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Kane County

KC Judicial/Public Safety

Committee

Meeting Minutes

MOLINA, Lenert, Gumz, Linder, Roth, Tepe, Williams & ex-officio Pierog (County Chair)

Thursday, March 14, 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 Vern Tepe

Board Member Rick Williams

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Board Member Michael Linder

ABSENT

Also present: Co. Bd. Members Berman*, Juby, Kenyon; KaneComm Dir. Guthrie;

OEM Dir. Buziecki; Sheriff Hain*; Coroner Russell*; Chief Judge Villa; Court Admin.

O'Brien & staff Mathis; State's Attorney Mosser* & staff Hunt, Tabor, Shepro*; Public

Defender Conant; Court Srvs. Exec. Dir. Aust; Circuit Clerk Barreiro; Auditor Wegman;

HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo; ITD staff Kash; and members of the press and public.

Remote Attendance Requests

There were no remote attendance requests for today's meeting.

Approval of Minutes: February 15, 2024

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Rick Williams

Public Comment (Agenda Items)

None.

Monthly Financial Reports

Monthly Finance Reports

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

report was made.

Merit Commission

None.

KaneComm (M. Guthrie)

Monthly Report

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

that KaneComm's Annual Report was complete and hard copies are available.

Guthrie recognized several staff regarding March Employment Anniversaries.

She stated that a new Telecommunicator started in March. This employee is

currently going through the six to nine month training. Guthrie provided a

presentation highlighting KaneComm's 2023 Activities. She reviewed

KaneComm's Mission Statement. She provided KaneComm's Organizational

Structure. Guthrie explained the staffing and assignments of KaneComm on a

daily basis. She listed the numerous radio channels that are monitored during

daily operations. She reviewed the additional responsibilities each staff is

assigned to, such as monitoring teletypes, enter stolen, wanted, and/or missing

in state or national databases, and monitor notifications for Electronic Home

Monitoring (EHM) alerts. She shared a picture depicting a telecommunicator's

typical computer set-up. She reviewed the volume of telephone call activity for

2022 and 2023. In 2023, police activity was the highest for calls for service,

followed by fire activity. Guthrie explained KaneComm's 5-year trends on

incidents dispatched. In 2023, there was a total of 83,261 calls for service.

Guthrie listed the 9-1-1 system updates, such as implementing Next Generation

9-1-1 (NG9-1-1). KaneComm was nineteenth in the State to implement

NG9-1-1. Many of these updates will continue throughout this year. Guthrie

addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Guthrie spoke on the

9-1-1 Communications Center Office Space construction upgrades to the

KaneComm Management office space and break space. She provided a graph

depicting the KaneComm 2023 Records Requests. She recapped KaneComm's

2024 goals and objectives.

Proclaiming April 14-20, 2024 National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

KC Executive Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Executive Committee

Michelle Gumz

MOVER:

Rick Williams

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Michelle Gumz, Bill Roth, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michael Linder, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Emergency Management (S. Buziecki)

Monthly Report

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

New Volunteer Open House is coming up on Monday, April 1, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.

at the Kane County Multi-purpose Building. He stated this was a public event

and all are welcome. Buziecki explained that the new member academy will

begin on April 10, 2024, which is a six-month process.

Kane County Tornadoes

OEM Dir. Buziecki provided a presentation on the Kane County tornadoes that

affected the area on February 27, 2024. Northern Illinois had 11 tornadoes, with

four of them being in Kane County. Buziecki reviewed the initial start of the

storm. He differentiated between a tornado watch and tornado warning. When a

severe weather watch/warning is broadcasted, the Office of Emergency

Management's (OEM) Emergency Operations Center begins to be proactive in

monitoring the threat. Buziecki reviewed the timeline of the emergency warnings

and the storms that moved into the Kane County area. At 6:45 p.m., Kane

County was officially put under a Tornado Warning. By 7:20 p.m., four tornadoes

were spotted in Kane County. Buziecki reviewed the statistics of each tornado

that affected Kane County. He shared photographs depicting the size and

severity of each. He spoke on the "Windshield" Survey conducted by his office.

He shared several photos showing the damage caused by these tornadoes.

Buziecki reviewed the Preliminary Damage Assessment. There were 17

agencies involved in the assessment, including OEM, Illinois Emergency

Management Agency (IEMA), Kane County Sheriff, Kane County Health

Department (KCHD) and the Salvation Army. Buziecki reviewed the data

collected from the Damage Assessment. There were 241 cases of damage.

Overall, there were only five incidences that were categorized as "Major".

Buziecki reviewed the storm potential for today, Thursday, March 14, 2024.

Buziecki addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion

ensued.

Recognizing April as National Volunteer Appreciation Month

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, Bill Roth, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michael Linder, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Authorizing the Number of Procurement Cards Issued to the Office of

Emergency Management and Each of their Transaction Limits

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Bill Roth

MOVER:

Bill Lenert

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Michelle Gumz, Bill Roth, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michael Linder, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Authorizing a Full Time Operations Manager for the Office of Emergency

Management and Associated Budget Adjustment

OEM Dir. Buziecki provided a presentation on the Office of Emergency

Management's (OEM) Organizational Chart. He spoke on the part-time Assistant

Director position and the challenges that go along with this position. Overall, the

employee that holds the part-time Assistant Director position can be unavailable

during emergencies due to his full-time employment elsewhere. Buziecki shared

a proposed organization chart, depicting the proposed changes. He provided a

table showing a comparable Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Survey for

Kane County and surrounding counties. He noted that Kane County volunteers

have served the most amount of hours in one year, than other surrounding

counties. Buziecki stated that during the storm session, it is relevant that this

full-time Assistant Director position is a great need to OEM. Buziecki addressed

questions and comments from the Committee. Much discussion ensued.

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

MOVER:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

Bill Roth

Michelle Gumz

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Michelle Gumz, and Bill Roth

Bill Lenert, Vern Tepe, and Rick Williams

Michael Linder, and Corinne M. Pierog

AYE:

NAY:

ABSENT:

10.

Sheriff/Adult Corrections (R. Hain)

Monthly Report

Sheriff Hain stated the monthly report was on file. He explained the possible

process of having the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) re-join the

Sheriff's Office and help the County financially. He recognized decorated K9

Arko and his passing on March 11, 2024. Arko was born in Hungry on October

18, 2014. He came to the Kane County Sheriff's Office in 2016 and served nine

years. Hain asked the Committee to have Arko's handler and his family in their

thoughts. He thanked everyone who attended Sheriff's Deputy Christopher

Ruchaj's funeral service. Hain spoke on a Sheriff involved death that occurred

last week. The officer initiated a traffic stop and the offender did not oblige. The

offender took off in their vehicle and lost control hitting a tree. The offender did

not survive. Hain stated that the Major Crimes Task Force are investigating this

matter. He spoke on the resolution brought forth at the Administration

Committee meeting to purchase a BearCat. He spoke on the need of this

vehicle. Currently, the office's Bear Cat is used about three to four times a

month and plays a vital role in the safety of the officers and community.

11.

Coroner (R. Russell)

Monthly Report

Coroner Russell stated the monthly report was on file and all numbers are within

tolerance. He announced that the Coroner's Officer was the recipient of three

grants. The grant amount received from Congress was $960K. This will be used

to purchase lab equipment. Secondly, the grant received from the Illinois Justice

Department was for approximately $100K and will be utilized for hiring a

part-time morgue technician. This position will alleviate some responsibilities of

the Coroner Deputies. Lastly, a third grant was received by the Kane County

Health Department through the Opioid Reduction Grant for $30K. This money

will be used to hire a Community Liaison. Russell stated the job description for

this position is currently being created. A Community Liaison would hold

community events to help combat the Opioid Epidemic, such as helping those

that care for an opioid-addicted person. Russell spoke on the skull found within

the wall of a Batavia home in 1978. Recently, a cold case was reacted, and

evidence was found on the possible identity of the skull. Russell stated a press

conference would be held once all the data is collected. Russell addressed

questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued. Molina

requested an update on Kane County's forensic lab at a later Judicial/Public

Safety Committee meeting.

12.

Judiciary & Courts (Villa/O'Brien)

Deputy Court Admin. Mathis explained that a resolution will come forward next month

regarding the 2024 Administrative Office of Illinois Courts (AOIC) Technology

Modernization Grant of $272K that was awarded to the Kane County Judiciary. This

funding will be used to update technology equipment within the courts and Circuit

Clerk's Office.

Authorizing FY24 Judiciary and Courts Budget Adjustment

Chief Judge Villa requested this resolution be held until the upcoming Human

Services Committee meeting on April 10, 2024. The Committee obliged.

RESULT:

HELD OVER

Acknowledging Annual Review of Number of Procurement Cards Issued to the

Kane County Law Library & Self-Help Legal Center and Each of their

Transaction Limits

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Bill Lenert

Bill Roth

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Michelle Gumz, Bill Roth, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michael Linder, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

13.

State's Attorney (J. Mosser)

Monthly Report

State's Attorney Mosser stated the monthly report was on file. No additional

report was made.

FY2023 Budget Review

SAO CFO Hunt presented the State's Attorney's Office (SAO) FY2023 Budget

Performance. He stated that the FY2025 budget priorities and calendar have

been approved and County offices/departments are beginning to schedule their

kick-off meetings and submitting their Mission and Outcomes forms. Hunt noted

that as changes are being made to the future budgeting process, it is important

for the County Board to recognize the past financial performance of the SAO

and the unfunded state mandates that were imposed. He explained that the

SAO has operated through both the General Fund and Special Reserve Funds.

The FY2023 SAO financial performance within the General Fund was $1.26M

better than what was budgeted. The General Fund revenues were approximately

$90K more than budgeted, and the expenses were nearly $1.2M less than what

was budgeted. Hunt explained the SAO operations' funds. He noted that not all

operations include employees. Whenever it is appropriate, the SAO has

transferred employees out of the County's General Fund and into a Special

Revenue Fund, reducing the financial burden on the General Fund. Additionally,

this will help reduce the amount of budget adjustments throughout the year.

Hunt reviewed the FY2023 Payroll Budget Performance. The year-end actual

total was $10,896,154. He noted that the amended budget shown does not

include the re-instatement of $125K in contingency hires. Once year-end

adjustments are recorded, the SAO payroll will be under budget by $242,500.

Hunt shared a graph depicting the SAO FY2023 General Fund Expenses -

Budget versus Actual. He reviewed the types of Special Revenue Funds the

SAO operates, such as Civil Division, Drug Prosecution, Domestic Violence, and

Records Automation. With the exception of the Civil Division, the remaining

Special Revenue Funds are self-balancing. Hunt reviewed the financial statistics

pertaining to the FY2023 SAO Civil Division. He stated that the Civil Division

expenses were $246K less than budgeted. This was due to temporary

vacancies' salaries, changes in coverage insurance costs, decrease in costs for

external legal fees and trial notices, and a decrease in cost for employee training

and conferences. Hunt shared a graph depicting the SAO FY2023 Civil Division

Expenses - Budget versus Actual. He reviewed each Special Revenue Fund

budget variances and the cause of each. Hunt addressed that comments made

about lump sum distributions and staff vacancies. He explained that for the

additional eight Special Revenue Funds, collectively the funds were less than

$3K over budget. Hunt stated that the Annual Report for 2023 is not yet

complete. However, it will be presented at a later date. He reviewed the

year-to-year increased caseload data for FY2023.

State's Attorney Mosser reviewed the changes made with respect to unfunded

mandated requirements, such as the SAFE-T Act. She noted that she recently

spent time in Springfield lobbying on behalf of Kane County's Judicial and Public

Safety to see if the County could receive state funding for FY2025. She spoke

on the increase of criminal cases. Mosser explained the importance of being

fully staffed and the proper procedures be put in place to help with the FY2025

budget. When in Springfield, she asked the State legislators for $3M out of the

State budget to go towards Judicial and Public Safety. This will allow Kane

County to have a financial safety net to ensure public safety is not affected with

any budget season the County could face. Mosser spoke on the large burden

the SAFE-T Act has put upon the judiciary and public safety sectors. Mosser

and Hunt addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Much

discussion ensued. Molina requested that the information shared with State

Legislators be shared with the Judicial/Public Safety (JPS) Committee.

Authorizing the Purchase of Three Vehicles for the State's Attorney's Office

Chairman Molina asked what is done with the old vehicles that the County can

no longer utilize. She inquired about the sale of the cars and the funding

acquired. SAO CFO Hunt stated there is a County policy addressing the sale of

County vehicles.

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Bill Roth

MOVER:

Vern Tepe

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Michelle Gumz, Bill Roth, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michael Linder

ABSENT:

14.

Public Defender (R. Conant)

Monthly Report

Public Defender Conant stated the monthly report was on file. In relation to the

SAFE-T Act, Conant explained that the Public Defender's Office has started

receiving numerous opinions back from the State Appellate Court. These

opinions have been helpful in refining the arguments they are making. At the

end of the month, the Public Defender's Office will have a training with the Office

of Appellate Defender. This training will have Kane County's Public Defenders

write appeals. With the SAFE-T Act, when Public Defenders are appealing the

detention or conditions, they must file a Notice to Appeal. However, Kane

County Public Defenders are not appellate writers, therefore this training will

help with this new task.

Acknowledging Annual Review of Number of Procurement Cards Issued to Kane

County Public Defender and Each of their Transaction Limits

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Vern Tepe

Bill Roth

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Michelle Gumz, Bill Roth, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michael Linder, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

15.

Court Services Administration (L. Aust)

Monthly Report

Court Srvs. Exec. Dir. Aust stated the monthly report was on file. She explained

that her annual procurement card (PCard) resolution will be brought forth next

month. She announced that Court Services received a federal grant of

approximately $140K for the treatment of opioid users within the Kane County

Drug Court. Additionally, Aust met with the Kane County AD HOC Opioid

Settlement Fund Committee. In doing so, she learned that the County's

treatment courts are eligible for funding through this agreement, as well. Aust's

obligation is to expend the federal grant funds first because the Opioid

Settlement funding will stay with the County, as federal money will not. Aust

explained that the County did approve the hiring of two probation officers to

address convicted sex offenders. She is hopeful to receive full reimbursement of

these officer's salaries from the State. Once this is offered to the County, a

resolution will be brought forth for a vote.

JJC Housing Report

No report was made.

16.

Circuit Clerk (T. Barreiro)

Monthly Report

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

would bring forth the Circuit Clerk's Office's annual procurement card (PCard)

resolution next month. She expressed her gratitude of being apart of the 2024

Administrative Office of Illinois Courts (AOIC) Technology Modernization Grant.

She noted that this grant is the fifth one that has been awarded to the Kane

County Circuit Clerk's Office in the past two years. She explained that this grant

funding will help with the office's microfilming and technology scanning. Once

this project is completed, the Kane County Circuit Clerk's Office will be first in

Illinois to be 100% paperless. (Madam Chairman Pierog arrived at 10:35 a.m.)

Barreiro stated that numerous statistics that will need to be reported to the State

of Illinois. Within this process, many entry codes and inputted information has

changed. Due to this, the Clerk's Office may be seeking to obtain a deputy clerk

for this data entry. She spoke on bond call deputies and the possibility of

overtime exceeding the budgeted amount. Lastly, Barreiro explained that the two

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant positions and the funding are being

returned back to the ARPA. Barreiro addressed questions and comments from

the Committee. Discussion ensued.

Chief Judge Villa spoke on how the Pretrial Fairness Act has made an impact

across the State. He stated that Kane County should be proud of their

management of the Pretrial Fairness Act and the volume of work that has come

along with it, especially appeals. Since the implementation of this Act, every

offender that goes through bond call, has the right to appeal every condition that

has been placed upon them. Every month, Villa attends the Conference of Chief

Judges. At last month's conference, much discussion was had on the number of

criminal appeals filed since the implementation of this Act. Every judiciary across

the State is working on approving this appellate process. Villa stated that the

Kane County Judiciary is requesting the County's support on trying to

accommodate the increase in appeals.

Old Business

17.

Chairman Molina explained that the County has continued working on the noise and

discharge of firearms ordinances. She is hopeful to see these presented at the next

Committee meeting.

18.

19.

New Business

None.

Place Written Reports on File

RESULT:

APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE

Rick Williams

Vern Tepe

MOVER:

SECONDER:

20.

21.

22.

Executive Session (if needed)

None.

Public Comment (Non-Agenda Items)

None.

Adjournment

RESULT:

APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE

Bill Roth

MOVER:

Vern Tepe

SECONDER:

This meeting was adjourned at 10:44 AM.

Savannah Valdez

Sr. Recording Secretary