Government Center  
719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A  
Geneva, IL 60134  
Kane County  
KC Public Service Committee  
Meeting Minutes  
SANCHEZ, Young, Gripe, Gumz, Lewis, Surges, Tepe, ex-officios Roth (County Vice Chair)  
and Pierog (County Chair)  
Thursday, May 22, 2025  
9:00 AM  
County Board Room  
2025 Committee Goals  
• Continue presenting all Public Service reports from each department  
• Continue receiving Committee member’s feedback  
_______________________________________________________________________  
1.  
2.  
Call To Order  
Chairman Sanchez called today's meeting to order at 9:01 AM.  
Roll Call  
Board Member Jarett Sanchez  
Board Member David Young  
Board Member Jon Gripe  
PRESENT  
Board Member Anita Lewis  
Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth  
Board Member Michelle Gumz  
Board Member Clifford Surges  
Board Member Vern Tepe  
REMOTE  
ABSENT  
Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog  
Also present: Co. Bd. members Juby, Kious*, Molina*, Penesis*; Auditor  
Wegman;Treasurer Lauzen; SOA Armstrong; VAC Supt. Zimmerman; ROE Dal Santo  
and staff Oliver; Co. Clk. staff Pollock; ITD staff Kash; and members of the press and  
public.  
3.  
4.  
Remote Attendance Requests  
Chairman Sanchez announced the remote attendance requests for today's meeting.  
He asked the Committee if there were any objections to Committee Members Gumz,  
Surges, and Tepe attending remotely. There were no objections.  
Approval of Minutes: April 17, 2025  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT  
Jon Gripe  
5.  
Public Comment  
Committee Member and Kane County resident David Young stated that in 2023, the  
Kane County Clerk's Office received a $2M grant award, and was named as Center for  
Election Excellence. The grant listed the Center for Technology and Civic Life (CTCL)  
as the entity that awarded the Clerk's Office $650K in July 2023. An additional $1.35M  
in December 2023. Young noted that the grant funds are supposed to be used for key  
physical components, such as election equipment, key software components, and  
election judges. He stated that the grant was supposed to be spent by the end of 2024  
and reported in January 2025. However, Young noted that the reporting of the grant  
was extended to July 31, 2025. He indicated that he received information from Finance  
Executive Director Kathy Hopkinson that $400K was allocated, and $1.6M of the funds  
have not been allocated. Young expressed his concerns on where the remaining funds  
were allocated to, and suggested the funds be returned to the general fund due to  
budget constraints.  
6.  
7.  
8.  
Finance  
Monthly Report  
A.  
The monthly reports are on file. No additional report was made.  
Recorder  
Monthly Report  
The monthly reports are on file. No additional report was made.  
Treasurer / Collector  
A.  
Monthly Report  
A.  
Treasurer Lauzen stated that the monthly report is on file. He stated that tax  
collections have begun. Lauzen's staff are extremely busy as they finish up  
accepting payments for the first installment tax cycle of June 2025. He thanked  
the County Clerk's Office for all their hard work they provide during this time of  
year. He noted that there are 3K county vendors that need to be checked each  
month to avoid sending out checks of taxpayer money to fraudulent people. He  
commended his staff for all the hard work they do.  
9.  
Supervisor of Assessments  
Monthly Report  
A.  
Supervisor of Assessments (SOA) Armstrong stated that the monthly report is  
on file. He anticipates all Townships to certify their assessment by the statutory  
deadline of June 15, 2025. He reviewed the Kane County Taxpayer's Guide to  
Filing an Assessment Complaint. In 2024, there were 511 residential complaints  
countywide. Armstrong noted that it is important for residents remember to file  
an assessment complaint by the deadline for their Township. By state law, the  
Board of Review cannot accept complaints filed after the deadline. Armstrong  
will provide a more in depth report on why deadlines are important, and more  
information on the high cost of late tax bills. He addressed questions and  
comments from the Committee. Much discussion took place.  
10.  
11.  
Regional Office of Education  
Regional Office of Education (ROE) Supt. Dal Santo announced her retirement to the  
Committee. Her last day will be June 30, 2025. She stated that she has been with the  
County for 31 years, and has been the ROE Supt. for 13 years. Dal Santo thanked the  
Committee for all of their support over the years. The Committee Members thanked her  
for her service to the county.  
Veteran's Assistance Commission  
Monthly Report  
A.  
Veteran's Assistance Commission (VAC) Supt. Zimmerman stated that the  
monthly report is on file. He stated that the compensation claims are going  
fifteen days faster than the average claims. Pension claims are going 46 days  
faster than average claims. There are 389 claims pending total. Over $3.7M in  
new benefits were collected. Zimmerman announced that for Memorial Day,  
Public Information's Officer (PIO) Julie Mann prepared an article for Kane  
County Connects including Kane County Memorial Day ceremonies across the  
county. On Thursday, May 29, the North Aurora VA Clinic will have a grand  
opening of their remodeled facility at 11:00 a.m.  
12.  
County Clerk  
Monthly Report  
A.  
Kane County Clerk's Office staff Pollock stated that the monthly report is on file.  
He stated that staff in Aurora have been assisting with tax collections. He will  
provide more data at next month's meeting. Voter registration cards will be send  
out soon. He noted that if a voter registration card is received for a resident that  
no longer lives at the residency, to have someone write on the card stating that  
the voter is no longer registered, and mail it back to the County Clerk's Office to  
update voting records. The County Clerk's Office is serving 21% more residents  
than last year. Lastly, a $30K grant from the State Board of Elections was  
reimbursed for election judges to the County Clerk's Office. These funds will be  
sent back to the general fund. Pollock addressed questions and comments from  
the Committee. Much discussion ensued.  
13.  
Other Business  
Committee Member David Young addressed the Proclamation Authorizing Non-Citizen  
voting that was voted on last year. He believes it should have been put on the County  
Board agenda. He would like to have to be put on next month's public service agenda  
to potentially move it forward. A motion to have the proclamation be put onto next  
month's Public Service agenda was made by Committee Member Young, seconded by  
Gripe. Motion carried by roll call vote. Motion passed.  
14.  
15.  
Executive Session (If Needed)  
None.  
Reports Placed On File  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT  
Vern Tepe  
16.  
Adjournment  
RESULT:  
APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE  
Vern Tepe  
MOVER:  
David Young  
SECONDER:  
This meeting was adjourned at 9:59 a.m.  
Rachel Santora  
Recording Secretary