[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",5985493,"mediaKeyId","5787413-fed9103c96e7f3020dd3d0fe53683ab6","parentId",5787413,"title","Kane County solid-waste staff preview recycling poster, Sept. 27 drop-off event and regional outreach campaign","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3505000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5787413-fed9103c96e7f3020dd3d0fe53683ab6&start=3505&end=3505","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5787413-fed9103c96e7f3020dd3d0fe53683ab6/thumbnail_3505000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5985493/Kane-County/Illinois/Kane-County-solid-waste-staff-preview-recycling-poster-Sept-27-drop-off-event-and-regional-outreach-campaign","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5985493-b1485db6abfeeb9f0424a348f20ee724/orig.mp4?Expires=1776152915&Signature=TNcYbCt1qEgVeao6raGt3HKmw442as2J1j4EFT15xaMeZz5F~gf6t1nhloz3TIVaIBcVq9SJwPENXGFH1UV2WqI6Wr8zYVQVnnei2gGsZNW761IFHJJBI5k50URymFpB6CTSZCxnf~xyF9Vxjlu~ICUqhjYSX6UJVJHNNXH-WSoNwOVNbbl1-ofoZUeknItfPFOFoN5SIn3d-9RnBa4wB1OUItIshy9P8Cuf-IUjEIq6sqbh2hoC0k7lWZgqiroyyFsfIDkJEcQnngOVEBA~whVyqOkjArRNMtX942YQC7rx8qQsvH6nM4XYEX821-hfEYrD2kZgT7dJrWR6~3k80Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kane County,IL","date","2025-09-13T03:38:40Z","article","KANE COUNTY, Ill. ' Solid waste staff briefed the Energy and Environmental Committee on Sept. 12 about outreach materials, a county recycling event on Sept. 27 and a planned regional recycling education campaign.

Solid waste coordinator (presenter) showed a revised recycling poster tailored for Building A staff areas that emphasizes items commonly found in office collections and highlights contaminants that cause sorting problems (for example, black plastic deli trays and foam plastics). Staff said the poster is a modification of the state's recycling guidance and is intended for internal use in county buildings.

Staff also previewed a community drop-off event set for Sept. 27 at the Circuit Clerk's Building that will include shredding, paper recycling, clothing and textile collection for reuse, latex paint recycling, small home goods for reuse and bicycle collection. Solid waste staff requested volunteers for the event and said they have good local volunteer support.

Separately, solid waste staff said they are close to launching a regional recycling-education and outreach campaign developed with counterparts in neighboring counties and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus; staff plan to debut the campaign creative assets in an October or November press event and to integrate selected creative into the county's green guide and local materials.

Staff also reported that building management is auditing bin locations and will adjust recycling bins in county buildings as needed; committee members asked for follow-up on bin placement in the committee room.

The committee expressed support, and staff said the first campaign appearance may include a host that uses recycled materials in local manufacturing as an example to demonstrate material markets.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","KC Energy & Environmental Committee Meeting September 12 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County solid waste staff showed a new internal recycling poster, announced a Sept. 27 shredding/recycling event and said they will soon launch a regional recycling education and outreach campaign with partner counties and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.","taxTitle","Kane County, Illinois","taxId",12845,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},5985498,"Kane County environmental office proposes fee increases, shifts $70,000 in salaries to riverboat fund; sets two-year electric aggregation term",1047,2205000,3252000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5787413-fed9103c96e7f3020dd3d0fe53683ab6&start=2205&end=3252","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5787413-fed9103c96e7f3020dd3d0fe53683ab6/thumbnail_2205000.jpg","/articles/5985498/Kane-County/Illinois/Kane-County-environmental-office-proposes-fee-increases-shifts-70000-in-salaries-to-riverboat-fund-sets-two-year-electric-aggregation-term","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5985498-99558f47ab5a54eb8764c53ac752190e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776152915&Signature=bNueF0ftF2ypZSuCve-u3v4mMPPnvJaiqR8r6FJ4fRJJpz5kwy6yip4ZEHGQIPGVL8jbXx1FmE2BdobZAi9LrQ~cNs7avHOBdG81Wi99Q1K9u0TtWckidEWlFwVOmcSmnNBepa~xRdjmNXFU9IuTBBp3Gky437LPXqF6kQ6CSjhNLAALVXJnuygUuCF-hBsjw82yp2XslfWTvdhbDAgtbk3Ot~xLWXxTL346X2x5WPiuDj01oKN~b70nDYT9~Go-uS64KydbiFoVTb-IHGY~9TGULcRLbV6JkRLEBwm0QTviDyYW2tUS3qAGqz96Y3ahST57z4LswiKpJG8hDRnBCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","KANE COUNTY, Ill. ' Kane County's environmental department presented a review of its 2026 budget to the Energy and Environmental Committee on Sept. 12, proposing modest fee increases, a reallocation of salary costs to a riverboat special-revenue fund and a 24-month term for the county's electric aggregation agreement.

Presenter Jody Wolnick said the department compared 2024 actuals with the proposed 2026 budget and expects a small overall decrease from 2024 after proposed revenue adjustments. To close a roughly $11,235 increase in salary and commodity costs compared with 2024, staff proposed three revenue changes: a conservative stormwater fee increase expected to raise stormwater revenue from a typical $20,000 budget to $25,000 (a roughly 25 percent increase in the line item); a new zoning-fee revenue line conservatively estimated to add $2,500; and an increased transfer from the electric-aggregation fund from about $30,000 to $36,000.

Wolnick said the department also proposes moving $70,000 in sustainability salaries and benefits into the riverboat special-revenue fund (Fund 650) so those salary costs are reimbursed via the riverboat request process rather than borne by the general fund.

\"Our stormwater fees have not been updated since 2019,\" Wolnick said. \"These conservative revenue adjustments, plus the riverboat reimbursement, put our 2026 general-fund request about $2,450 lower than the 2024 figure.\" (Quote attributed to Jody Wolnick, Kane County environmental staff.)

Committee members pressed for clarity on who pays the increases: staff said stormwater fees would be paid by developers seeking stormwater permits and zoning fees would be assessed to landowners or applicants changing use or zoning. Members noted that two of the three revenue proposals would be paid by private parties (developers and applicants), and discussed fairness and visibility of the fee changes to constituents.

Members also asked whether using riverboat funds for salaries complied with the riverboat fund's restrictions. Allen Caius (committee member and riverboat committee chair) explained that under the county's riverboat distribution rules (resolution 93-237 and internal controls), funds may enhance operations of county programs affecting education, economic development and environmental issues and that internal allocations for staffing have precedent, though external grants often fund capital projects.

Separately, staff returned a procedural resolution setting a 24-month term for the county's electric aggregation agreement; the vendor and other contract elements had been approved previously and the committee approved the 24-month timeframe by recorded roll call.

Wolnick said some of the additional electric-aggregation funds would be used to support programs such as the Batavia energy-efficiency effort discussed earlier in the meeting.

No committee vote on the general-fund budget items occurred at the meeting; the electric-aggregation term resolution was approved by the committee.","County environmental staff reviewed the 2026 budget proposals including modest fee increases and a proposal to shift $70,000 in salary costs to the riverboat fund; the committee also set a 24-month term for the county's electric aggregation agreement.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},5985503,"Kane County groundwater study flags Mill Creek as most stressed; models undercount chloride peaks in parts of Aurora",2493,3166000,5659000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5787413-fed9103c96e7f3020dd3d0fe53683ab6&start=3166&end=5659","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5787413-fed9103c96e7f3020dd3d0fe53683ab6/thumbnail_3166000.jpg","/articles/5985503/Kane-County/Illinois/Kane-County-groundwater-study-flags-Mill-Creek-as-most-stressed-models-undercount-chloride-peaks-in-parts-of-Aurora","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5985503-1555108129f6448f30bc1627363292cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1776152915&Signature=ZB0HNfAEopBht56H7agfNWufVdsmpO0sj8SLYhWdD1KaH0wwgsEl13tQ7Ci7PHEjWXWWaU0yiGCRyghSnPi2~3v4u-~4fwDieBCJUIx48RkiGq0mnD8yWxLNMJJmm~6iYnth~~kyqgz-hjbfm2KxdsF~~w2KP2ZYYQ2HZ5cX18iecZ8VhoGCrntQh4m5QqFekYYyZp7WywAIaGmqY0al8Sk7Mo6ixnuGSGl8aai8GtNc0pJ99LrUxfs6aPIBHBzBs8iyTwO4vCMOputvRvQj8Hsi0He0eyJQLTOKCyxaAj8x7OBu8atiP3GpEB-QOTcPtB9cPgiEwtkptEZFf7CVEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","KANE COUNTY, Ill. ' County staff briefed the Energy and Environmental Committee on Sept. 12 about an ongoing shallow groundwater sustainability study by the Illinois State Water Survey that identifies Mill Creek as the county's most stressed shallow-aquifer watershed and flags calibration gaps in chloride modeling for some Aurora wells.

Jody Wolnick, a county environmental staff member presenting interim results, said the Illinois State Water Survey has installed monitoring wells in northern Kane County, compiled more than 500 chloride observations and is calibrating models that estimate baseflow contributions from groundwater to area creeks.

\"Sustainable usage in our shallow groundwater varies by subwatershed, with Mill Creek the most severely impacted,\" Wolnick said, adding that Mill Creek showed an 80'to'84 percent drop in base flow compared with predevelopment conditions in earlier reports. (Quote attributed to Jody Wolnick, Kane County environmental staff.)

Wolnick told the committee the study integrates municipal utility interviews, measured streamflow and groundwater chemistry. In some watersheds, treated-wastewater discharges (effluent) partially offset baseflow loss; in others, notably Mill Creek, those effluent contributions are minimal and pumpage has reduced baseflow substantially.

On chloride, Wolnick reported that the team assembled 502 chloride observations from county communities and state databases. The study's model reproduces lower chloride concentrations well but currently underestimates the high chloride \"peaks\" recorded in certain Aurora wells, she said. The Environmental Protection Agency's secondary chloride guidance of 250 milligrams per liter serves as a reference point; the county's interest is in locations where chloride approaches or exceeds that level because high chloride affects taste, plumbing and aquatic life.

\"We had to input land-use changes to model chloride loadings; road salt is the primary anthropogenic source where the highest chloride concentrations appear,\" Wolnick said. \"The model is being refined because high observed peaks are not yet matched well by the simulation.\" (Quote attributed to Jody Wolnick.)

Committee members asked whether sampling methods were reliable; Wolnick said the sampling is correct and that the discrepancy likely stems from model averaging that smooths short-term peaks. She said the Illinois State Water Survey is working on improved calibration and sensitivity to capture high-event chloride spikes.

Wolnick said a real-time monitoring network of shallow wells has been installed and a phase two will add wells in Hampshire and Carpentersville this fall. The county plans to meet again with the State Water Survey in November and expects a final report thereafter.

Committee members raised planning and policy questions: how future development should be managed where shallow aquifers are stressed, how chloride sources can be better managed (winter road-salt practices were identified as the largest controllable source), and whether stress on deep aquifers could drive communities to use the shallower system. Wolnick said the study explores scenarios through 2050, and that many utilities indicated no additional demand on the shallow aquifer beyond current permits, which explains why modeled baseflow stabilizes in some scenarios from 2020 to 2050.

The committee and staff discussed next steps: continued calibration of chloride modeling, mapping of hotspot areas where salting practices should be tightened, expansion of the real-time monitoring network, and county coordination with municipalities on water-supply planning.

The study team emphasized that while average modeled concentrations are useful, the county needs the model to reproduce high chloride events so officials can identify and manage local hotspots where drinking-water quality and stream ecology are most at risk.","An Illinois State Water Survey analysis presented to Kane County found Mill Creek's shallow groundwater most severely affected by pumpage, identified concerns about chloride (road-salt) concentrations and reported calibration gaps where the model underestimates peak chloride readings in some Aurora wells.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},5985508,"Kane County committee approves $20,000 to expand Batavia residential energy-efficiency program",1313,967000,2280000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5787413-fed9103c96e7f3020dd3d0fe53683ab6&start=967&end=2280","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5787413-fed9103c96e7f3020dd3d0fe53683ab6/thumbnail_967000.jpg","/articles/5985508/Kane-County/Illinois/Kane-County-committee-approves-20000-to-expand-Batavia-residential-energy-efficiency-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5985508-d5469ad9c114bcd0df36dfe96d340104/orig.mp4?Expires=1776152915&Signature=KSrzdIzPjdpuVMxrax6WSQJ4AceF1ElvONzN26m5sLsA3QgLDWuQbvU9P06WLMdZ5B~UqbTeOaoYzwrs3qz5mN22yAHMXamb9EDEveJKaOl3HFHqnx3kyShkdKRSlkVwrXNtaV-Xu9RXTqppXOrTZwotJTnxedY6oZxoBu4zGD-ANSUv88WZamFdB2EtHgV5rCm~QtcnnztzKi3yWh2X6Pr2VjYn1CO617VuN-TALunI47aq09ZzymIVLkONH4giWex583gROpyAYLxZeNiHCpPNq5mlp1EvOCPVkLFrzCTZUvYEHCgR-2Hm2GwE8P4tc~7SfU0aFFu2a~nl-KwbBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","KANE COUNTY, Ill. ' The Kane County Energy and Environmental Committee on Sept. 12 approved $20,000 to support Batavia's residential energy-efficiency program, a county staff member said during the committee's meeting.

The money will come from the county's electric aggregation program and is intended to supplement Batavia's existing local fund so the city can serve more homes in 2026. The funding resolution passed on a recorded roll call after discussion.

Batavia's program, presented to the committee by Max Weiss, assistant city administrator and project manager for Batavia, uses revenue from a city single-use bag fee to pay for residential energy audits and partial rebates for retrofit work. Weiss said the city allocated $95,000 for year one, which covered audits and rebates for 25 households: 10 designated low-income and 15 non-low-income applicants. Low-income households are eligible for up to $3,000 in rebates and non-low-income households up to $1,000, Weiss said.

\"We used King County's area median income to determine low-income eligibility,\" Weiss said. \"We had well over 160 applicants this year, so demand far outpaces availability.\" (Quote attributed to Max Weiss, assistant city administrator and project manager, City of Batavia.)

Committee members asked how the city would measure results after retrofits. Weiss said the audits are detailed'the contractor typically spends about four hours in a home and produces prescriptive recommendations'and the city plans spot checks after work is complete. Batavia also intends to use aggregate electricity data from its municipal utility to help verify savings in the aggregate, he said.

County staff said the $20,000 contribution would allow Batavia to expand its 2026 target from 25 homes toward a goal of roughly 40 homes, depending on bag-fee revenue and program demand. The county's contribution will go directly to the city to increase the number of residents served; Batavia will continue to administer audits, contractor coordination and rebates under its contractual model.

The committee's memorandum of understanding with Batavia will specify reporting and data-sharing requirements, county staff said, and staff will return to the committee with results as work proceeds.

The resolution carried in committee after a roll call. (Recorded committee vote: Allen Caius: yes; Hennessy: yes; Straffman: yes; David Young: no; Mavis Bates: yes; Roth: yes.)

Supporters said Batavia's program uses an existing local fee to reduce household carbon and energy costs while directing rebates to households that need them most. Members asked staff to ensure the MOU requires household- or project-level verification where feasible so the county and the city can measure actual energy and carbon outcomes.

Batavia's contractor for audits is Sustainability Construction, Weiss said; the city's model separates auditing from installation so homeowners may choose their own contractors or perform eligible work themselves and be reimbursed for materials.

The committee asked county staff to return with the MOU and a reporting schedule once the city and the county attorney finish reviewing the agreement. County staff said audits will continue through the end of the year, with retrofit work rolling into 2026.","The Kane County Energy and Environmental Committee voted to allocate $20,000 from the county's electric-aggregation funds to help Batavia expand a residential energy-efficiency program that provides audits and rebates to homeowners.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kane County solid-waste staff preview recycling poster, Sept. 27 drop-off event and regional outreach campaign

Kane County environmental office proposes fee increases, shifts $70,000 in salaries to riverboat fund; sets two-year electric aggregation term

Kane County groundwater study flags Mill Creek as most stressed; models undercount chloride peaks in parts of Aurora

Kane County committee approves $20,000 to expand Batavia residential energy-efficiency program