Government Center  
719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A  
Geneva, IL 60134  
Kane County  
County Board  
Meeting Minutes  
Wednesday, October 22, 2025  
2:00 PM  
County Board Room  
***SPECIAL MEETING***  
1.  
2.  
CALL TO ORDER  
The Adjourned Meeting of the Kane County Board was held at the Kane County  
Government Center, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A, Geneva, IL 60134 on October 22,  
2025.  
Chairman Pierog called the meeting to order at 2:08 PM.  
ROLL CALL  
Board Member Deborah Allan  
Board Member Sonia Garcia  
Board Member Jon Gripe  
PRESENT:  
Board Member Michelle Gumz  
Board Member Mo Iqbal  
Board Member Leslie Juby  
Board Member Chris Kious  
Board Member Anita Lewis  
Board Member Michael Linder  
Board Member Ted Penesis  
Board Member Bill Roth  
Board Member Cherryl Strathmann  
Board Member Vern Tepe  
Board Member David Young  
Chairman Corinne M. Pierog  
Board Member Jarett Sanchez  
Board Member Clifford Surges  
REMOTE:  
ABSENT:  
Board Member Mavis Bates  
Board Member Gary Daugherty  
Board Member Bill Lenert  
Board Member Bill Tarver  
Board Member Rick Williams  
Board Member Alex Arroyo  
Board Member Myrna Molina  
AWAY:  
Present: Fin. Dir. Hopkinson; IT/Bldg. Mgmt. Dir. Fahnestock & staff Smith; KDOT staff  
Rickert; Auditor Wegman; State's Atty. Mosser*; Chief of Civil Frank; Animal Control  
Admin. Youngsteadt*; ITD staff Peters; Dpty. Mazzei and members of the press &  
public.  
3.  
4.  
REMOTE ATTENDANCE REQUEST(S)  
Members Arroyo, Molina, Sanchez & Surges previously requested to attend this  
meeting remotely. There were no objections.  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & INVOCATION  
Board Member Strathmann led the assembly with the recital of the Pledge of  
Allegiance.  
5.  
6.  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None  
PUBLIC COMMENT  
Kane County resident Frank Esposito provided a brief background of his expertise in  
financial matters. He pointed out various increases he discovered in the proposed  
budget.  
(Molina* arrives - 2:13 PM)  
Kane County resident Steve Lefler spoke on budget cuts and motor fuel tax.  
Brian Anderson from Sugar Grove showed off his new hat. He spoke on the large  
opposition to tax raises.  
Kane County resident Jeanne Meier expressed her opposition to raising taxes due to  
current financial strain on all constituents.  
Michelle Bettag from St. Charles spoke on the increase of taxes and expenses.  
Kane County resident Mrs. Dinwittie spoke on the increase of taxes, expenses and TIF  
districts.  
Kane County resident Mr. Dinwittie echoed previous comments regarding TIFs and  
taxes. He provided a brief background of his experience being a longtime federal  
employee.  
Susan Fose from Batavia provided a brief background of her residency in Illinois,  
noting that she is considering moving due to high taxes.  
Kane County resident Ginger Romano raised questions to clarify what the proposed  
grocery tax would mean for residents and consumers.  
Kane County resident Denise Theobald spoke on population growth due to strategic  
planning and efforts to attract new residents.  
7.  
CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS  
Madam Chair clarified that the actual cost of the County's lobbyist is $120,000 per year,  
not $500k as stated by a member of the audience. It will be amended to $120k  
annually.  
8.  
RESOLUTIONS, ORDINANCES, AND OTHER SCHEDULED MATTERS  
Authorizing an Increase in the County Motor Fuel Tax  
A.  
25-381  
Much discussion ensued regarding fuel tax limits, raises, concerns and  
comparisons.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE  
Michelle Gumz  
Chris Kious  
SECONDER:  
Alex Arroyo, Sonia Garcia, Michelle Gumz, Chris Kious, Anita  
Lewis, Michael Linder, Ted Penesis, Cherryl Strathmann, and  
Vern Tepe  
AYE:  
Deborah Allan, Jon Gripe, Mo Iqbal, Leslie Juby, Myrna Molina,  
Bill Roth, Clifford Surges, and David Young  
NAY:  
Mavis Bates, Gary Daugherty, Bill Lenert, Bill Tarver, and Rick  
Williams  
ABSENT:  
AWAY:  
Jarett Sanchez  
Establishing and Imposing a County Grocery Retailers’  
Occupation Tax and a County Grocery Service Occupation Tax  
for the County of Kane  
B.  
25-382  
Fin. Dir. Hopkinson explained that only unincorporated county residents would  
be affected by this grocery tax. She highlighted that the state currently taxes  
groceries, but will no longer be doing so. Discussion ensued regarding expected  
revenue.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE  
Michelle Gumz  
Michael Linder  
SECONDER:  
Sonia Garcia, Michelle Gumz, Leslie Juby, Chris Kious, Anita  
Lewis, Michael Linder, Ted Penesis, Cherryl Strathmann, and  
Vern Tepe  
AYE:  
Deborah Allan, Alex Arroyo, Jon Gripe, Mo Iqbal, Myrna Molina,  
Bill Roth, Clifford Surges, and David Young  
NAY:  
Mavis Bates, Gary Daugherty, Bill Lenert, Bill Tarver, and Rick  
Williams  
ABSENT:  
AWAY:  
Jarett Sanchez  
Authorizing a Budget Adjustment for Public Defender’s FY2026  
Budget  
C.  
D.  
25-383  
Madam Chair announced that agenda items C, D, E, F & G will be taken down  
individually and brought back to the October 29th meeting. Discussion ensued.  
Authorizing a Budget Adjustment for Court Services FY2026  
Budget  
25-384  
This resolution failed for lack of motion in order to be brought back at the  
October 29th meeting.  
Authorizing a Budget Adjustment for Judiciary’s FY2026 Budget  
E.  
F.  
G.  
25-385  
25-386  
25-387  
This resolution failed for lack of motion in order to be brought back at the  
October 29th meeting.  
Amending Ordinance 24-216  
This resolution failed for lack of motion in order to be brought back at the  
October 29th meeting.  
Adopting the Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Appropriations and  
Budget  
This resolution failed for lack of motion in order to be brought back at the  
October 29th meeting.  
Approving the FY26 Budget to be Placed on Public Display  
H.  
25-388  
Discussion ensued regarding the origin of certain funds versus department  
budget cuts.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE  
Jon Gripe  
Cherryl Strathmann  
SECONDER:  
Deborah Allan, Alex Arroyo, Sonia Garcia, Jon Gripe, Michelle  
Gumz, Mo Iqbal, Leslie Juby, Chris Kious, Anita Lewis, Michael  
Linder, Myrna Molina, Ted Penesis, Bill Roth, Cherryl  
Strathmann, Vern Tepe, and David Young  
AYE:  
Clifford Surges  
NAY:  
Mavis Bates, Gary Daugherty, Bill Lenert, Bill Tarver, and Rick  
Williams  
ABSENT:  
Jarett Sanchez  
AWAY:  
9.  
NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS  
None.  
10.  
11.  
EXECUTIVE SESSION (if needed)  
None.  
ADJOURNMENT TO MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2025  
RESULT:  
APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE  
Bill Roth  
MOVER:  
Cherryl Strathmann  
SECONDER:  
This meeting was adjourned at 3:36 PM.  
Christine Mazzei  
Recording Secretary