Ken Shepro News Today

Campton Hills newly minted zoning ordinance has come under fire again, this time with a legal opinion from Kenneth Shepro, a local attorney known for his expertise in local government.

Democrats appear to have gained a bigger majority on the Kane County Board.

Twenty of 24 Kane County Board races are contested as voters elect a new county board. The new board will have to deal with county finances as the county figures out how to deal with the SAFE-T Act, aging buildings and how to retain valued employees.

Kane County Board members have been trying to avoid putting a budget in place before the November election because it will force them to weigh in on a property tax increase, which many feel is needed but will be unpopular with voters.

Kane County Republicans outmaneuvered Democrats on the county board this week to kill a plan that could have created a new county sales tax. The money would have funded state-mandated justice reforms. Its unclear where that money will come from now.

Kane County voters decided primary races in seven Kane County Board districts, setting the stage for the November election where 18 of the 24 districts will have contested races.

Two Kane County Board seats may be up for grabs after Tuesdays primary results.

Voters in four Kane County board districts have choices to make in Republican primary.

Kane County Board members voted against giving themselves raises, but they did vote to keep the health insurance benefits they receive despite being part-time employees. In a related move, the sheriff, clerk and treasurer will all receive raises and a cost-of-living pay increase each of the next four fiscal years.

The number of new COVID-19 cases in Kane County is rising as the BA.2 variant becomes more common. But the number of people ending up in the hospital is falling.