421 N. COUNTY FARM ROAD

WHEATON, IL 60187

DU PAGE COUNTY

Human Services

www.dupagecounty.gov

Final Summary

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

1. CALL TO ORDER

9:30 AM

Room 3500A

9:30 AM meeting was called to order by Chair Greg Schwarze at 9:30 AM. A physical quorum

was physically present, and Chair Schwarze entertained a motion for those members not

physically present due to illness, disability, employment purposes or for the business of the

Board or family or other emergency or unexpected childcare obligations to participate via video

or teleconference. Member Garcia so moved, Member Galassi seconded, motion carried, all ayes.

DeSart, Galassi, Garcia, LaPlante, and Schwarze

Cronin Cahill

PRESENT

REMOTE

ROLL CALL

Staff in Attendance: Nick Kottmeyer (Chief Administrative Officer); Renee Zerante (State's

Attorney's Office); Gina Strafford-Ahmed (Community Services); Natasha Belli (Community

Services); Keith Jorstad (Finance); Sara Rogers (Finance).

DeSart, Galassi, Garcia, LaPlante, and Schwarze

Cronin Cahill

PRESENT

REMOTE

PUBLIC COMMENT

No public comments were offered.

CHAIR REMARKS - CHAIR SCHWARZE

Chair Schwarze thanked the Members who attended the Food Summit in April, hosted by the

Northern Illinois Food Bank. He noted that he, Member Garcia and Community Services

Director Mary Keating are meeting with potential food bank donors at the DuPage Foundation in

early June with the intention of discussing how the DuPage County Transformation Challenge

Grant may potentially assist collaboration with food bank partners. Member Galassi asked if the

information presented at the summit might be made available to County Board members to share

with the pantries in their districts. Chair Schwarze replied that a summary of the presentation is

forthcoming from the Northern Illinois Food Bank and will be shared with the Board. Member

Garcia noted that there were two major topics of discussion among most of the attendees - the

possibility of opening a second hub to facilitate food transport in other areas of the County, and

software improvements to allow a better flow of information among the food pantries. Member

DeSart mentioned the upcoming groundbreaking for Loaves and Fishes' new Hub 2.0 expansion

in Aurora.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

5.A.

26-1386

Human Services Committee - Regular Meeting - Tuesday, April 21, 2026

APPROVED

Paula Garcia

Kari Galassi

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

COMMUNITY SERVICES - MARY KEATING

6.A.

26-1387

HS-P-0035A-25 - Amendment to County Contract 7852-0001 SERV issued to Nortek

Environmental, Inc., for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP),

to increase the contract in the amount of $75,000, for a new contract amount not to

exceed $164,999. (Community Services)

APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

Dawn DeSart

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kari Galassi

SECONDER:

BUDGET TRANSFERS

7.A.

26-1388

Transfer of funds from account no. 5000-1440-50040 (part-time help) to account no.

5000-1440 50010 (overtime), in the amount of $2,921, to cover unexpected expenses in

the overtime personnel expense account for the Community Development Block Grant

(CDBG), which was not included in the original budget. (Community Services)

APPROVED

Paula Garcia

Kari Galassi

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

7.B.

26-1389

Transfer of funds from account no. 1200-2025-54110 (equipment and machinery) to

account no. 1200-2025-52000 (furniture/machinery/equipment small value) in the

amount of $9,500 for small value supplies for dining services. (DuPage Care Center)

APPROVED

Paula Garcia

Kari Galassi

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

INFORMATIONAL

8.A.

26-1390

GPN 012-26 Weatherization DOE Grant PY27 Illinois Department of Commerce and

Economic Opportunity, U.S. Department of Energy, in the amount of $673,394.

(Community Services)

APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

Paula Garcia

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kari Galassi

SECONDER:

8.B.

26-1391

GPN 013-26 Weatherization HHS Grant PY27 Illinois Department of Commerce and

Economic Opportunity, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in the amount

of $974,465. (Community Services)

APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

Paula Garcia

RESULT:

MOVER:

Dawn DeSart

SECONDER:

8.C.

26-1392

GPN 014-26 Weatherization State Grant PY27 Illinois Department of Commerce and

Economic Opportunity, in the amount of $609,599. (Community Services)

APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

Paula Garcia

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kari Galassi

SECONDER:

8.D.

26-1393

GPN 015-26 LIHEAP HHS Grant PY27 Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic

Opportunity, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in the amount of

$3,657,594. (Community Services)

APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

Paula Garcia

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kari Galassi

SECONDER:

8.E.

26-1394

GPN 016-26 LIHEAP State Supplemental Grant PY27 Illinois Department of Commerce

and Economic Opportunity, in the amount of $4,699,341. (Community Services)

APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

Dawn DeSart

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kari Galassi

SECONDER:

RESIDENCY WAIVERS - JANELLE CHADWICK

One out-of-county residency waiver request was presented to the committee for approval. Janelle

Chadwick stated that the Care Center currently has twelve male beds and sixteen female beds

available. Six beds have been offered to DuPage County residents, so no DuPage County

residents will be displaced with the acceptance of this candidate.

APPROVED

Dawn DeSart

Kari Galassi

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

10.

DUPAGE CARE CENTER UPDATE - JANELLE CHADWICK

Janelle Chadwick stated that there are currently no cases or units at the Care Center in isolation

and no masking. Construction logistics are a challenge right now, with only one center elevator

to access the rehab, recreation and dining areas, but construction is progressing well. This week

the Care Center is celebrating Nursing Week, and Ms. Chadwick noted that last quarter the Care

Center hired eight nurses. Ms. Chadwick also mentioned the annual Care Center Golf Outing and

Dinner, coming up on Friday, June 26.

11.

12.

COMMUNITY SERVICES UPDATE - MARY KEATING

No remarks were offered.

OLD BUSINESS

Member LaPlante noted that since the DuPage County Small Non-profit Grant Program is now

closed, she asked where constituents that are small organizations can find resources. Nick

Kottmeyer suggested that they start by going to the County Board office and seeking direction in

obtaining referrals to resources that could help them. Likewise, if a Board member has an

individual constituent with a need for immediate assistance for such things as rent, car repair,

utility shut-off, etc., besides referring the constituent to the 211 helpline, he recommended that

Board members reach out directly to Mary Keating in Community Services, with the objective of

getting the appropriate referrals in Community Services to the constituent as quickly as possible.