Government Center

719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A

Geneva, IL 60134

Kane County

KC Human Services Committee

Meeting Minutes

SURGES, Linder, Allan, Garcia, Gripe, Lewis, Tarver, ex-officios Roth (County Vice Chair) &

Pierog (County Chair)

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

9:00 AM

County Board Room

Call To Order

Vice-Chairman Linder called the meeting to order at 9:03 AM.

Roll Call

Board Member Michael Linder

Board Member Deborah Allan

Board Member Sonia Garcia

Board Member Jon Gripe

PRESENT

Board Member Anita Lewis

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth

Board Member Clifford Surges

REMOTE

ABSENT

Board Member Bill Tarver

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Also present: Co. Bd. Members Bates*, Juby, Molina*, Penesis*, Strathmann*; HRM

Exec. Dir. Lobrillo & staff Davis, Larson; KC Historian Shepro; Workforce Development

Dir. Schauer; ASA Ford; ITD CIO Lasky* & staff Peters; and members of the press and

public.

Remote Attendance Requests

Vice-Chairman Linder announced the remote attendance requests for today's meeting.

He asked the Committee if there were any objections to Committee Chairman Surges

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

Approval of Minutes: December 10, 2025

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Jon Gripe

Public Comment

None.

Monthly Financial Reports

Monthly Finance Reports

Vice-Chairman Linder stated the monthly financial reports were on file. No

additional report was made.

Department of Human Resource Management

Health Insurance

HRM Asst. Dir. Davis stated that monthly health insurance reports were on file.

No additional report was made. Davis addressed questions and comments from

the Committee.

Risk Management

Risk Manager Larson stated the monthly report was on file. He explained that

there is a lag in reporting due to the start of the fiscal year. He hopes to have

updated numbers for the Committee at next month's meeting. Larson addressed

questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued. (Committee

Member Lewis arrived in-person at 9:06 a.m.)

Staffing

HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo stated the monthly staffing report was on file. She

explained that there has not been a lot of turnover. She reported that

terminations and new hires are down. Lobrillo addressed questions and

comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

Compliance

Monthly Training Report

HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo stated the monthly training report was on file. She

explained that it is a new year, therefore, every employee will have to complete

their annual Sexual Harassment Prevention Training. She stated that last year,

the Illinois Department of Human Rights released a new video that is shorter

than the previous one utilized.

Old Business

None.

10.

New Business

Authorizing the Creation of a Program Training Specialist Position in the

Workforce Development Department Funded Through the Workforce Innovation

and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

Workforce Development Dir. Schauer introduced this resolution. He stated that

this resolution would build a new position within the Workforce Development

Department for a Training Specialist. He explained that as he began looking at

the Corrective Action Plan that was put forth by the Illinois Department of

Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for the program, it become

evident that the Department needed additional on boarding support and training.

He stated that the Department contracts out with numerous partners in the

community to provide programming. He explained that there is one individual

that is tasked with on boarding new staff, training partners, and providing

compliance. However, these are large tasks for one individual. Schauer

explained that this new position would report directly to the Manager of

Compliance and Performance, which reports directly to him, to enhance the

oversight, training capabilities, on boarding capabilities, and enhance the

Department's internal reviews.

HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo stated that due to the County's Compensation Policy,

when a new position is created mid-year, the process includes going through the

Human Services Committee to establish the position's grading. She explained

that the Human Resources Management Department (HRM) worked with

Schauer to grade the position as a 265, which sets the salary range. After the

passage of this resolution at the Human Services Committee, it will move onto

the Jobs Committee to establish the need for the position, and then to the

Finance Committee to establish the funding available. Lobrillo and Schauer

addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

Committee Member Lewis requested that a new work chart for the Workforce

Development Department be presented at the upcoming Jobs Committee

meeting.

KC Jobs Committee

RESULT:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Jobs Committee

Anita Lewis

TO:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Jon Gripe

Michael Linder, Sonia Garcia, Jon Gripe, and Anita Lewis

AYE:

Clifford Surges, Deborah Allan, Bill Tarver, and Corinne M.

Pierog

ABSENT:

Authorizing the Creation of a Senior Staff Accountant Position in the Workforce

Development Department Funded Through the Workforce Innovation and

Opportunity Act (WIOA)

Workforce Development Dir. Schauer introduced this resolution. He explained

that the Department is the fiscal agent for multiple programs that are provided

throughout the tri-county area of Kane County, Kendall County, and DeKalb

County. Therefore, the Department has subcontractors within the three

community colleges, regional offices of education, and community-based

organizations that provide services. As the fiscal agent, the Workforce

Development Department processes all the financial reimbursements for the

programs. In order to expand the services, this new position is needed. Schauer

explained that there are currently three full-time accountants and a fiscal

manager. He stated that this new position will help guide the work of the three

accountants who report directly to the fiscal manager, and allow the Department

to expand services and increase the number of providers in the community. He

explained that fiscal management was the largest part of the Department of

Commerce and Economic Opportunity's (DCEO) Corrective Action Plan.

Therefore, it was the largest area that needed improvement. In order to meet the

wants of DCEO and to be able to expand programs, the Workforce

Development Department will need to be able to expand its ability to process

additional funding accounts for individuals that are enrolled in the Adult and

Dislocated Worker Program, but also ensure that the billing is timely and funding

is being allocated to partners in a timely manner. Schauer addressed questions

and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

KC Jobs Committee

RESULT:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Jobs Committee

Jon Gripe

TO:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Anita Lewis

Michael Linder, Sonia Garcia, Jon Gripe, and Anita Lewis

AYE:

Clifford Surges, Deborah Allan, Bill Tarver, and Corinne M.

Pierog

ABSENT:

County Code Updates Regarding Department Heads

HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo provided the County Code updates regarding

department heads. She explained that at the last Human Services Committee

meeting, it was discussed that the State's Attorney's Office would prepare a list

of the updates that need to be addressed for continuity. She stated that this list

is being worked on and she hopes to have it for presentation at next month's

Committee meeting.

Travel Policy Discussion

HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo introduced the Travel Policy discussion. She stated that

this discussion item came from the County Board regarding a previous edit to

the Travel Policy. She noted that the issue with the Travel Policy was a sentence

that stated, "Travel expense policy is administered by and any exceptions must

be approved by the auditor." She suggested that the sentence be changed to,

"Travel expense policy compliance is overseen by the county auditor and all

exceptions must be approved by the County Board." She explained that since

this is a financial policy, it would need to be presented to the Finance Committee

for approval. Lobrillo addressed questions and comments from the Committee.

Discussion ensued.

Auditor Wegman explained that this suggested wording was not discussed with

her beforehand. She stated that this new wording will have to be agreed upon by

the County Board and the auditor, due to it not being one of her statutory

requirements. Discussion ensued.

Lobrillo explained that the suggested sentence was not intended to change, but

to maintain the status quo. Currently, the Auditor's Office manages the

compliance of the Travel Policy. The suggestion was meant to clarify the

sentence to properly reflect the current status, which is that the auditor manages

the compliance. (Committee Chairman Surges arrived remotely at 9:27 a.m.)

Further discussion ensued.

The Committee provided consensus to accept the new wording and forward this

onto the Finance Committee.

11.

12.

Reports Placed On File

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Jon Gripe

Executive Session

The Human Services Committee entered into Executive Session at 9:34 a.m. to

discuss the release of closed session minutes on a motion made by Gripe, Lewis

seconded. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

RESULT:

APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE

Jon Gripe

MOVER:

Anita Lewis

SECONDER:

Michael Linder, Sonia Garcia, Jon Gripe, and Anita Lewis

AYE:

Clifford Surges, Deborah Allan, Bill Tarver, and Corinne M.

Pierog

ABSENT:

Release of Closed Session Minutes

13.

Open Session

The Committee returned to Open Session at 9:39 a.m. on a motion made by Gripe,

Garcia seconded. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

RESULT:

APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE

Jon Gripe

MOVER:

Anita Lewis

SECONDER:

Vote on Release of Closed Session Minutes

Committee Member Gripe motioned to accept the recommendations of the State's

Attorney's Office (SAO) and adopt Exhibit A, Garcia seconded. Motion carried

unanimously by roll call vote.

RESULT:

APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE

Jon Gripe

MOVER:

Sonia Garcia

SECONDER:

Clifford Surges, Michael Linder, Deborah Allan, Sonia Garcia,

Jon Gripe, and Anita Lewis

AYE:

Bill Tarver, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Committee Member Allan suggested that the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) be

addressed. She explained that while an employee is off leave, but has follow-up

appointments, that it should be considered part of the leave and that the extended

illness bank should be utilized for pay. Additionally, in the event that a pandemic

occurs, employees who have used up their regular sick pay, should be able to utilize

their extended sick pay. Allan asked that these matters be addressed. Discussion

ensued.

14.

Adjournment

RESULT:

APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE

Anita Lewis

MOVER:

Sonia Garcia

SECONDER:

This meeting was adjourned at 9:44 AM.

Savannah Zgobica

Sr. Recording Secretary