Government Center

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Geneva, IL 60134

Kane County

KC Judicial/Public Safety

Committee

Meeting Minutes

MOLINA, Lenert, Gripe, Gumz, Linder, Tepe, Williams, ex-officios Roth (County Vice Chair)

and Pierog (County Chair)

Thursday, January 15, 2026

9:00 AM

County Board Room

Call To Order

Chairman Molina called the meeting to order at 9:03 AM.

Roll Call

Board Member Myrna Molina

Board Member Bill Lenert

PRESENT

Board Member Jon Gripe

Board Member Michael Linder

Board Member Vern Tepe

Board Member Rick Williams

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth

Board Member Michelle Gumz

ABSENT

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Also present: Co. Bd. Member Juby*; KaneComm Dir. Guthrie; OEM Dir. Buziecki;

Undersheriff Johnson & staff Kopija-Erickson; Coroner Silva; Court Admin. O'Brien;

SAO staff Brady, Vargas, Hunt*; Public Def. Conant; Court Srvs. Exec. Dir. Aust & staff

Davis; Circuit Clk. Barreiro; ITD CIO Lasky* & staff Peters; and members of the press

and public.

Remote Attendance Requests

Chairman Molina announced the remote attendance requests for today's meeting. She

asked the Committee if there were any objections to Committee Member Gumz

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

Committee Member Gumz did not attend today's meeting.

Approval of Minutes: December 11, 2025

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Jon Gripe

Public Comment

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. Currently, she is

working on the end-of-year Annual Report for FY2025. She reported that calls

for service are trending upwards due to officer initiated activity. She explained

that KaneComm has implemented a Records Management System with their

outside agencies. This will store additional records in one place that were

previously kept separate. Lastly, she reported that a new telecommunicator

started on January 5, 2026, which makes three new telecommunicators that

were hired and passed all phases of training. She stated that there are two

potential hires that have moved onto their police dispatch training, having

completed call taking and fire dispatch portions. She noted that KaneComm is

set to have another skills testing on January 24, 2026.

Emergency Management (S. Buziecki)

Monthly Report

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

Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has launched a mass notification

system, Regroup, that went live in December 2025. Currently, the system has

approximately 3K subscribers. Additionally, OEM has begun the Threat and

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) process, which is due to the

State of Illinois on March 1, 2026. Buziecki explained that this year, OEM is

expanding and including more partners to collect more data to receive a better

picture of potential threats and hazards they face, which will drive what is

planned for in the future. Additionally, OEM is hosting a training with the National

Weather Service, "Beyond the Warning", on February 23, 2026 at the Elgin

Community College (ECC). He noted that this event is open to the public.

Buziecki stated that OEM is wrapping up Disaster Ready Kane bylaws. He

hopes to have it completed by summer 2026. Lastly, he explained that OEM has

been looking over their current technology, such as IPads, computers, et cetera,

some of which are replaced by the Information Technologies Department (ITD),

to identify what needs to be replaced to better plan for the future. Buziecki

addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

10.

Sheriff/Adult Corrections (R. Hain)

Monthly Report

Undersheriff Johnson stated the monthly reports were on file. She reported that

there has been an increase in calls for service due to the Kane County Sheriff's

Office (KCSO) becoming more proactive. Therefore, for complaints such as

traffic enforcement, deputies are taking self initiated activity to a higher level.

Acknowledging Annual Review of the Number of Procurement Cards Issued to

the Kane County Sheriff’s Office and Each of Their Transaction Limits

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Jon Gripe

Bill Lenert

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Jon Gripe, Michael Linder, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michelle Gumz, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Authorizing the Renewal of the Contract with Flock Group, Inc. by the Kane

County Sheriff’s Office

Undersheriff Johnson introduced this resolution. She explained that the Kane

County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) has approximately 25 Flock systems. She

recalled the 2025 Jones Road shooting event where 49 shell casings were

recovered and three suspects were detained. She spoke on the help the Flock

Group provides to the Sheriff's Office. She noted that this resolution is the

annual renewal of the contract with Flock Group. Johnson addressed questions

and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

KC Executive Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Executive Committee

Rick Williams

MOVER:

Jon Gripe

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Jon Gripe, Michael Linder, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michelle Gumz, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Undersheriff Johnson reported that on December 11, 2025, Wellpath, which is the

medical service utilized by the Sheriff's Office, notified the office that an annual

increase guarantee would occur. She informed the Committee that the requested

Wellpath contract increase would be 3.4%, which is consistent with the increase of the

Consumer Price Index (CPI). This increase will bring the total annual cost for medical

from $4.3M to $4.5M.

KCSO Manager of Jail Medical Kopija-Erickson stated that Wellpath has been the

contracted medical vendor for the past three years for the Kane County Adult Justice

Center. She noted that Wellpath provides medical and mental health services. She

explained that Wellpath has a CPI increase of 3.4%, as well as, a staffing increase.

She stated that Kane County requested an additional nurse to replace the Emergency

Medical Technician (EMT)/Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) position, in order to

provide advanced medical care to detainees. Kopija-Erickson explained that through

the 3.4% CPI increase, the total will be $4.5M. Also, with the staffing conversion, an

additional $99K would equate to $4.6M in total. Johnson, Kopija-Erickson and SAO

Deputy Chief of Civil Brady addressed questions and comments from the Committee.

Discussion ensued.

Committee Member Lenert requested that all budget increases be known at the time of

budgeting. Further discussion ensued.

Johnson spoke on the recent flooding and damage that occurred at the Kane County

Sheriff's Office (KCSO). Discussion ensued.

11.

Coroner (M. Silva)

Monthly Report

Coroner Silva stated the monthly report was on file. She reported on the 2025

drug related death data. She stated that there were 46 drug and alcohol cases

as of December 18, 2025. She explained that there were 27 opiate-related

deaths, of which 21 were Fentynal-related, two heroin-related, and two

mitragynine-related deaths. The age group most affected by these types of

deaths was 30 to 59 years of age, of which 67% were male. Silva presented the

five-year trend of drug-related deaths. She spoke on the five-year trend of

suicide statistics. She noted that the age group most affected was 55-64 years

of age, of which the majority were male. She provided the ethnic background of

the suicide-related deaths.

Silva announced that the Kane County Coroner's Office was reaccredited by the

International Association of Coroner's and Medical Examiners with a score of

100%. She noted that she is seeking dual accreditation with the National

Association of Medial Examiners (NAME). She reported on the total cases

between December 2024 and December 2025. She stated that in 2024, there

were a total of 3,630 deaths, and in 2025, there were 3,755 deaths. She spoke

on the Sign Out - Unnatural deaths. There were a total of 40 unnatural deaths in

Kane County. Silva provided a breakdown of these deaths by municipalities. She

spoke on the deaths that occur by falls, which is a preventable death. She

explained that the Coroner's Office is looking into ways to help prevent these

types of deaths by educating the public. She reviewed the 2025 Coroner

Community Outreach, such as participating with Gift of Hope Partnership for

organ transplants, distributing 5,611 units of Narcan, and conducting 21

presentations to the public. Silva addressed questions and comments from the

Committee. Discussion ensued.

Silva shared pictures of staff and the activities the Coroner's Office have

participated in, such as the first annual Christmas party. She thanked the

Committee for their support. She reported that the Kane County Coroner's Office

will come in under budget for FY2025. She spoke on the improvement in closing

cases. As 2025 closes out, there were 27 cases waiting on autopsy reports.

Silva stated that the Coroner's Office will continue with reaccreditation,

addressing security issues, establishing policies and procedures in written

manuals, closely monitoring the time to close cases, and establish policies for

the effective use of artificial intelligence.

Authorizing a Budget Adjustment to Appropriate Remaining Grant Funds from

the Coroner’s Office FY25 Budget to its FY26 Budget

Coroner Silva introduced this resolution. She explained that this is funding from

a grant that the Coroner's Office received through Congressman Foster's office

for the Kane County forensic lab.

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Jon Gripe

MOVER:

Michael Linder

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Jon Gripe, Michael Linder, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michelle Gumz, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Authorizing a Budget Adjustment to Reclassify Budgeted FY26 Grant Funds

Coroner Silva introduced this resolution. She explained that these grant funds

would be more appropriately categorized in a different line item.

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Michael Linder

MOVER:

Bill Lenert

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Jon Gripe, Michael Linder, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michelle Gumz, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

12.

Judiciary & Courts (Villa/O'Brien)

Authorizing Receipt of the Court Improvement Program Grant

Court Admin. O'Brien introduced this resolution. She explained that the

Sixteenth Judicial Court applied for a Court Improvement Program grant from

the State of Illinois for the family treatment courts. She stated that these courts

are interdisciplinary, multi-faceted specialty courts that focus on the family unit,

which address substance abuse, mental health, and abuse and neglect. She

explained that the grant received is funding for training, visits to surrounding

counties that have established this type of court, and the potential of moving the

development of this specialty court forward in Kane County. The grant amount is

$10,820.

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Michael Linder

MOVER:

Jon Gripe

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Jon Gripe, Michael Linder, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michelle Gumz, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

13.

14.

State's Attorney (J. Mosser)

Monthly Report

Chairman Molina stated the monthly report was on file. No additional report was

made.

Public Defender (R. Conant)

Monthly Report

Public Def. Conant stated the monthly report was on file. Currently, she is

working on the end-of-year statistics. She reported that the Public Defender's

Office is fully staffed. The office is working on training all of the new attorneys.

15.

Court Services Administration (L. Aust)

Monthly Report

Court Srvs. Exec. Dir. Aust stated the monthly reports were on file. She reported

that her data numbers have been consistent since 2024, with an overwhelming

substance use of cocaine.

JJC Housing Report

Authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement with Douglas County for Juvenile

Detention Services

JJC Supt. Davis introduced this resolution. He explained this was resolution is

for a three-year intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Douglas County to

house juvenile offenders for $225 per day.

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Michael Linder

MOVER:

Vern Tepe

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Jon Gripe, Michael Linder, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michelle Gumz, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

The Committee moved to agenda item 15E.

Notification of Renewal of Drug And Alcohol Evaluation and Referral Services,

RFQ 33-021

Court Srvs. Exec. Dir. Aust introduced this resolution. She explained that this

resolution is a notification to the Committee that Court Services will continue with

Request for Proposals (RFPs) to work with community providers for substance

abuse evaluations and services. She stated that Court Services has a rank

choice of community providers on the ability to provide services to clients.

KC Executive Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Executive Committee

Jon Gripe

MOVER:

Bill Lenert

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Jon Gripe, Michael Linder, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michelle Gumz, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

The Committee moved to agenda item 15F.

Authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement with De Witt County for Juvenile

Detention Services

JJC Supt. Davis introduced this resolution. He explained this was resolution is

for a three-year intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with De Witt County to

house juvenile offenders for $225 per day.

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Michael Linder

MOVER:

Jon Gripe

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Jon Gripe, Michael Linder, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michelle Gumz, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

The Committee moved to agenda item 15D.

Repealing Section 2-7 of the Kane County Code (Foster Care Support Rate)

Court Srvs. Exec. Dir. Aust introduced this ordinance. She explained that over

the years, it has been debated on who is appropriate to address these outdated

County ordinances. She stated that the Kane County Foster Care Support Rate

has not been updated since 1979. She explained that this resolution is to repel

the ordinance in its entirety. However, she stated that a change is needed to

have this be an ordinance, rather than a resolution. Aust explained that this

repel is for section 2-7 of the Kane County Code, specifically regarding foster

care support rate. She stated that this foster care support rate used to be

covered by the Juvenile Court Services, before juvenile detention was utilized in

the manner it is today. Therefore, this is no longer utilized and no other entity is

overseeing foster care, due to it being strictly a Department of Children and

Family Services (DCFS). Aust requested that this be ordained by the Kane

County Board that section 2-7: The Foster Care Support Rate, for the Kane

County Code, be repelled in its entirety.

Committee Member Linder motioned to amend this resolution to an ordinance

and to have the document reflect as such, Gripe seconded. Motion carried

unanimously by roll call vote.

KC Executive Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Executive Committee

Jon Gripe

MOVER:

Michael Linder

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Jon Gripe, Michael Linder, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michelle Gumz, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Modifying Section 2-7-1 of the Kane County Code (Youth Home Boarding Rate)

Court Srvs. Exec. Dir. Aust introduced this ordinance. She explained that this

ordinance would modify the current Kane County Code. She proposed that the

Youth Home Boarding Rate, section 2-7-1, be modified. She explained that the

current code states the charge to counties within the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit to

house juveniles is $105.00 per day, and those outside of the circuit were

charged $150.00 per day, unless there was an intergovernmental agreement

(IGA) requiring otherwise. Currently, this pricing is set by IGAs. Aust explained

that the Kane County Board last updated this code in 1996, but have approved

several iterations of IGAs and other county codes for detention services at the

Kane County Juvenile Justice Center. She stated that the rate of economic

inflation is variable and better handled with IGAs allowing a more timely

response to budgetary needs rather than through static county code. Aust

addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

KC Executive Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Executive Committee

Michael Linder

MOVER:

Jon Gripe

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Jon Gripe, Michael Linder, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michelle Gumz, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

16.

Circuit Clerk (T. Barreiro)

Monthly Report

Circuit Clk. Barreiro stated the monthly report was on file. She reported that

collections are down. Additionally, the total new cases filed for 2025 are up six

percent, totaling over 70K. Lastly, Barreiro stated that the Kane County Circuit

Clerk's Office has four deputy clerk positions open.

17.

Old Business

Chairman Molina discussed the Committee's goals for 2026. She presented the

Judicial Public Safety's (JPS) committee goals for consideration. The Committee

reviewed each of the proposed goals and provided their feedback.

Committee Member Gripe explained the reasoning for each of the goals. He stated that

the objective for today's presentation is to get feedback from the JPS partners. Much

discussion ensued.

Molina asked that all feedback and changes to the 2026 Committee Goals be shared

with the Committee over the next month. She stated the changes to the goals will be

shared at next month's meeting.

18.

New Business

Committee Member Gripe recognized the Juvenile Justice Center (JJC). He explained

that County Board Member Lewis and himself were able to serve the JJC as chaplains.

He spoke on what he witnessed while being at the JJC. He commended the work being

done. He recognized the Sheriff's Office for obtaining chaplains. He commended and

recognized the good work of all JPS partners.

19.

20.

Place Written Reports on File

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Rick Williams

Executive Session

The Judicial Public Safety Committee entered into Executive Session at 10:18 a.m. to

discuss the release of closed session minutes on a motion made by Williams, Tepe

seconded. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

RESULT:

APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE

Rick Williams

Vern Tepe

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Jon Gripe, Michael Linder, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michelle Gumz, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Release of Closed Session Minutes

21.

Open Session

The Committee returned to Open Session at 10:21 a.m. on a motion made by Williams,

Linder seconded. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

RESULT:

APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE

Rick Williams

Michael Linder

MOVER:

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, Linder seconded. Motion carried

unanimously by roll call vote.

RESULT:

APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE

Jon Gripe

MOVER:

Michael Linder

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Jon Gripe, Michael Linder, Vern Tepe,

and Rick Williams

AYE:

Michelle Gumz, and Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT: