KaneSeal

            e-news from

 KANE COUNTY

            August 2011

In this newsletter ...

  • Tribute to Jean Weems
  • 2012 Budget
  • 2011 Riverboat Grants
  • New Bike/Trail Map
  • Board Applauds St. Charles
  • Our Water Supply
  • Meet Jim Mitchell
  • Sci-Tech Museum
  • McCoy to METRA Board
  • SA Elder Review Team
  • Future Planners

Jim Mitchell
County Board Spotlight On...
Jim Mitchell
The United States has had four Presidents; Illinois, five Governors and Kane County, three Board Chairmen since Jim Mitchell, of North Aurora, first took his seat on the County Board on Dec. 1, 1990. When his term expires on Nov. 30, 2012, James C. Mitchell, Jr. will depart as the Kane County Board's most senior member and one of its most seasoned, having chaired or served at one time or another on nearly every one of its standing committees as well as numerous task forces and special committees.
Development is one of very few committees on which he hasn't served. "There probably are two or three," he said. He currently is chairman of the Board's Finance and Budget Committee and a member of the Executive, Judicial and Public Safety, Transportation and Labor Management Committees. He is not seeking reelection next year.
When doubling as a Forest Preserve District Commissioner, Jim played an early and active role in the District's ongoing land acquisition initiative.
"When I first ran for the Board, it was primarily made up of people who had all been there 20-some years, and then there was a turnover, just like there is now, where you have a lot of new people. There were two of what I would call 'reform' groups who came in - I was in the first one - who did a lot and made a lot of changes, I think," he said. "It would be easy to point to projects, but probably the thing I'm most proud of is that when constituents call me I respond to them and I usually can resolve their problems and get things done - not all the time, because some things you just can't solve, but I've been able to do it for the most part."
Mitchell has called North Aurora home for about 40 years. He retired from the Illinois Department of Corrections, where he worked for 33 years, from 1968 to 1991, having served last as warden of the state's Juvenile Corrections Facility in Joliet. After leaving his state post he worked for several years for Scholastic Magazines.
As he prepares to begin his final year in office, Jim said he plans to continue to be a tireless advocate for county taxpayers, to carefully monitor county finances,  and to impart as much  institutional knowledge as possible to any of the County Board's less-senior members who want it.  "One of my hopes for my last year is to encourage new blood to get involved. That's my goal," he said.
"There are always things you wish could have accomplished or added on to. I'm proud of the boards I've served on and what we've accomplished, but it isn't about me. It's never about one person. It's about the group and what we've been able to do," he said.
Karen Mcpic

Special Message from Chairman

Karen McConnaughay

In these great times of uncertainty, I often think about the things that make Kane County a great place to live, work and raise a family. 

It is the people who live here that share a strong commitment to enhancing and preserving the quality of life for which Kane County and its communities are recognized nationally.

One of the ways the Kane County Board tries to do this is through the licensing agreement with the Grand Victoria Casino who has shared with the County a percentage of their annual casino profits since 1997.   As a result, the Board has invested in countless educational, environmental and economic development-related projects countywide, including more than $22 million to preserve, protect, and enhance Kane County's rich history and heritage - without using taxpayer dollars.

A few of the projects funded over the past years include:  preservation of the Sleepy Hollow Ravine, which is a geological remnant from the Ice Age; renovation and exhibits for the Sci-Tech Museum in Aurora; construction costs for the Child Advocacy Center in Geneva; and riverbank stabilization and related costs for the Bob Leonard Riverwalk in St. Charles.  Other grant recipients and projects have included purchase of the Garfield Farm Museum property, relocation of the Stevens-Bellow House in the Village of Gilberts, and funding building renovation for the Quad County Urban League in southern Kane County.  Nearly every township and municipality in Kane County has benefited from riverboat grants, realizing our communities continued commitment to preserving our rich heritage.

Recently St. Charles Mayor Don DeWitte, credited the City's strong sense of history and heritage, which riverboat funds help preserve, with playing an important part in drawing families to a Kane County community that Family Circle Magazine recognized this summer as the #1 family friendly town in the nation.  Please join me in congratulating St. Charles and in sharing my pride in Kane County, its many amenities, exceptional communities and rich agricultural resources.

Tribute to Jean Weems

Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Jean Weems, her Executive Assistant and dear friend.  Jean Weems had been a Kane County employee for 17 years, and as long as Chairman McConnaughay has been Chairman, Jean has been at her side.

"Everyone in the County at some point in time has interacted with Jean," noted the Chairman.  "She was more than a dedicated employee.  She was my friend, and had a love for her work and Kane County.  She will be more than missed."

Jean started her service with the County as a recording secretary.  She interacted with and assisted many county boards over the years and was a true public servant. Those who knew and worked with her on a daily basis were aware of the long hours she spent making sure County business was carried out. We all wish to extend our heartfelt sympathies to Jean's family, and want them to know how much she contributed over the years.

2012 Budget Process Underway

Finance Chart

The Kane County Board has begun the process of preparing the 2012 budget to resemble its 2011 spending plan.  The challenge is to hold the line on spending and create a balanced budget and most importantly not to increases taxes in a year when projected revenue is expected to be relatively flat.  Kane County's fiscal year starts on December 1.

Cheryl Pattelli, the County's Executive Director of Finance, told the County Board members at a day-long meeting at which 30 budget presentations were made by various offices and departments that "we're looking at a pretty flat budget."   Some offices are seeking funding increases for 2012 while others report that they plan to work with less funding than in 2011.
 

2011 Riverboat Grants Approved

More than $1.1 million in external grants from Kane County's 2011 Riverboat Fund Program were allocated to about 50 entities, ranging from communities to homeless shelters, with the July 12 approval of the County Board.

The allocations that were authorized were pared from a list of more than 71 applications that, combined, totaled in excess of $3.3 million in requests. The list of projects and programs approved by the County Board was based on a staff review and analysis of the applications and the recommendation of the Board's five-member riverboat grant subcommittee.


New Bike/Trail Map

Bike Trail Map

Identification of park and restroom facilities located near Kane County's bicycle and pedestrian trails and other major destinations is among the updated features included in the latest, recently-released update to the Kane and Northern Kendall County Public Bicycle map.

The Public Map identifies all the existing local and regional trails throughout Kane and Northern Kendall Counties and provides updates to the Bicycle Level of Service (BLOS) system which rates the perceived comfort level of experienced adult bicyclists sharing the road with traffic, according to planner Mike Sullivan of the Kane County Division of Transportation (KDOT)
 

County Board Applauds St. Charles

St. Charles Welcome

The Kane County Board formally congratulated the City of St. Charles last month at being ranked Number One by Family Circle Magazine in its annual survey of best towns and cities for families across the country.

Flanked by more than a dozen officials and employees of St. Charles and its park, library and school districts, County Board members Philip Lewis, Mark Davoust and John Hoscheit, who represent St. Charles, along with County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay, a City resident,  presented Mayor Don  DeWitte with a "Certificate of Recognition" for the national achievement.
 

Our Future Water Supply

WOWW Logo
 
When Josh Ellis, Project Manager at the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) in Chicago, asked municipal and county governments in northern Illinois what they needed to implement the council's recommendations for better protecting their area's water supply, the number one answer was always the same: Education.
 
To answer the call and raise awareness of the value of water in northeastern Illinois, MPC teamed up with Openlands and launched the What Our Water's Worth (WOWW) Campaign. Online and off, the campaign  keeps busy arming  regional planning bodies as well as municipal and county governments with the facts, figures and recommendations they need to best to address their mounting water issues.
 

All New Sci-tech Museum

Sci-tech Museum
 
If you wanted a short list of all the educational and entertainment value delivered in every visit to Aurora's Sci-Tech Hands On Museum, you would have to limit your search to museum programs that haven't  been created, enhanced or improved in  the last year because that  list is a long one.
 
The museum, in operation since 1987, serves over 75,000 county residents a year with a wide range of programs and hands-on exhibits geared to school-aged children and their families according to Museum Executive Director, Carol Rehtmeyer.
 

Mike McCoy to METRA Board

Mike McCoy
Former Kane County Board Chairman Mike McCoy, of Aurora, has been appointed to represent the county on the region's Commuter Rail Service, or Metra, Board.
The appointment was recommended by County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay and approved July 12 with the advice and consent of the County Board.
 
McCoy succeeds retired County Board member Caryl Van Overmeiren in the post. Van Overmeiren, who was appointed to the Metra Board in 2008, agreed last month to forego the balance of her term, through 2012, at the request of County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay.
 

SA Elder Death Review Team Expands

SA Office
 
Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon announced in late June that based on its success and a need to involve more agencies, the Kane County Elder Fatality Review Team (EFRT) will expand to DeKalb and Kendall counties, and change its name to the Tri-County EFRT. As a result of its work the last four years, the Kane EFRT saw an opportunity to expand to DeKalb and Kendall counties because many of the cases it has examined crossed into those jurisdictions, according to McMahon.
 
In response to the growing population of citizens 60 and older, evidence of abuse and neglect of seniors and the belief that collaborative oversight to appropriately protect vulnerable seniors was systemically lacking, Kane County in 2007 launched the Elder Fatality Review Team, a local interagency group designed to ensure that suspicious deaths of the elderly would be thoroughly examined and evaluated.
 
In reviewing the deaths, the team sought to determine if the deceased was the victim of abuse or neglect prior to death, and if abuse or neglect played a role in their death. If so, the panel determined what remedies should have taken place and how to ensure that those remedies are not overlooked in future cases, whether locally, statewide or both.
 

Still Time for Future Planners

Flip Program
 
Applications for CMAP's 2011-2011 Future Leaders in Planning, or FLIP, program are being accepted through Monday, Sept. 12. Participants in FLIP will learn more about the northeastern region and share their thoughts with other teens from Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties while meeting and interacting with selected regional leaders who make key planning decisions in our communities.
 
As Board Chairman of a member county of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), Karen McConnaughay is encouraging Kane County teens who want to learn about and contribute to a better future for our region to take advantage of a free leadership development opportunity being made available to them through the agency.
 
FLIP program begins in September and continues through early May, 2012. All participants should commit to one orientation session, one full-day retreat, five Saturday all-day sessions, and one weeknight for the Final Presentation. The five Saturday sessions will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. The sessions will be chaperoned by CMAP staff. The retreat will focus on building trust and a positive group dynamic. All sessions will begin and end at CMAP offices in the Willis Tower, 233 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago. Financial assistance for travel is available to students who require it. Attendance at all meetings is strongly encouraged. Participation in the retreat is mandatory.
 
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