On the agenda: Rockford minutes — Data Center (Jul 16)

Winnebago County Board
Operations and Administrative Committee Meeting
County Administration Building
404 Elm Street, Room 303
Rockford, IL 61101
Thursday, July 16, 2026
5:30 PM
Present:
Paul Arena, Chairperson
Valerie Hanserd, Vice Chairperson
John Butitta
Michael Thompson
Ray Thompson (arrived at 5:38 pm)
Christina Valdez
Absent:
Joe Hoffman

Others Present:
Patrick Thompson, County Administrator
Steve Schultz, Chief Financial Officer
Hope Edwards, Director, Purchasing (Staff Liaison)
Lafakeria Reuter, State’s Attorney’s Office
Debbie Crozier, Director, Human Resources
Jennifer Muraski, Coroner, Winnebago County
Todd Marshall, WCHD
Jim Keeler, WCHD
Dan Magers, Chief Information Officer
Shawn Franks, Director, Facilities
Ashlynn Fernandez, WCSO
Carol Hartline, Attorney, Williams McCarthy LLP
Jeff Orduno, Urban Equities
Justin Fern, Urban Equities
Brad Roos, Executive Director, Sustain Rockford
Jeff Bailey, Former Alderman
Matthew Gabel, County Board Member
John Sweeney, County Board Member
Jim Webster, County Board Member

AGENDA:
A. Call to Order
B. Roll Call
C. Approval of Minutes –June 22, 2026
D. Public Comment – This is the time we invite the public to address the Operations and
Administrative Committee with issues and concerns. We ask you to limit your comments
to three minutes. Personal attacks or inappropriate language of any sort will not be tolerated.
We will allow a maximum of five speakers on a first-come basis with sign-up at the meeting.
Speakers may not address zoning matters which are pending before the ZBA, the Zoning
Committee, or the County Board. Personnel matters or pending or threatened litigation may
not be addressed in open session. An individual may speak a maximum of three times per
calendar year on the same topic. This prohibition shall include the repetition of the same
topic in a statement on what is purported to be a different topic. After acknowledgment by
the chair, please stand and state your name. Thank you.
E. Resolution to Appoint Precinct Election Judges
F. Resolution Awarding Purchase of Ferromagnetic Detection Systems for the Winnebago
County Sheriff’s Office Using CIP 2026 Funds
Cost: $35,630

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Resolution Awarding Purchase of One Jail Transport Vehicle for the Winnebago County
Sheriff’s Office Using CIP 2026 Funds
Cost: $82,685
H. Resolution Awarding Exterior Precast and Caulking Repairs to the Public Safety Building
Using Owner Direct Funds
Cost: $232,545
I. Resolution Awarding Email Security Filtering Annual Licensing
J. Resolution Authorizing The County Of Winnebago, Illinois And Ringland-Johnson
Construction To Execute A Change Order To The PSB Project To Modernize The 5th
PSB Elevator Using Contingency And PSB Owner Direct Funding
K. Resolution Submitting to The Electors of The County of Winnebago, Illinois by
Referendum an Advisory Public Question Concerning Restoring Local Zoning Authority
of Commercial Solar Energy Facilities, Data Centers, and Agricultural Land Use
L. Resolution Submitting to The Electors of The County of Winnebago, Illinois by
Referendum an Advisory Public Question Concerning Property Tax Relief
M. Resolution Submitting to The Electors of The County of Winnebago, Illinois by
Referendum an Advisory Public Question Concerning Amending the Redistricting
Process For State Legislative Maps
N. Other Matters
O. Future Agenda Items
P. Adjournment
G.

Chairperson Arena called the meeting to order at 5:31 PM.
Roll Call
Chairperson Paul Arena, yes; Mr. John Butitta, yes; Ms. Valerie Hanserd, yes; Dr. Michael
Thompson, yes; Ms. Christina Valdez, yes.
A quorum is present.
Chairperson Paul Arena advised that Item M., Resolution Submitting to the Electors of the County
of Winnebago, Illinois, by Referendum an Advisory Public Question Concerning Amending the
Redistricting Process for State Legislative Maps, is being removed from the agenda.
Approval of Minutes – June 22, 2026
Chairperson Arena called for a motion to approve the minutes of June 22, 2026.
Motion: Dr. Thompson. Second: Ms. Valdez.
Chairperson Arena called for any discussion.
Chairperson Arena called for a vote to approve the minutes.
The motion was passed by a unanimous voice vote.
Public Comment
Chairperson Arena read the Public Comment Section. Brad Roos, Executive Director of Sustain
Rockford, spoke about a proposed referendum on zoning changes at the state level to enable
public control over the siting of large-scale solar, wind, and data centers. Mr. Roos is available
for any questions specific to the issue.
Mr. Ray Thompson arrived at 5:38 PM.
Resolution to Appoint Precinct Election Judges
Motion: Chairperson Arena. Second: Ms. Hanserd.
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Mr. Patrick Thompson shared information about the resolution.
Chairperson Arena called for any questions.
Chairperson Arena called for a vote to approve the resolution.
The motion to approve the resolution was passed by a unanimous voice vote.
Resolution Awarding Purchase of Ferromagnetic Detection Systems for the Winnebago
County Sheriff’s Office Using CIP 2026 Funds
Cost: $35,630
Motion: Chairperson Arena. Second: Dr. Thompson.
Mr. Patrick Thompson shared information about the resolution.
• A discussion followed.
Chairperson Arena called for any other questions.
Chairperson Arena called for a vote to approve the resolution.
The motion to approve the resolution was passed by a unanimous voice vote.
Resolution Awarding Purchase of One Jail Transport Vehicle for the Winnebago County
Sheriff’s Office Using CIP 2026 Funds
Cost: $82,685
Motion: Chairperson Arena. Second: Dr. Thompson.
Mr. Patrick Thompson shared information about the resolution.
• A discussion followed.
Chairperson Arena called for any other comments or questions.
Chairperson Arena called for a vote to approve the resolution.
The motion to approve the resolution was passed by a unanimous voice vote.
Resolution Awarding Exterior Precast and Caulking Repairs to the Public Safety Building
Using Owner Direct Funds
Cost: $232,545
Motion: Chairperson Arena. Second: Ms. Hanserd.
Mr. Patrick Thompson shared information about the resolution and called for any questions.
• A discussion followed.
Chairperson Arena called for any other comments or questions.
Chairperson Arena called for a vote to approve the resolution.
The motion to approve the resolution was passed by a unanimous voice vote.
Resolution Awarding Email Security Filtering Annual Licensing
Motion: Chairperson Arena. Second: Dr. Thompson.
Mr. Patrick Thompson shared information about the resolution and advised that Dan Magers was
present to answer any questions.
Chairperson Arena called for any questions.
Chairperson Arena called for a vote to approve the resolution.
The motion to approve the resolution was passed by a unanimous voice vote.
Resolution Authorizing The County Of Winnebago, Illinois And Ringland-Johnson
Construction To Execute A Change Order To The PSB Project To Modernize The 5th PSB
Elevator Using Contingency And PSB Owner Direct Funding
Motion: Chairperson Arena. Second: Ms. Valdez.
Mr. Patrick Thompson shared information about the resolution and advised that Shawn Franks
and Hope Edwards were present to answer questions.
• A discussion followed.
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Motion: Ms. Valdez made a motion to amend the resolution in the fifth WHEREAS to read: with
a not to exceed cost of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00). Also, in the paragraph below
the fifth WHEREAS, NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, with a not to exceed cost of two
hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00).
Second: Ms. Hanserd and Mr. Thompson.
Chairperson Arena called for any discussion or questions regarding the amendment to the
resolution.
Chairperson Arena called for a vote to approve the amendment to the resolution.
The motion to approve the amendment to the resolution was passed by a unanimous voice vote.
Chairperson Arena called for any discussion concerning the resolution as amended.
Chairperson Arena called for a vote to approve the resolution as amended.
The motion to approve the resolution as amended was passed by a unanimous voice vote.
Resolution Submitting to The Electors of The County of Winnebago, Illinois by Referendum
an Advisory Public Question Concerning Restoring Local Zoning Authority of Commercial
Solar Energy Facilities, Data Centers, and Agricultural Land Use
Motion: Chairperson Arena. Second: Dr. Thompson.
Chairperson Arena shared information about the resolution and called for comments.
• A discussion followed.
Chairperson Arena called for any other comments or questions.
• A discussion followed.
Chairperson Arena called for a vote to approve the resolution.
The motion to approve the resolution was passed by a unanimous voice vote.
Resolution Submitting to The Electors of The County of Winnebago, Illinois by Referendum
an Advisory Public Question Concerning Property Tax Relief
Motion: Chairperson Arena. Second: Ms. Valdez and Dr. Thompson.
Chairperson Arena discussed the resolution and called for questions or comments.
Motion: Ms. Valdez moved that the resolution be laid over.
Second: Mr. Butitta and Ms. Hanserd.
Chairperson Arena called for a vote to approve the resolution being laid over.
The motion to lay over the resolution was passed by a unanimous voice vote.
Resolution Submitting to The Electors of The County of Winnebago, Illinois by Referendum
an Advisory Public Question Concerning Amending the Redistricting Process For State
Legislative Maps
Chairperson Arena explained that Item M. was removed from the agenda.
Other Matters
No other matters reported.
Future Agenda Items
No future agenda items reported.
Motion to Adjourn
Chairperson Arena called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion: Dr. Thompson. Second: Ms. Valdez.
A unanimous voice vote passed the motion to adjourn.
The meeting was adjourned.

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Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Bleile
Executive Assistant

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