By Mavis Bates, Kane County Board member, District 4
Aurora, Ill.
The year 2021 was difficult for all of us, and yet on the Kane County Board we still have some big accomplishments to celebrate. Here are just some of the gains that we made in 2021, and part of the progress that we are seeing with our new leadership. Many people contributed to these wins, and I hope as you see yourself and your own work in this list you will be inspired to keep working this year to continue building our community and keep making Kane County an even better place to live, work, and play. Here’s our list of 21 accomplishments for 2021:
• The Kane County Board approved eight acres of solar panels which will save the County more than $5,000,000 over 25 years, with prevailing wage for our workers.
• The solar panels will help save the planet by keeping the equivalent of 6,000,000 miles driven by cars worth of pollution out of the atmosphere
• We are talking about solar training for jail inmates during construction of the solar panels.
• I called all of the Kane County Board members to ask them what non-profit organizations they would most like to be given money from the American Rescue Plan funds, helping to create a $4,000,000 fund for our local non-profits.
• Created an equitable new map for the Countywith eight minority districts to ensure fair elections.
• I recommended funding for 211 community help line system.
• With many calls, the Orchard Road sound barrier wall is now in the transportation budget.
• As the chair of the Energy and Environmental committee, my team opened a new recycling center in Aurora.
• Our team created a new electric aggregation program, including green energy and meeting EPA standards, with savings for customers.
• I helped to increase funding for AID (Association for Individual Development), from the Riverboat Fund.
• To help landlords and tenants prevent evictions, I sent out a press release about the federal rental assistance program.
• We are laying the groundwork to pass a Responsible Bidder Ordinance.
• Increase electrical vehicle chargers in Kane County, hopefully funded with the Federal Infrastructure Bill.
• I worked with local food pantries, mental health associations, and homeless shelters to make sure they know when and how to apply for American Rescue Plan Funding.
• I recommended funding for new, more transparent, election machines, to keep our elections safe and honest.
• We passed our new Green Building policy for all of our County Buildings.
• We are planning to adopt the new Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus Climate Action Plan for Kane County.
• Created an effort to control the application of Dicamba and Roundup 2-4D to protect our trees and other plants.
• Starting a movement toward food scrap composting in Kane County.
• Initiating water projects through ARP funding, including a sustainable water plan for the future of Kane County.
• Laying plans for energy efficiency audit with ComEd.