5.
6.
Approval of Minutes: April 2, 2025
RESULT:
MOVER:
APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT
Chris Kious
Public Comment
Kane County Board Member, District 19, and resident, Mo Iqbal, spoke on the
Transportation Committee's Motorcycle Safety Awareness Proclamation. He stated that
at the Transportation Committee meeting he opposed the proclamation due to the lack
of mentioning the use of helmets for motorcyclists' safety. Iqbal spoke on ABATE of
Illinois, Inc. While researching, Iqbal found that this is a brotherhood organization that
will be honored if this proclamation is passed by the County Board. He reviewed the
contents of ABATE's website that does not show or mention the use of helmets. He
reviewed ABATE's mission. He spoke on legislation that ABATE has opposed.
Brian Anderson, Sugar Grove, stated that he attended the April 23, 2025, Finance
Committee meeting, which was the first meeting held after the Consolidated Election.
He urged County Board Members and public to review the meeting. At the two hour
mark of the meeting, Anderson grew perplexed when Committee Member Tepe spoke
on the budget process becoming adversarial with elected officials. Anderson hopes that
the State's Attorney's Office (SAO) and other elected officials do not become
adversarial with the budget process and everyone can work together in a professional
manner. Anderson spoke on the May 1, 2025 Special Finance Committee meeting. At
this meeting, Finance Committee Chairman Berman stated that the budget would be
put on those County Board members who did not vote in favor of the Sales Tax
Referendum. He addressed County Board Member Bates' presentation. He mentioned
that the presentation should have been reviewed by all County Board members due to
it being the basics of finance. He stated that the County's budget is most important.
However, instead of the County Board starting the budget process in the normal time
frame, the County Board has waited to start the conversation now, after the
overwhelming opposition to the Sales Tax Referendum. Anderson stated that County
Board Member Bates has been sitting on this Board for five years, but has only now
been learning how the County's finances work. He mentioned that while doing his own
research he was able to learn about 95% of the information presented by Bates. He
reminded the Finance Committee that they had a chance in December 2024 to vote for
County Board Member Sanchez in becoming the new Chairman of the Finance
Committee. It was a 13 to 9 vote, which was shut down by the Chairman of the Board.
Anderson stated that he does not believe that the Board, based on statute, have the
authority to replace Finance Chairman Berman. He called upon Berman to resign as
the Chairman and let Bill Lenert become the new Chairman of the Finance Committee.
(Committee Member Allan arrived in-person at 9:14 a.m.)
Michelle Bettag, St. Charles, stated that on August 8, 2023, Kane County approved the
Responsible Bidder Ordinance (RBO). In her opinion, this ordinance is something the
County needs to look at to correct overspending in Kane County. Bettag explained that
the RBO has made it impossible for private businesses, small businesses, and non-
union businesses to bid on work in Kane County. This has increased costs of projects.