time off, which has required younger officers to be mandated

to work 16-hour shifts, multiple days a week. Out of sensitivity for those officers,

he believed it was a good time to move the detainee population. Hain hopes this

will only last for approximately two months. He spoke on the idea of sharing jail

space with surrounding counties.

11.

Coroner (R. Russell)

Monthly Report

Coroner Russell stated the monthly report was on file. He reported that the

office's numbers have been trending down. He is hopeful that this will allow his

office to be under budget for FY2024. He spoke on the office's efforts over the

past six months. He noted that staff and himself have attended over 50 events

distributing approximately 1,500 boxes of Narcan. He stated that due to this

effort, Kane County has had confirmed saves. Russell spoke on the gratitude of

residents for this effort. Lastly, he explained that a press conference would be

held on the skull that was found in a Batavia home. He stated that they have

identified the person and the circumstances around how this person ended up in

a wall. Russell addressed questions and comments from the Committee.

Discussion ensued.

12.

Judiciary & Courts (Villa/O'Brien)

Authorizing the Child Protection Data Courts Grant

Court Admin. O'Brien introduced this resolution. She provided additional

information.

The Committee moved back to the Merit Commission monthly report.

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

TO:

Bill Roth

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Bill Lenert

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

Roth, Vern Tepe, and Rick Williams

AYE:

Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

13.

State's Attorney (J. Mosser)

Monthly Report

ASA Frank stated the monthly report was on file. No additional report was made.

Authorizing Participation in the Appellate Prosecutor Program

KC Executive Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Executive Committee

Rick Williams

MOVER:

Bill Roth

SECONDER:

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

Roth, Vern Tepe, and Rick Williams

AYE:

Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

14.

15.

Public Defender (R. Conant)

Monthly Report

Public Defender Conant stated the monthly report was on file. She announced

that two interns recently passed the BAR Exam and will be hired on as

attorneys.

Court Services Administration (L. Aust)

Monthly Report

JJC Supt. Davis stated the following two reports were on file. No additional

report was made.

JJC Housing Report

Authorizing a Contract Rate Increase for Professional Psychiatric Services for

the Juvenile Justice Center

JJC Supt. Davis introduced this resolution. He provided additional information.

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Michelle Gumz

MOVER:

Bill Lenert

SECONDER:

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

Roth, Vern Tepe, and Rick Williams

AYE:

Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

16.

Circuit Clerk (T. Barreiro)

Monthly Reports

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

she attended a conference in Arizona with Tyler Technologies. At the

conference, the Screening, Assessment, and Support Services (SASS) Care

Management System was discussed. The SASS is a case management system

that is cloud-based. Barrerio noted that this system is costly. She explained that

in the near future, Kane County will not have a choice but to adopt this system.

She wanted to bring this to the Committee's attention because this system will

need to be utilized in the next three to four years. She explained that once the

switch is implemented, she would no longer need the Information Technologies

(IT) staff that work on the current case management system. Barreiro stated that

the federal labor laws have changed the starting salary for exempt (non-union)

employees. She noted that she has been working with the State's Attorney's

Office's Civil Division to see how this will affect the County's budget. She noted

that this is an anticipated large amount that will take effect on January 1, 2025.

Barreiro reported that case filings are trending 11% higher than last year. If this

pace continues, there will be over 65K new cases filed in 2024. Additionally, she

stated that the office has three vacant Deputy Clerk positions, but has had

numerous applications. Currently, the Clerk's Office has 98 active employees.

She stated that it is a necessity to have clerks in the court rooms and to

complete statistical work. Barreiro addressed questions and comments from the

Committee. Discussion ensued.

17.

18.

Old Business

None.

New Business

None.