Government Center

719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A

Geneva, IL 60134

Kane County

KC Judicial/Public Safety

Committee

Meeting Minutes

MOLINA, Lenert, Gumz, Linder, Roth, Tepe, Williams & ex-officio Pierog (County Chair)

Thursday, April 11, 2024

9:00 AM

County Board Room

Call To Order

Chairman Molina called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM.

Roll Call

Board Member Myrna Molina

Board Member Bill Lenert

Board Member Michelle Gumz

Board Member Bill Roth

PRESENT

Board Member Vern Tepe

Board Member Rick Williams

Board Member Michael Linder

REMOTE

ABSENT

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Also present: Co. Bd. Members Juby*, Kenyon, Lewis*, Young*; KaneComm Dir.

Guthrie & staff Perez; OEM Chief Deputy Dir. Mensching; Undersheriff Johnson;

Coroner Russell*; Court Admin. O'Brien & staff Mathis; State's Attorney Mosser* & staff

Hunt*; Public Defender Conant; Circuit Clk. Barreiro; ITD CIO Lasky* & staff Peters;

Spec. ASA Shepro; PIO Mann; and members of the press and public including

Burlington Fire Chief Mike Tiedt.

Remote Attendance Requests

(Committee Member Linder arrived remotely at 9:01 a.m.) Chairman Molina announced

the remote attendance requests for today's meeting. She asked the Committee if there

were any objections to Committee Member Linder attending today's meeting remotely.

There were no objections.

Approval of Minutes: March 14, 2024

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Rick Williams

Public Comment (Agenda Items)

None.

Public Comment (Non-Agenda Items)

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 recognized telecommunicator, Nereida Perez, for her

professionalism during a recent emergency service call. She introduced

Burlington Fire Chief, Mike Tiedt, who formally recognized and thanked

telecommunicator Perez.

Tiedt stated that the Burlington Fire Department would like to formally recognize

and thank Telecommunicator Perez on her help and guidance during an

emergency service call on February 19, 2024, where the person was

unresponsive. Perez's ability to speak fluent Spanish in her role as a dispatcher

was key to the successful outcome of this service call. She was able to

determine the nature of the call immediately, leading to her dispatching the

appropriate resources without delay. Additionally, Perez was able to lead the

distraught caller through the CPR steps, ultimately saving the life of the patient.

While the Fire Department was in route to the call, Perez was able to relay all of

the prudent information needed without being asked allowing the responders to

know exactly what they were responding to. Tiedt stated that the role of a

telecommunicator is often overlooked. Those responders in the field would not

be able to do their jobs without their assistance. He was pleased to report that

the patient is expected to make a full recovery, in large part to

Telecommunicator Perez. Guthrie explained how the translation services are

used by Telecommunicators. She provided more information on the incident.

Perez's ability to translate Spanish is a time saving, efficient, and critical nature

saved this person's life. Guthrie spoke on the importance of recognizing her staff

and the critical work that is done each day. She noted that Perez has been

working for the County for approximately 25 years; with 23 years at KaneComm.

KaneComm Dir. Guthrie stated the monthly report was on file. She announced

that next week, April 14-20, 2024, is National Public Safety Telecommunicators

Week. Throughout the week, KaneComm will be setting up numerous games

and festivities. She invited all to join and participate. Guthrie recognized

Telecommunicator, Emily Reece, who will be celebrating 10 years with

KaneComm. She reviewed the numerous projects that occurred over March,

including the Computer-aided Dispatch System Software upgrade.

Authorizing the Number of Procurement Cards Issued to Kane County

Emergency Communications and Each of their Transaction Limits

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Bill Roth

MOVER:

Bill Lenert

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Michelle Gumz, Michael Linder, Bill

Roth, Vern Tepe, and Rick Williams

AYE:

Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

10.

Emergency Management (S. Buziecki)

Monthly Report

OEM Chief Deputy Dir. Mensching stated the monthly report was on file. No

additional report was made.

Authorizing the Director of Emergency Management to Enter into Emergency &

Disaster Shelter Memorandums of Understanding

OEM Chief Deputy Dir. Mensching provided additional information on this

resolution.

KC Executive Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Executive Committee

Michelle Gumz

Bill Roth

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Michelle Gumz, Michael Linder, Bill

Roth, Vern Tepe, and Rick Williams

AYE:

Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

11.

Sheriff/Adult Corrections (R. Hain)

Monthly Report

Undersheriff Johnson stated the monthly reports are on file. She provided an

update on the Kane County Forensic Lab. The funding of $963K and

architectural drawings were approved to move forward with the Coroner's Office

and State's Attorney, in tandem with the Sheriff's Office. Johnson reviewed the

cases processed to date through the County's internal forensic lab: Sugar Grove

Police Department had six, Kane County Sheriff's Office had four, Elgin Police

Department had 22, and the Kane County Correction's Office had 103. The lab

continues to make progress.

Authorizing the Purchase of a Renewal License for the GrayKey Digital

Forensics Program by the Kane County Sheriff’s Office

Undersheriff Johnson provided additional information on this resolution.

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Bill Lenert

MOVER:

Michelle Gumz

SECONDER:

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Michelle Gumz, Michael Linder, Bill

Roth, Vern Tepe, and Rick Williams

AYE:

Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

12.

Coroner (R. Russell)

Monthly Report

Coroner Russell stated the monthly report was on file. Over the past month,

County deaths have been steady. He stated that the grant that was written by

the Coroner's Office was approved for $963K. Currently, they are trying to figure

out the financial mechanisms on how the funds would be allocated. Russell

provided an update on the human skull that was found in a Batavia home in

1978. The identity of the person is known. Russell addressed questions and

comments from the Committee.

13.

Judiciary & Courts (Villa/O'Brien)

Authorizing FY24 Judiciary and Courts Budget Adjustment

Court Admin. O'Brien explained that this resolution is to get the Judiciary &

Courts Staff Attorneys and Paralegals up to an equitable salary. This will include

a 50 cent an hour increase for the Court Bailiffs, who are the lowest paid

employees in the Judiciary.

HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo stated this was discussed at yesterday's Human

Services Committee, in length, before being passed. During the discussion, it

was inquired about the difference in outcomes within the Equity Study, if it was

done today versus last year. At the time the Internal Equity Study was

conducted, funds were allotted for the Court Bailiffs full-time positions to bring

them to a livable range. Since the study was conducted, the County Board

granted salary increases to attorneys in both the State's Attorney's Office (SAO)

and Public Defender's Office (PDO). Lobrillo explained that the Judiciary

Attorneys' salaries were based on the Equity Study's findings, which were found

before the Board granted the SAO's and PDO's attorney's pay increase. This is

the reason Judiciary and Courts are seeking increased funds to bring their staff

to the same equitable level as like-positions in the County. Lobrillo stated that

the Equity Study supports additional money for the Bailiffs. Committee Member

Tepe spoke on the reserve funding of this proposed pay increase. He stated that

the County cannot continue to fund County business out of reserves. Discussion

ensued.

Committee Member Roth motioned to amend the appropriation amount listed

within this resolution and it's Executive Summary to $54,530, Tepe seconded.

Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Bill Roth

TO:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Rick Williams

Myrna Molina, Bill Lenert, Michelle Gumz, Michael Linder, Bill

Roth, Vern Tepe, and Rick Williams

AYE:

Corinne M. Pierog

ABSENT:

Acknowledging Annual Review of Number of Procurement Cards Issued to the

Kane County Judiciary and Each of their Transaction Limits

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

MOVED FORWARD BY VOICE VOTE

Bill Roth

Rick Williams

14.

State's Attorney (J. Mosser)

Monthly Report

State's Attorney Mosser stated the monthly report was on file. At next month's

Committee meeting, she will present the State's Attorney's Office's (SAO)

FY2023 Annual Report. Mosser addressed the discrepancy of the SAO opting

out of the County's Internal Equity Study. She explained that her office did not

opt out. In fact, they were participating and were told her office would be given

approximately $265K. At one point in the study, it was requested that her office

do penetration studies on SAO's 185 employees. At the time this was asked,

many pressing matters were occupying the SAO and she turned those studies

down. Mosser stated that the SAO's FY2024 Budget was voted upon by the

County Board, which did include the SAO's personnel external equity study. This

study was done due to the mass amount of staff leaving Kane County for other

surrounding counties. Mosser wanted to correct the record and explain that the

SAO did not opt out of the County's Internal Equity Study. Mosser addressed

questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

Acknowledging Annual Review of Number of Procurement Cards Issued to the

Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office and Each of their Transaction Limits

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

MOVED FORWARD BY VOICE VOTE

Rick Williams

Bill Roth

15.

16.

Public Defender (R. Conant)

Monthly Report

Public Defender Conant stated the monthly report was on file. She announced

that three employees that took the Bar Exam in February, passed. With a 44%

pass rate in Illinois for those that take the Bar Exam, having three become

attorneys is great. Currently, the Public Defender's Office has three open

positions left to fill.

Court Services Administration (L. Aust)

Monthly Report

Deputy Court Admin. Mathis stated the monthly reports were on file. No

additional report was made.

JJC Housing Report

No report was made.

Acknowledging Annual Review of Number of Procurement Cards Issued to

Court Services and Each of their Transaction Limits

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

MOVED FORWARD BY VOICE VOTE

Bill Roth

Michelle Gumz

17.

Circuit Clerk (T. Barreiro)

Monthly Report

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

$75K in collections was sent out in March. Additionally, the Circuit Clerk's Office

is up 15% in all cases that were filed, with the exception of Family and Probate.

In March, 6,773 phone calls were received, 257 overtime hours were worked,

with 75.5 being premium hours. Barreiro spoke on her office's vacant positions.

Three positions are results of the Safe-T Act and three others are Deputy Clerk

positions. Additionally, her office is seeking a Human Resources Director.

Barreiro addressed the previous discussions about County's Internal Equity

Study. She explained her reasons for pulling the Circuit Clerk's Office out of the

study. She stated that over her three years of being Circuit Clerk she raised the

office's minimum wage to $18.46 from $13.59 per hour using her allotted

budget. The starting salary for a Deputy Clerk is $35,997/annually. Barreiro

noted that some employees within her office need government assistance.

However. with the increased salary, the office has been receiving applications

and retaining staff.

Acknowledging Annual Review of Number of Procurement Cards Issued to

Circuit Clerk’s Office and Each of their Transaction Limits

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

MOVER:

MOVED FORWARD BY VOICE VOTE

Bill Roth

Rick Williams

SECONDER:

18.

19.

Old Business

None.

New Business

None.