Government Center  
719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A  
Geneva, IL 60134  
Kane County  
KC Public Health Committee  
Meeting Minutes  
STRATHMANN, Sanchez, Arroyo, Juby, Penesis, Tarver, Young, ex-officios Roth (County  
Vice Chair) and Pierog (County Chair)  
Wednesday, April 16, 2025  
9:00 AM  
County Board Room  
2025 Committee Goals  
• Monitor health status and understand health issues facing community  
• Protect people from health problems and health hazards  
• Enforce public health laws  
_______________________________________________________________________  
1.  
2.  
Call To Order  
Chairman Strathmann called today's meeting to order at 9:06 AM.  
Roll Call  
Board Member Cherryl Strathmann  
Board Member Alex Arroyo  
Board Member Leslie Juby  
PRESENT  
REMOTE  
ABSENT  
Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth  
Board Member Jarett Sanchez  
Board Member Ted Penesis  
Board Member Bill Tarver  
Board Member David Young  
Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog  
Also present: Co. Bd. members Allan*, Bates; Gripe, Gumz; Kious*, Linder, Molina*;  
Tepe*; KCAC Admin. Youngsteadt; KCHD Exec. Dir. Isaacson and staff  
Alleman,Barrett; Koral; Onwuta, Del Toro; Peterson; ITD staff Peters; and members of  
the press and public including Clinical Health Assistant Del Toro, Asst. Dir.  
Environmental Health Wiegel, and Environmental Health Supervisor Johnson.  
3.  
4.  
Remote Attendance Requests  
Chairman Strathmann announced the remote attendance requests for today's meeting.  
She asked the Committee if there were any objections to Committee Members  
Penesis, Sanchez, Tarver, and Young attending remotely. There were no objections.  
Approval of Minutes: March 19, 2025  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT  
Bill Roth  
5.  
Public Comment  
Kane County resident and nurse Jean Meyer stated that low iodine and high fluoride  
leads to hypothyroidism. She explained that low iodine is one of the leading causes of  
mental retardation, and that hypothyroidism leads to obesity, oppression, and mental  
diseases. She highlighted that fluoride is not only used to make steel, and aluminum,  
but it is an ingredient in toothpaste. Meyer strongly encouraged all individuals to be  
careful when purchasing oral products, and to be mindful of toxic ingredients like  
fluoride.  
6.  
7.  
Finance/Budget  
Monthly Report  
A.  
The monthly report is on file. No additional report was made.  
Animal Control  
Monthly Report  
A.  
Kane County Animal Control (KCAC) Youngsteadt stated that the monthly report  
is on file. He announced that there were thirteen kittens delivered and two stray  
cats that were brought in as strays. The first vaccine clinic will be on Saturday,  
April 26, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Lastly, Youngsteadt noted that  
interviews for a part-time veterinarian will be conducted today at 1:00 p.m.  
8.  
Executive Director  
Health Department Updates  
A.  
Kane County Health Department (KCHD) Exec. Dir. Isaacson introduced and  
paid tribute to Clinical Health Assistant Olga Del Toro for her thirty years of  
service to the Kane County Health Department, and wished her well on her  
retirement. He also acknowledged Del Toro's team including Asst. Dir.  
Environmental Health Wiegel, and Environmental Health Supervisor Johnson for  
all the great work they do.  
988 Awareness Campaign  
B.  
Kane County Health Department (KCHD) Health Promotions Manager Tina  
Koral presented information about the 988 Awareness Campaign. She stated  
that the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a free, confidential supportive to  
people in distress and is available 24/7. The lifeline launched nationally in July  
2022 to replace 1-800-273-TALK with an easier-to-remember number. The  
lifeline connects callers with trained crisis counselors to support individuals  
experiencing mental health crises, suicide thoughts, or emotional distress.  
Individuals should call 988 if they are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or in  
distress, as well as having suicidal thoughts or self-harm. People who are  
struggling with substance use or addiction should also use this lifeline. Koral  
noted that 988 is not a substitute for 911. She stated that 988 can be accessed  
by dialing or texting 988, or visiting 988lifeline.org to chat online with a trained  
counselor. The 988 lifeline offers specialized support for veterans and their  
families, Spanish-speaking services, and interpretation for over 240 languages.  
When Kane County residents call 988, they will be connected to a trained crisis  
counselor from Suicide Prevention Services of America in Batavia. These  
counselors will listen and provide support, assess the situation and their needs.  
They will then offer coping strategies and crisis intervention. Local mental health  
services and resources are offered, if needed. Koral explained that when  
additional in-person support is needed, a mobile crisis response team may be  
dispatched to provide assistance. Kane County services are offered by  
Association for Individual Development in Aurora, Ecker Center for Behavioral  
Health in Elgin, and Family Services Associates for Greater Elgin. Koral  
reviewed the 988 data usage for Kane County in 2024. Koral reviewed the  
campaign background and explained the needs assessment for the 988 Lifeline.  
In 2024, the KCHD Community Health Assessment identified mental health as a  
focus area. The Kane County Board approved $10M in American Rescue Plan  
Act (ARPA) funds for mental health support. In December 2024 and January of  
this year, the Behavioral Health Communications Campaign survey identified the  
need for awareness of mental health issues, resources, and stigma reduction. In  
January 2025, the KCHD 988 Lifeline Awareness survey further identified the  
need for public awareness. The campaign will run from May, which is Mental  
Health Awareness Month, through September, which is Suicide Awareness  
Month. There will be a Safe Kane County Drive-Thru Pickup event on Friday,  
April 25, 2025 from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. held at the Kane County Circuit Clerk  
Parking Lot in St. Charles. 988 Lifeline yard signs, window clings, and bumper  
stickers will be available for pickup. Residents can also pick up gun trigger locks,  
biometric gun safes, and naloxone opioid overdoes reversing nasal spray. Koral  
addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Much discussion  
ensued.  
Authorizing Budget Adjustment for the Lead Poisoning Prevention and  
Response Grant  
C.  
KC Finance and Budget Committee  
RESULT:  
TO:  
MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE  
KC Finance and Budget Committee  
Leslie Juby  
MOVER:  
Alex Arroyo  
SECONDER:  
Cherryl Strathmann, Jarett Sanchez, Alex Arroyo, Leslie Juby,  
Ted Penesis, Bill Tarver, David Young, and Bill Roth  
AYE:  
Corinne M. Pierog  
ABSENT:  
Authorizing Adoption of 2024-2027 Community Health Improvement Plan by  
Kane County Board  
D.  
Kane County Health Department (KCHD) Dir. of Planning and Information  
Management Alleman presented information on the Community Health  
Improvement Planning, including the significant health needs, poll results,  
priority areas, primary care access, food access, and housing.  
KC Executive Committee  
RESULT:  
TO:  
MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE  
KC Executive Committee  
Bill Tarver  
MOVER:  
Ted Penesis  
SECONDER:  
Cherryl Strathmann, Alex Arroyo, Leslie Juby, Ted Penesis, Bill  
Tarver, and Bill Roth  
AYE:  
David Young  
NAY:  
Corinne M. Pierog  
Jarett Sanchez  
ABSENT:  
AWAY:  
9.  
Old Business  
None.  
10.  
Reports Placed On File  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE  
Bill Roth  
11.  
12.  
13.  
Executive Session (if needed)  
None.  
New Business  
None.  
Adjournment  
RESULT:  
APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE  
Bill Roth  
MOVER:  
Alex Arroyo  
SECONDER:  
This meeting was adjourned at 10:24 a.m.  
Rachel Santora  
Recording Secretary