Grundy County swears in new county board member; leases office to Family Guidance for behavioral health services

The Grundy County Board administered the oath of office to Laura Chiavone after voting to fill the District 2 vacancy created by the departure of Greg Ridenour. County Judge Dobbs administered the oath and Chiavone was seated immediately and declared eligible to vote on matters for the remainder of the meeting.

Separately, the board approved a lease with Family Guidance to provide behavioral‑health and substance‑use services in a small office space in the county administration building that formerly housed the county’s behavioral‑health wing. County officials said the county moved quickly this summer after the health department ceased providing those services; Family Guidance will provide onsite triage and act as a central intake point to coordinate care with a network of about 17 partner providers. The lease was presented as fair‑market for the small office space at $25 per square foot as described in the packet; county staff translated that to a monthly rent figure in the meeting that they said equates to roughly $260 per month and about $3,000 per year for the space (the packet contains exact square footage and calculations). The board approved the lease and announced a ribbon‑cutting the following morning at 9 a.m.

County staff said the arrangement was designed to minimize interruption of care for about 60 affected patients and to provide local continuity for substance‑use treatment and behavioral‑health triage. The lease also sets a baseline that staff said will apply to future tenant leases in the building.

Provenance - Topic introduction excerpt: "So, Judge Dobbs is here. If you could please come up Judge and administer the oath of office..." (transcript segment starting at 206.865). - Topic finish excerpt: "So now that that's official, 09:00 tomorrow morning, we will be having the ribbon cutting..." (transcript segment starting at 3495.18).