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Geneva, IL 60134

Kane County

KC Energy and Environmental

Committee

Meeting Minutes

BATES, Tarver, Allan, Kious, Roth, Strathmann, Young, ex-officios Pierog (County Chair), and

Tepe (County Vice Chair)

Friday, August 16, 2024

9:00 AM

County Board Room

Call To Order

Chairman Bates called today's meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

Roll Call

Board Member Mavis Bates

Board Member Bill Tarver

Board Member Deborah Allan

Board Member Chris Kious

Board Member Bill Roth

PRESENT

Board Member Cherryl Strathmann

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Board Member David Young

REMOTE

ABSENT

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Vern Tepe

Also present: Co. Bd. members Juby*, Lewis, Molina*; Environ. & Water Res. Dir.

Wollnik; Sustainability Mgr. Hinshaw; Recycling Coordinator Ryan; Spec. ASA Shepro*;

ITD staff Peters; and members of the press and public, including Air Programs Waste

Management Dir. Steve Niehoff.

Remote Attendance Requests

Chairman Bates announced the remote attendance requests for today's meeting. She

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

attending remotely. There were no objections.

Approval of Minutes: June 14, 2024 & July 12, 2024

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Chris Kious

Public Comment (Agenda Items)

None.

Public Comment (Non- Agenda Items)

None.

Environmental (J.Wollnik)

Methane Gas from Kane County Landfills

Environ. & Water Res. Dir. Wollnik indicated that the Electric Aggregation

Consultant sent a draft of the yearly letter to residents who want to opt out of the

Electric Aggregation Program. The letter was sent to the State's Attorney. She

reminded the Committee that the program's rates are currently the same as

ComEd's.

Air Programs Waste Management Dir., Steve Niehoff, referenced a recent

Tribune article about the Satellite Evaluations of Emissions and Landfills. He

stated that his team has had easy access to emissions measurement readings

for the past five years, with the capabilities of satellites, aircrafts, and drones.

However, more work needs to be done for better quantification detections. He

indicated that there are two closed landfills in Kane County, one of which is at

Settler's Hill. The other is privately owned at Woodland. After landfills are

closed, the gas generation drops considerably. Niehoff stated that in order to

reduce greenhouse gas emissions from closed sites, it is important to continue

to collect gas, maintain cover, and continue to offset power generation of fossil

fuels. The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rules for greenhouse gas

reporting specifically tell them how to calculate emissions. Niehoff believes that

with the full body of work between ground-based evaluations and satellite

readings, calculations can continue to be reviewed and refined as more data

comes in. The EPA recently refined the Greenhouse Gas Reporting calculation

rule for landfills, and they are ready to add updated emission rules for next year.

The EPA has been informed that all updated rules must be completed by the

end of 2025.

Recycling/Solid Waste (C. Ryan)

Recycling Coordinator, Ryan, announced that last month's Kane County Recycling

Extravaganza was a success. She is planning to submit a Composting and Food

Waste Reduction grant application to the United States Department of Agriculture

(USDA) which is due on September 4, 2024. Ryan indicated that there were concerns

on how the Fabyan site's long-term plan will fit into the greater Fabyan property. The

intention is to move forward with the project, and potentially divide the parcel off of the

property. Lastly, Ryan highlighted the successful worm bin system that she started a

year ago. A total of 400 pounds of food scrap has been composted. All worm

composting information, and how to build your own system can be found on a new sub

page of the Kane County recycling webpage. (Committee Member Allan arrived at 9:18

a.m.)

Sustainability (S.Hinshaw)

New Business

10.

Approving FY2025 Operations and Maintenance Agreement with USGS for the

Stream and Rainfall Gages

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Chris Kious

MOVER:

Cherryl Strathmann

SECONDER:

Mavis Bates, Bill Tarver, Deborah Allan, Chris Kious, Bill Roth,

Cherryl Strathmann, and David Young

AYE:

Kane County Climate Action Implementation Plan Kick-off Meeting Presentation

Sustainability Mgr. Hinshaw stated that the first Kick-off meeting for Climate

Action Implementation was on Saturday, August 10, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00

p.m. at the Barbara Belding Lodge in the Brewster Creek Forest Preserve. There

was a total of 45 people who attended. Over 800 people took the online survey,

and currently there are five to seven people on each implementation team.

Hinshaw indicated that the implementation teams were the leaders of the event.

She reviewed the first actions to focus on for the implementation process,

including cost savings, benefits to the community, how to improve air quality and

public safety, and working with established partners. She reviewed the obstacles

of the low, medium, and high priorities that will be focused on, including

volunteer driven programs, education and outreach, financial incentives,

changes in policies and ordinances, and community wide shift to more

climate-friendly behavior. Hinshaw stated that by February, eighteen actions will

be implemented. Hinshaw announced that on Thursday, August 22, 2024 there

will be a re-cap meeting for anyone who could not attend the first meeting. She

indicated that a volunteer pledge for people to sign is in the works, so that

people understand that this a commitment. Lastly, Hinshaw considered reaching

out to intergovernmental groups to avoid any duplicating of any information

across Kane County.

IRS Tax Credits and ComEd Rebates

Sustainability Mgr. Hinshaw reviewed the Elective Pay and ComEd rebates for

electric vehicles and chargers. She stated that ComEd business and public

sector customers may qualify to receive a rebate for upgrading vehicles to

electric. Kane County purchased two Electric Cargo Vans in 2023. Heidi Files

applied for the rebate and received $10K. She stated that Kane County

purchased one electric vehicle charger for the Kane County Division of

Transportation (KDOT) in June 2024, and will it be installed early next week.

Once the charger is installed, a rebate of $10,666 will be received back.

Hinshaw reviewed the IRS Elective Pay. She stated that elective pay is for

governmental and tax-exempt businesses. The elective pay has tax credits for

numerous energy upgrades, such as roofs, building envelope, HVAC, and

advanced energy projects for manufacturers. An IRS Clean Energy account has

been listed. She stated that since the 30C Alternative Fuel EV charging station

is located in a rural area, a qualified 30% is credited back. A 15% credit is

received back for all Hybrid vehicles and 30% for Full EV's. Hinshaw reviewed

the average cost savings for the cargo vans purchased last year by the IT

department. The cargo vans were purchased at $49,315 each, with a total

savings between the IRS and ComEd $12,500 for each vehicle, with a new total

cost of $36,816 for each van.

Tree Protection Ordinance Update

Environ. & Water Res. Dir. Wollnik provided a summary of the draft Tree

Protection Ordinance. She reviewed the first draft and current draft, and spoke

about possible revisions. Wollnik stated that it was considered to list only the

protected trees, including the oaks and hickory trees, as well as all trees greater

than 15''. Anything smaller than 15'' would be exempt from the ordinance,

including the invasive trees. She indicated that with the two designations of the

trees, it became complicated in how the different the trees were handled. The

revised draft for property regulated trees currently considers single family homes

on lots greater than 15 acres, as well as all other zoning properties. There is a

separate process for properties being reviewed for building, storm water, zoning

or subdivision permits. Wollnik noted that single family homes less than 15

acres, and commercial nurseries and orchards would stay the same. (Madam

Chair Pierog arrived at 10:07 a.m.) Parkway trees within a public right-of-way,

and government properties were taken out of the current draft due to the unfair

aspect of properties that were not regulated. She stated that the current draft

considers increasing the tree removal permit application fee to $250. Wollnik

noted that a purpose and/or need for tree removal needs to be justified in order

to validate a tree removal. The current draft for tree protection during

construction is proposing to incorporate a tree removal permit and a

preservation plan into building and storm water permitting. A separate permit will

not be necessary for residents. The subdivision and zoning portion is also

proposing to include tree removal and a preservation plan into the application

process for approval though the Development Committee. Wollnik noted that

apps and websites will provide a guidance manual that can be used by property

owners to identify invasive trees. Invasive trees can be removed with no further

action by the owner. Much discussion ensued.

11.

Chairs Comments

Chairman Bates thanked her staff for all their continued hard work.