Government Center  
719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A  
Geneva, IL 60134  
Kane County  
KC Human Services Committee  
Meeting Minutes  
SURGES, Linder, Allan, Garcia, Gripe, Lewis, Tarver, ex-officios Roth (County Vice Chair) &  
Pierog (County Chair)  
Friday, February 14, 2025  
9:00 AM  
County Board Room  
1.  
2.  
Call To Order  
Chairman Surges called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM.  
Roll Call  
Board Member Clifford Surges  
Board Member Deborah Allan  
Board Member Sonia Garcia  
Board Member Jon Gripe  
PRESENT  
Board Member Anita Lewis  
Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth  
Board Member Bill Tarver  
Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog  
Board Member Michael Linder  
REMOTE  
ABSENT  
Also present: Co. Bd. Members Gumz, Juby, Kious, Molina*, Penesis*, Strathmann*;  
HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo & staff Davis; ITD/BLD Exec. Dir. Fahnestock & staff Lasky,  
Files, Roff, Peters, Cunningham; ASA Frank; KCAC Admin. Youngsteadt*; and  
members of the press and public.  
3.  
4.  
Remote Attendance Requests  
Chairman Surges announced the remote attendance requests for today's meeting. He  
asked the Committee if there were any objections to Committee Member Tarver  
attending today's meeting remotely. There were no objections.  
Approval of Minutes: January 15, 2025  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT  
Deborah Allan  
5.  
Public Comment  
None.  
6.  
7.  
Monthly Financial Reports  
Monthly Finance Reports  
A.  
Chairman Surges stated the monthly financial reports were on file. No additional  
report was made.  
Department of Human Resource Management  
Monthly Blue Cross Blue Shield Invoice  
A.  
HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo stated the following monthly reports were on file and  
within tolerance. She noted that the County's Health Insurance Fund is strong.  
When rates are planned for next year, the County will utilize that money to keep  
rates low.  
Monthly BCBS and MERP Totals  
Monthly Assured Partners Report  
Monthly Applicants and Staff Changes  
B.  
C.  
D.  
HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo stated that the monthly Applicants and Staff Changes  
Report was on file. She noted that the applicants and staff changes have been  
consistent since the end of the pandemic. The County is receiving numerous  
applications for open positions.  
Monthly Workers Comp and Liability Reports  
E.  
(Madam Chairman Pierog arrived remotely at 9:04 a.m.)  
HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo stated the monthly Workers' Compensation and Liability  
Reports were on file and within tolerance. She spoke on the newly hired  
position: Risk Manager. She explained that Risk Management plans and  
guidelines will be presented at next month's Human Services Committee  
meeting. Chairman Surges noted that he had a conversation with Lobrillo  
addressing metrics and guidelines, by which the County Board could evaluate  
the success or failure of the program. Discussion ensued. Surges noted that this  
position's salary is covered by the County's Insurance Liability Fund. He  
explained that the goal for this position is to make sure it becomes a null  
expense, and potentially a savings to the County. Lobrillo addressed questions  
and comments from the Committee. Much discussion ensued.  
8.  
Compliance  
Monthly Training Report  
A.  
HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo stated the monthly Training Report was on file. She  
noted that this report pertains to the annual Sexual Harassment Prevention  
Training, in which many employees have become accustomed to completing by  
August, each year.  
9.  
Old Business  
None.  
10.  
New Business  
Repealing Resolution 22-439 Authorizing the Combining of the Positions of  
A.  
Executive Director of Information Technologies and Executive Director of  
Building Management  
Chairman Surges motioned to move this resolution forward for discussion, Lewis  
seconded.  
Surges mentioned that he has had feedback on his job role. He explained that  
himself and County Board Member Juby had conversations pertaining to the  
roles of each committee. He stated that in 2022, the County Board combined  
two Executive Director positions on an experimental basis. Since 2022, there  
has been no feedback on the success or failure of this decision. Surges read  
aloud the jurisdiction of the Administration Committee, Human Services  
Committee, and Executive Committee. He spoke on his confusion as to why  
people have been accusing him of not doing his job in its entirety. He stated that  
challenges have been faced with jurisdiction over the Building Management  
Department (BLD). Surges commended ITD/BLD Exec. Dir. Fahnestock's  
availability and willingness to help. He questioned if the problems that were seen  
in the past with BLD have been corrected. He believes that this review of the  
past issues is not for the Human Services Committee, rather than the  
Administration Committee's responsibility. Surges explained that this resolution  
was placed on today's Human Services Committee meeting agenda and the  
Administration Committee's agenda for discussion. He stated that if the Human  
Services Committee members agree on this resolution, then a vote will occur. If  
not, this resolution would be handled by the Administration Committee. Surges  
stated he would like to have an open dialog about whether BLD issues fall under  
the purview of Human Services, and, if so, what should be done to address  
these challenges.  
Administrative Committee Chairman Kious believes that this resolution should  
be under the purview of the Administration Committee. This resolution refers to  
splitting two positions that report under the Administration Committee. (Madam  
Chairman Pierog arrived at 9:19 a.m.) Kious stated that a discussion will be had  
at today's Administration Committee meeting about this resolution and a  
nine-month investigation into a situation that involved BLD staff. He requested  
that the Human Services Committee hold this resolution over until the  
Administration Committee meeting. This will give an opportunity for  
Administration to discuss these matters, in length. The discussion will give  
members an opportunity to become educated on all matters to address this  
resolution, appropriately. Kious stated that the Administration Committee will  
enter into Executive Session to further discuss the mentioned investigation.  
Much discussion ensued.  
Committee Member Lewis motioned to table this resolution and hold it over to  
the Administration Committee meeting, Allan seconded. Motion carried by 4-1  
vote.  
RESULT:  
TABLED  
Anita Lewis  
MOVER:  
Deborah Allan  
SECONDER:  
Deborah Allan, Sonia Garcia, Anita Lewis, and Bill Tarver  
AYE:  
Jon Gripe  
NAY:  
Michael Linder  
Clifford Surges  
ABSENT:  
ABSTAIN:  
11.  
12.  
Reports Placed On File  
RESULT:  
APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE  
Deborah Allan  
Sonia Garcia  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
Executive Session (if needed)  
None.  
ASA Frank addressed questions and comments from the Committee on the above  
resolution.  
ASA Frank explained that if the Administration Committee were to pass this resolution,  
then it would come back to the Human Services Committee for a vote to then move  
onto the Executive Committee and County Board meetings. Further discussion ensued.  
13.  
Adjournment  
RESULT:  
APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE  
Sonia Garcia  
Jon Gripe  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
This meeting was adjourned at 9:45 AM.  
Savannah Zgobica  
Sr. Recording Secretary