Government Center

719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A

Geneva, IL 60134

Kane County

KC Judicial/Public Safety

Committee

Meeting Minutes

MOLINA, Lenert, Gripe, Gumz, Linder, Tepe, Williams, ex-officios Roth (County Vice Chair)

and Pierog (County Chair)

Thursday, November 13, 2025

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

PRESENT

Board Member Jon Gripe

Board Member Michael Linder

Board Member Vern Tepe

Board Member Rick Williams

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth

Board Member Michelle Gumz

ABSENT

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Also present: Co. Bd. Members Allan*, Bates*, Juby*, Kious*; Merit Comm. Chairman

Burgert; KaneComm Dir. Guthrie; OEM Dir. Buziecki*, Sheriff Hain*; Coroner Silva*;

Chief Judge Villa & staff O'Brien, Mathis; SAO CFO Hunt*; Public Def. 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 Gumz

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

Committee Member Gumz did not attend today's meeting.

Approval of Minutes: October 16, 2025

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Rick Williams

Public Comment

None.

Monthly Financial Reports

Monthly Finance Reports

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

report was made.

Merit Commission

Monthly Report

No report was provided.

KaneComm (M. Guthrie)

Monthly Report

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

employment anniversaries of James Holden and Kezia Moore. She stated that

KaneComm has continued to hire and train. Currently, there are two

telecommunicators in the six to nine month training. Guthrie stated that

KaneComm had a number of technical projects they have been working on. She

explained that KaneComm has been assisting the Kane County Division of

Transportation (KDOT) with their radio project. KaneComm's Radio

Administrator, Andy Baumann, has been assisting KDOT to implement the new

radios, such as programming the fleet as KDOT is installing them. Guthrie

explained that KaneComm has been working on modernizing their public safety

radio system, by replacing outdated Fire North and Fire South channels with a

countywide simulcast network. This new network will contact the Office of

Emergency Management (OEM), KDOT, KaneComm, fire agencies, and police

agencies on one reliable platform. Additionally, this upgrade will eliminate

coverage gaps, simplify dispatching, and strengthen communication during

emergencies. Guthrie stated that this project includes Zetron radio equipment

from the simulcast backbone. Additionally, this project will utilize Sentinel

microwave links between the radio tower sites to create the network for

redundancy, which will ensure operations continue in a fiber network failure. This

upgrade will improve coverage, liability, inoperability, and will enhance

responder safety. Guthrie addressed questions and comments from the

Committee. Much discussion ensued.

Emergency Management (S. Buziecki)

Monthly Report

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

Resilience Specialist position has been filled with a gentleman named Daniel

Nelson. He explained that Nelson has experience in the position from working

for the City of Aurora and Naperville's Emergency Management. He stated that

this position will work on trainings, exercises, public education, and critical

infrastructure, which will include emergency shelters. Additionally, Buziecki

stated that he was invited on two separate occasions to provide keynote

addresses. He spoke to township officials of Kane County on October 22, 2025

about what emergency management is, what townships can do in preparation of

disasters, and how they can access mutual aide. Additionally, he addressed the

Hanover Township on November 8, 2025 at their Emergency Services

Conference on how to run a volunteer program. Buziecki stated that the Office of

Emergency Management staff completed the Debris Management Plan, which

includes a debris estimator tool. He explained that a lot of research and work

was put into the plan. He mentioned that staff worked alongside the statewide

organization, Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network (IPWMAN) to develop the

plan, which was turned into a template that will be provided to their member

agencies. Buziecki spoke on the Judicial Public Safety Committee's last 2025

Committee Goals. He explained that when this goal was placed on the list, the

Kane County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) was anticipating a new

mass notification system that would cost $70 to $100K a year, which was not

feasible. He stated that the old system, CodeRed, cost approximately $38K per

year. He noted that the County is still utilizing CodeRed until December 18,

2025. However, CodeRed was recently compromised and shut down. Due to

this, Buziecki stated that OEM is unable to access the Integrated Public Alert

and Warning System (IPAWS). Luckily, OEM has escalated the efforts of

working with the new system, Regroup Mass Notification, which cost about

$17K. Buziecki addressed questions and comments from the Committee.

Discussion ensued.

10.

Sheriff/Adult Corrections (R. Hain)

Monthly Report

Sheriff Hain stated the monthly report was on file. He recognized Deputy Officer

Ken Johnson and Undersheriff Amy Johnson on the passing of their

father/father-in-law, Chuck Johnson, who served in the United States Marines

and was the Kane County Court Security Division Captain. Hain stated that the

Kane County Adult Justice Center has continued to see over 300 inmates, which

is a hundred more then prior to the SAFE-T Act implementation. He spoke on

the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity at the County's

correction facility. He stated that there have been counter protestors on the

campus, which has become a safety issue. Hain spoke on the increase in

overtime pay. He explained that the Kane County Sheriff's Office needed to

cover the City of Elgin, due to the passing of Sergeant Free. He stated that he

had to deploy approximately 10 to 15 deputies to Elgin during the Sergeant's

funeral services. Hain spoke on the mass communication. He explained that the

Sheriff's Office developed a Kane County Sheriff's Office app that has been live

for approximately six years. He stated that this app provides weather alerts,

push notifications for emergency situations, sex offender alerts, sex offender

maps, and other options. Hain addressed questions and comments from the

Committee. Much discussion ensued.

11.

Coroner (M. Silva)

Monthly Report

Coroner Silva stated the monthly report was on file. She reported that there

have been 294 cases in October 2025. Of the 294 cases, 12 were categorized

as Sign-Outs that did not involve an autopsy. However, 30 of the total cases did

require an autopsy. Of the 30 cases, seven were motor vehicle accidents, four

were suicides, six were suspected overdoses, and 13 were considered as

"other". Silva stated that the Coroner's Office has had a busy month with

providing presentations to the public. She explained that part of the way to

diffuse and educate is to build those relationships across the community. Silva

spoke on the situations that Deputy Coroner's have witnessed due to high

tensions and emotions. She noted that the Sheriff's Office were called out to

these situations to assist. Additionally, she stated that the Coroner's Office is in

the final stages of their reaccreditation. She hopes to report that the office has

been reaccredited by the next Committee meeting. She stated that the office

has been active in the community passing out Narcan and participating in

numerous events. She spoke on the case data that has been collected and the

changes that could occur. Lastly, she reported that the largest challenge the

Coroner's Office face is short staffing.

12.

Judiciary & Courts (Villa/O'Brien)

Court Admin. O'Brien stated that on November 24, 2025, the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit

will participate in the National Adoption Day. She explained that Judge Karayannis will

be assisting with adoptions at the Kane County Judicial Center from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00

p.m. Kane County Judiciary. O'Brien stated that the County will be hosting multiple

families.

Deputy Court Admin. Mathis spoke on the Third Street Courthouse security station

upgrade. He stated that a new security station will be installed in the courthouse's

rotunda. He spoke on the previous security set-up. He thanked Sheriff Hain and staff

for their assistance on this project. He noted that there will be an alternate entrance to

the courthouse during this construction period. Lastly, he spoke on space needs. He

mentioned that there are not too many rooms at the Third Street Courthouse that are

not being utilized. However, he asked those that need extra space to reach out.

13.

14.

State's Attorney (J. Mosser)

Monthly Report

No report was provided.

Public Defender (R. Conant)

Monthly Report

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

at the end of the year, the Public Defender's Office (PDO) will focus on training

initiatives. She stated that there has been an increase in the number of murder

cases that the PDO has received. In the last two months, two murder cases

went to trial. Three are set to go to trial in the next couple of months. Conant

stated that attorneys have been working diligently on these cases to get the

numbers down and to provide their clients with finality. She attested to Deputy

Court Admin. Mathis' comments on space being utilized at the Third Street

Courthouse. She stated that the space available was accommodating to their

needs.

15.

Court Services Administration (L. Aust)

Monthly Report

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

report was made.

OOC Housing Report

Authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement with Jefferson County for Juvenile

Detention Services

JJC Supt. Davis introduced this resolution. He stated that the resolution is a

detention service agreement with Jefferson County. He mentioned that the cost

per detainee would be $225.00 per diem. The agreement is a three year

contract that expires on December 1, 2028.

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Rick Williams

MOVER:

Michael Linder

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Jon Gripe, Michael Linder, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michelle Gumz, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

JJC Supt. Davis mentioned that similar detention service resolutions will be coming

forward to the Committee for consideration. He stated that the Second Judicial Circuit

has reached out to contract with Kane County. Davis addressed questions and

comments from the Committee. Much discussion ensued.

Notification of Renewal of Sex Offender Treatment Services

JJC Supt. Davis introduced this resolution. He stated that this resolution pertains

to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Court Services and

Nickerson and Associates, PC, for sex offender treatment. He explained that a

request for proposal (RFP) was issued and Nickerson and Associates were

found to be the most practical. He stated that this contract has no impact on the

County's General Fund, due to it being paid by probation fees. He noted that this

is a three-year contract that will expire in December 2028.

KC Executive Committee

RESULT:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Executive Committee

Bill Lenert

TO:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Jon Gripe

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Jon Gripe, Michael Linder, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michelle Gumz, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

16.

Circuit Clerk (T. Barreiro)

Monthly Report

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

civil cases going to court and being filed have increased by 14%. She stated that

the Circuit Clerk's Office has 94 employees, three vacant Deputy Clerk

positions, and one vacant Counting Clerk. She reported that there is one

supervisor set to retire at the end of November 2025. This position will be

replaced by a previous Deputy Clerk. Barreiro addressed questions and

comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

17.

Old Business

Chairman Molina asked the Committee if they would like to set up the 2026 Committee

goals. She noted that these goals are difficult to implement when dealing with elected

officials' internal control. She asked for the Committee's feedback on these goals. Each

Committee Member voiced their feedback on the Committee goals. Discussion ensued.

The Committee provided a consensus to discuss the Committee goals at next month's

meeting. They agreed to provide measurable goals for the Judicial Public Safety

Committee that are set by the department heads and elected officials.

Committee Member Lenert stated that at this week's County Board meeting the

FY2026 Budget was approved. He spoke on his appreciation of the cooperation and

professionalism between all elected officials. Discussion ensued.

18.

New Business

None.