Personnel Finance Committee approves whistleblower policy for HUD compliance, authorizes boiler replacement and a $100,000 trails grant application

The Winnebago County Personnel Finance Committee on April 2 approved several administrative actions needed for ongoing operations and grant work, including a whistleblower protection policy required for a new HUD award and capital work to replace a failing boiler at Parkview.

Whistleblower policy: Chair Lawrence Cox said the item seeks committee approval of a countywide whistleblower protection policy to align with federal compliance for federal awards. A presenter said the change is required because the county received a HUD grant and that HUD expects the policy language in place by May 1. Committee members asked whether the policy could be broadened later to include county-specific whistleblower protections beyond the federal requirements; staff and committee members said layering county protections could be a future step. The motion to move the policy forward for approval passed by voice vote.

Boiler replacement (Parkview): Committee members moved to approve discussion and action on replacing a boiler at Parkview. Paul Rolfi, facilities superintendent, said the building's boilers are near the end of their expected 20-year life span and one unit is currently offline. He said replacement equipment is in stock and county staff can perform installation with vendor commissioning; because the equipment is supplied through the manufacturer's local representative (Fluid Handling), the purchase would be sole-source. Rolfi said he plans to issue a purchase order as soon as funds are approved so the county can receive and install the unit promptly. The motion to proceed was adopted by voice vote.

WeWALK trail grant: The committee authorized applying for and accepting a $100,000 award for the WeWALK trail project through the recreational trails program; parks manager Cal Virgin said the project involves the county, the university and the city and that award notifications are expected later in 2026. The motion carried.

Claims and personnel items: The committee approved a resolution honoring Paula Way for 39 years of service with Winnebago County Human Services. The committee also moved to deny two notice-of-claim items (a claim from Dylan Douglas and a claim from the Town of Algoma) so they could be processed by the county's insurance and legal staff; the denials were approved by voice vote.

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded in meeting): - Whistleblower protection policy: moved and approved (voice vote); purpose: federal grant/HUD compliance; referenced deadline May 1. - Boiler replacement for Parkview: motion to approve and proceed; sponsor: committee motion; outcome: approved (voice vote); procurement noted as sole-source via vendor representative. - WeWALK recreational trails grant application: motion to authorize application and acceptance of up to $100,000; sponsor: parks manager presentation; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Resolution honoring Paula Way: approved. - Notice-of-claims (Dylan Douglas; Town of Algoma): both denied to allow insurance/legal handling; outcome: denied (voice vote).

Why it matters: Approving a whistleblower policy clears a compliance hurdle tied to a HUD award and the boiler decision is intended to prevent potential heating failures at Parkview; the trail grant authorization supports a multi-jurisdictional recreational project.

Next steps: The whistleblower policy will be forwarded for full-board consideration before the grant deadline; facilities staff said they will order the boiler upon fund approval and schedule installation; the county awaits notification on the trails grant later in 2026.