5.
Public Comment (Agenda Items)
Chairman Sanchez reported the sign up sheet for public comments was misplaced and
he may not have all the names for all the speakers requesting time today.
Chairman Sanchez invited Cathy Flesburg to speak and confirmed she would be
speaking on an agenda item. Ms. Flesburg spoke about the resolutions that would be
voted on today. She questioned seeing the referendums on these projects except the
HVAC at the adult jail facility that had gone to one of the higher bidders. Flesburg
addressed Madam Chair and discussed the previous meetings reference to a call from
Springfield. She shared her concerns with Springfield politics effecting Kane County's
decision making. Ms. Flesburg stated she was in favor of repairs for all the County's
HVAC projects vs. replacements to save the County money.
Chairman Sanchez invited Brian Anderson of Sugar Grove to speak. Mr. Anderson
acknowledged he was speaking on a non agenda item. Anderson applauded the
county chair for her prudence and fiscal responsibility during the previous meeting. He
hoped it wasn't staged for voters. He thanked Board Members Juby and Gumz for their
review and challenge during item n last agenda that supported state legislation
authorizing Counties to lease buildings or land. Anderson discussed the Kane County
Entertainment sector that supported festivals, art shows or scouting events and
requested projects like the completion of the libraries be considered first.
Chairman Sanchez invited Michele Bettag to speak. Ms. Bettag also supported repairs
vs replacements on County HVAC projects. Also, stating she hoped Kane County
considered it's citizens and cut costs.
Chairman Sanchez invited anyone else that would like to speak to come up to the
podium. Mary Dixon, attorney for Geneva Township spoke of the Township's request
of 1 year ago for ARPA Grant funding to support an expansion at the Senior Center.
Dixon reported they had initially received no response. The township had contacted the
ARPA manager regarding the funding application and was told an application could not
be submitted till funding had been secured. The Township then received a call from
Chairman Sanchez and was told the funding request had been rejected. Dixon noted
past rejections from non profit's requests had been allowed an appeal. She added the
Geneva Township was requesting that same right and noted the expansion project to
the Senior Center would benefit a portion of the population in Kane County that had
been proportionally impacted by COVID.
John Connolly a member of the Board of Trustees for the Geneva Township spoke on
the Geneva Township request. He stated they were told the request would not move
forward for a variety of reasons. Adding they were unsure who or how the decision had
been made. Connolly discussed how our seniors have suffered through isolation and
he then compared the effects of loneliness to other detrimental conditions. He advised
the Committee he was the engineer leading the Senior Center expansion. He reported
the senior's space included a design that would increase it another 1400 square feet.
The request for this project was for $500K and supported the recorded growth from 700
members in 2009 to 1600 members currently. He requested the proper channels to
have the application subject to a meaningful hearing and decision making process.
