WINNEBAGO COUNTY, Ill. — The Winnebago County Board on Oct. 9 approved a package of operations‑committee measures that the board and staff described as addressing county operations and capital needs, and it confirmed a three‑year appointment to the Winnebago County Rail Authority. The board also laid over a zoning variance for later consideration.

The actions were approved during the board’s regular meeting after the operations committee presented four resolutions. The board approved a contract with Navitus to provide pharmacy benefit management services and a lease for an off‑site elections facility to be used for early voting, equipment storage and training. "I do want to commend Clerk Gommau on the work she did in finding this location," Operations Committee member Mr. Arena said during committee remarks, adding that the site "checks all the boxes for the needs of our election department." The board voted "yes for all members present" on both measures.

The board also awarded an architecture and engineering contract for the juvenile detention center expansion project and approved a separate resolution to replace the detention center’s generator. The generator contract was described to the board as costing $237,489 and will be funded with grant and CIP (capital improvement program) funds; Mr. Arena said, "The dollar amount associated with this is $237,489." The board heard that the state has allocated funds to help the expansion project and that a $150,000 state grant will help support the generator replacement. Mr. Arena asked staff to confirm the grant and requested clarification; a staff member identified as Mr. Chris confirmed the $150,000 state contribution during discussion. The board approved both items by general consent.

In unfinished business the board confirmed a new appointment to the Winnebago County Rail Authority for a three‑year term expiring September 2028; the record states the annual compensation for that appointment is none. The motion to appoint was moved by Mr. Penny and seconded by Mr. Hoffman; the appointment was approved by the board.

On zoning, the board’s zoning committee had one remaining variance item (VO 03/25) that was laid over. The motion to lay the matter over carried with the board instructing that the item remain on the calendar for a future meeting.

Votes at a glance
- Resolution authorizing agreement with Navitus (pharmacy benefit management): moved by Mr. Arena; seconded by Miss Hansard; outcome: approved ("yes for all members present").
- Resolution authorizing lease agreement for an off‑site elections location: moved by Mr. Arena; seconded by Mr. Webster; outcome: approved ("yes for all members present").
- Resolution awarding architecture & engineering contract for juvenile detention center expansion: moved by Mr. Arena; seconded by Mr. Lindmark; outcome: approved ("yes for all members present").
- Resolution awarding replacement generator for juvenile detention center (amount stated as $237,489): moved by Mr. Arena; seconded by Mr. Hoffman; outcome: approved ("yes for all members present"). Funding sources: grant and CIP funds; board discussion noted a $150,000 state grant contribution (confirmed by staff).
- Appointment to Winnebago County Rail Authority (three‑year term, exp. Sept. 2028, annual compensation: none): moved by Mr. Penny; seconded by Mr. Hoffman; outcome: approved ("yes for all members present").
- Zoning variance VO 03/25: committee read into the record and the board voted to lay the item over; outcome: laid over for further consideration.

What the board and staff said
- Mr. Arena (Operations Committee) praised the proposed elections facility as accessible and suitable for early voting, training and storage and commended Clerk Gommau for identifying it.
- Mr. Arena and Mr. Chris confirmed that the juvenile detention expansion has received state allocations to help fund the project; one staff reference to a state grant of $150,000 was made during discussion of the generator replacement.

Context and next steps
Most measures were approved by general consent after committee presentation and brief discussion; the juvenile detention expansion will proceed to design and contract work now that architecture and engineering services have been awarded, subject to the continued availability of state funds. The zoning variance was not decided and will return to a future meeting for further review.

Speakers quoted or identified in this article are named where they appear in the meeting record; votes that the board recorded as "yes for all members present" reflect the board's roll call at the meeting, which the clerk recorded as 17 present at the start of the session.