Government Center

719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A

Geneva, IL 60134

Kane County

KC County Development

Committee

Meeting Minutes

FORD, Williams, Berman, Daugherty, Iqbal, Kenyon, Linder & ex-officios Davoust

(Transportation Chair), Kious (Forest Preserve President), Pierog (County Chair) and Tepe

(County Vice Chair)

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

10:00 AM

County Board Room

Call To Order

Chairman Ford called the meeting to order at 10:34 AM.

Roll Call

Board Member Ron Ford

PRESENT

Board Member Rick Williams

Board Member Dale Berman

Board Member Mo Iqbal

Board Member Michael Kenyon

Board Member Michael Linder

Ex-Officio (Forest Preserve President) Chris Kious

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Vern Tepe

Board Member Gary Daugherty

REMOTE

ABSENT

Ex-Officio (Transportation Chairman) Mark Davoust

Also present: Co. Bd. members Allan*, Bates*, Juby*, Lewis, Molina*, Roth; Dev. Dir.

VanKerkhoff & staff Mall, Berkhout; Environ. & Water Res. Dir. Wollnik; OCR Dir.

Berger*; KDOT staff Rickert, Forbes; BLD staff Files; ASA Frank, O'Brien & Spec. ASA

Shepro; ITD staff Peters and members of the press and public David Streicker from

Polsinelli Law Firm, Jeremy Price from Renewable Properties, and Developer Mike

Butler.

Remote Attendance Requests

Chairman Ford announced the remote attendance requests for today's meeting. He

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

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

Approval of Minutes: August 15, 2023

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Chris Kious

Monthly Financials

Monthly Finance Reports

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

report was made.

Public Comment (Agenda Items)

All public comments were held until the two petitions were discussed.

Building & Zoning Division

Building & Zoning Report

Dev. Dir. VanKerkhoff provided the monthly Building & Zoning Report. The team

continues to have a large workload with submitted Roofing, Repair, and Reconstruction

Permits from the flooding and/or tornado activity. VanKerkhoff stated that a new

Building Inspector has been hired and the Department is now fully staffed.

Zoning Petitions

Petition # 4613 Petitioner: Robert Conro Trust (RPIL Solar 5)

Dev. Dir. VanKerkhoff presented Petition 4613: Robert Conro Trust. The petition

is seeking approval to obtain a Special Use in the F-Farming District for a solar

facility at 43W708 Route 20 in Rutland Township. VanKerkhoff provided several

maps, photographs, and proposed site plan depicting the location of the

proposed solar facility. He reviewed the Kane County Water Resource

Department's and KDOT's stipulations. This petition was approved by the Kane

County Zoning Board of Appeals with the recommended stipulations.

Surrounding neighbors of the property have objections.

Applicant Council David Streicker introduced himself and Representative Jeremy

Price, and Developer Mike Butler. Streicker stated that the Zoning Board of

Appeals gave unanimous approval to this petition. Streicker, Price and Butler

addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

Committee Member Williams motioned to approve this petition to include the

eleven staff stipulations, Kenyon seconded. Motion carried unanimously by roll

call vote.

County Board

RESULT:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

County Board

Rick Williams

Michael Kenyon

TO:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Ron Ford, Rick Williams, Dale Berman, Gary Daugherty, Mo

Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Michael Linder, and Chris Kious

AYE:

Mark Davoust

ABSENT:

Petition # 4615 Petitioner: Robert Matson Trust (RPIL Solar 8, LLC)

Dev. Dir. VanKerkhoff presented Petition 4615: Robert Matson Trust. This

petition is seeking approval to obtain a Special Use Permit in the F-Farming

District for a solar facility on the south side of Plato Road in Burlington and Plato

Townships. VanKerkhoff provided several maps, photographs, and proposed

site plan depicting the location of the proposed solar facility. He listed the Kane

County Water Resource Department's and Division of Transportation's

stipulations. The Kane County Zoning Board of Appeals denied this petition with

the recommended and additional stipulations. Upon approval from the Kane

County Board, the Zoning Board of Appeals addressed an additional stipulation

that the petitioner would need to formalize an agreement with the Kane County

Division of Transportation (KDOT) regarding dedication along Ellithorpe Road

prior to construction of the solar facility. Since the Zoning Board meeting, the

petitioner emailed additional technical memorandum and supporting

documentation to address the concerns raised at the Zoning Board of Appeals

hearing. Due to this, VanKerkhoff recommended holding this petition over until

next month's Development Committee meeting for further review and

discussion. He noted that surrounding area property owners have objected to

this petition.

Greg Peloquin, 10N105 Burlington Road, Hampshire, spoke on his opposition to

this petition. On this selected piece of land there are numerous attributes that

the solar facility would negatively impact. He clarified that the community would

support solar farms, just not at this location. Peloquin listed the five main issues

with the property. These issues include hindering the open space, not having

anything built within 1,500 feet from forest preserve property, residential homes

would surround the proposed solar field, school playgrounds would back up into

the solar field, and the decrease of property values by approximately 7% to

27%. Peloquin spoke on his own personal property.

Council Streicker stated he believes the facts of this property are in their favor.

He suggested to table this petition for the October 17, 2023 Development

Committee meeting. He noted that the petitioner and representatives would

stand on their memorandum and facts in front of this Committee. Streicker

addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

KC County Development Committee

RESULT:

HELD OVER

KC County Development Committee

Rick Williams

TO:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Michael Linder

Ron Ford, Rick Williams, Dale Berman, Gary Daugherty, Mo

Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Michael Linder, and Chris Kious

AYE:

Mark Davoust

ABSENT:

Property Code Enforcement Division

Monthly Report

Property Code Enforcement Officer Mall provided the monthly report. In August,

the division opened 50 new cases. They resolved 53, and 46 are still active. Two

were sent to adjudication. Mall commended Administration Assistant, Brittny

Garcia for her work within the office, such as her bilingual abilities. Mall

addressed questions and comments from the Committee.

Planning & Special Projects

Monthly Report

Dev. Dir. VanKerkhoff stated the monthly Planning and Special Projects report

was on file. No additional report was made.

VanKerkhoff asked the Committee if they would move the Development

Department's FY24 Budget presentation up in the agenda to be heard now. The

Committee provided a consensus to hear the presentation after the Planning

and Special Projects report.

10.

Subdivision

Environ. & Water Res. Dir. Wollnik explained that the Kane County's Land Cash

Subcommittee has a Request for Relief that will be heard at the October 17, 2023

Development Committee meeting.

11.

Environmental Resources

FY24 Environmental & Water Resources Budget Presentation

Environ. & Water Res. Dir. Wollnik presented the FY24 Budget. She indicated

that the department reports to two committees. She listed the tasks they

oversee. She listed the numerous revenue source funds that make up the

budget. Within the General Fund, there are no proposed changes in

commodities or capital expenses. The only change to the budget is a request for

a new position within the Sustainability Sub-Department. This position would be

a Sustainability Analyst with a proposed salary range of $60K to $70K. Wollnik

summarized each of the department's revenue funds. Wollnik addressed

questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

12.

13.

Water Resources

None.

Office of Community Reinvestment

FY24 OCR Budget Presentation

OCR Dir. Berger provided the FY24 Budget. He stated that there are two

divisions within his office: Community Development Division and the Workforce

Development Division. The Community Development Division consists of ten

separate funds that equal approximately $17.5M. He explained the numerous

community programs that handles a variety of issues. Berger shared the 2024

staffing plan. For the FY24 Budget, OCR has requested 11 full-time positions,

which include the current two vacancies. He shared the current organizational

chart. For the Community Development Division, the total FY24 revenue budget

is $17,545,845, with expenses being the same. Berger noted that overall he

expects to see a 10.8% year over year decrease in revenue and expenses, due

to financial activities in FY23. Berger addressed the Workforce Development

Division. This division has one Special Revenue Fund with approximately $8.6M.

He reviewed the programs and activities the division oversees. Within the

2023-2024 Staffing Plan, this division has 27 full-time positions, with six

vacancies. Berger shared the division's organizational chart. The total revenue

budget for FY24 is $8,636,116 with the total expense budget being the same.

Berger noted that expenses are reduced accordingly based on grant funds

available. Berger addressed questions or comments from the Committee.

Authorizing Reorganization of the Office of Community Reinvestment and

Associated Salary Adjustments (100% Grant Funded)

OCR Dir. Berger provided additional information on this resolution. He spoke on

the difficulties of hiring professional staff. Berger addressed questions and

comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

KC Executive Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Executive Committee

Chris Kious

MOVER:

Michael Kenyon

SECONDER:

Ron Ford, Rick Williams, Dale Berman, Gary Daugherty, Mo

Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Michael Linder, and Chris Kious

AYE:

Mark Davoust

ABSENT:

New Business

14.

FY24 Development Budget Presentation

Dev. Dir. VanKerkhoff provided the FY24 Budget. He reviewed the numerous

programs and activities the Development Department oversees. He shared the

department's current organizational chart. There are 22 total positions, with 19

full-time, and 3 part-time. Currently, there are two vacant positions. Development

has been working with the Human Resource Department (HRM) on rewriting job

descriptions in order to fill the vacancies. The department runs primarily out of

the County's General Fund, but has a variety of Special Revenue Funds through

the Economic Development and Farmland Protection activities. VanKerkhoff

stated that the proposed FY24 General Fund revenue budget is $843,071 in the

positive. He reviewed the other revenue source funds. In FY24, VanKerkhoff has

requested the purchase of one new inspection vehicle, reinstatement of two

recently vacated positions, and an overall increase to salaries of $9K. He

reviewed the recently vacated positions revised job descriptions. VanKerkhoff

reviewed the department's grant funding. He explained that through current

grants and the American Rescue Plan Act, there is over $15.7M available over

the next three years. In total, the proposed salary budget for the Development

Department is approximately $1.2M.

Chairman Ford addressed the Committee's plans on how to address opposition

to future petitions and how to assist County businesses. Discussion ensued.