The Kane County Energy & Environment Committee voted to accept two outside grants on Oct. 20: a $10,000 award tied to a ComEd program to fund a solar-powered flood-warning sign and a $5,000 charitable grant to support "New Trees for New Homeowners," a voucher program the county will administer with the Conservation Foundation and the Fox Valley Realtors Association.

Austin Powell, identified in the meeting as the county sustainability coordinator, presented both resolutions and said the ComEd-linked award was for a solar-powered flood warning sign to be placed at a location yet to be determined. "Accepting this award will be going to funding a solar powered flood warning sign, that will place at a specific location in the county. That location is still to be determined," Powell said.

Powell described the second award as a $5,000 charitable giving grant to buy eight trees and four shrubs and distribute vouchers to new homeowners through the Fox Valley Realtors Association. Powell said the program would begin in January, when homeowners receive a voucher and then choose a native tree to be ordered and delivered. "So starting January, homeowners will receive a voucher and then they'll have a few months to decide on a native tree and then we'll order those trees and supply them to them," he said. Powell also confirmed the program would use native species.

Both items were approved by roll call. The ComEd-related resolution was moved by a committee member identified as Genesis and seconded by Mr. Tarver; the committee recorded affirmative votes during roll call from members present, including Deborah Allen, Genesis, Jasmine (first name given in the roll call), Harvard and Roth. The tree-voucher memorandum of understanding with the Conservation Foundation similarly passed by roll call; committee members noted the $5,000 grant carries no cost to the county.

Powell said the tree program is a grant-funded effort that the county will administer in partnership with the Conservation Foundation and the Fox Valley Realtors Association and described it as a no-cost program to Kane County. Committee members raised no amendments to either resolution at the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution accepting ComEd Powering Safe Communities Program award, $10,000 (purpose: solar-powered flood-warning sign). Motion moved: Genesis. Second: Tarver. Roll-call: affirmative votes recorded from multiple members present; outcome: approved.

- Resolution authorizing memorandum of understanding between Kane County and The Conservation Foundation for "New Trees for New Homeowners," $5,000 (Nikor charitable giving grant). Motion moved: not specified. Second: Deborah Allen (recorded as second in transcript). Roll-call: affirmative votes recorded from members present; outcome: approved.

Both grants were presented as fully funded external awards and not requiring county capital outlay.