Kane County ARPA committee approves five resolutions to reprogram funds, authorizes small reallocations

Kane County's American Rescue Plan Committee on Wednesday approved five resolutions to reprogram and amend ARPA-funded agreements, moving money to building and service projects and authorizing staff to reallocate de minimis leftover balances for later ratification by the County Board.

The committee, chaired by Vern Tephy, voted to approve: a first amendment to an agreement with the Family Guidance Center; a reprogramming from the 16th Judicial Circuit Court's judicial technology project to the county Building Management Department for jail tower A and B HVAC improvements; a first amendment with Plum Tree Child and Adolescent Psychology; a second reprogramming to fund Sheriff's Office HVAC renovations; and a policy authorizing the ARPA program to redirect remaining balances between $0.01 and $50 to other ARPA projects and then bring a single ratification resolution to the County Board.

During discussion of the Family Guidance Center amendment, Mr. Greg asked for clarification on language in the program terms describing “harm reduction outreach and linkage to care services out of a mobile van,” asking how a mobile van would deliver those services. According to the transcript, staff explained that harm-reduction activities can include on-site supplies, education and outreach at community events and that a mobile van would carry implements and tools for outreach and response. "Harm reduction essentially are types of techniques and things that literally reduce the harm caused by things like drug addiction," the transcript records Mr. Greg as saying when raising his question.

The reprogramming measures moved funds from judicial technology projects to county building and public-safety infrastructure. One reprogramming was described in the transcript as "$65,497" for Sheriff's Office HVAC renovations. Another reprogramming is listed in the transcript with an unclear figure written as "$342,56"; the transcript does not provide a clear, confirmable dollar amount for that item.

The final resolution authorized the ARPA program, in coordination with the county finance department, to redirect remaining ARPA funds from completed projects in amounts between $0.01 and $50 to other ARPA projects, "in accordance with all applicable statutes, regulations, ordinance, and policies," and directed the ARPA program to bring the redirected amounts for ratification by the County Board at the end of the program. Committee members adopting an amendment to the resolution changed language to specify that the County Board — not the ARPA program alone — would ratify the consolidated list of small reallocations.

All five items were approved on roll-call votes during the meeting. The transcript records each measure as passing; the committee adjourned after the votes and directed staff to proceed under the approved authority.

What happens next: Staff will implement the approved reallocations and prepare the consolidated ratification resolution for the Kane County Board as directed. The committee did not request an executive session and took no further substantive action at the meeting's close.