Commission authorizes chair to sign DOJ grant application tied to 287(g) participation

County staff and the sheriff asked the Kane County Commission to certify a Department of Justice grant application linked to the county’s 287(g) participation. Alan Aldridge, who presented the grant paperwork, described it as a 100% grant opportunity to fund upgrades the county needs at the jail — including replacement of aging HVAC/water/environmental systems — and to purchase patrol vehicles and night‑vision gear. Aldridge told the commission the packet includes a CEO/Council signature page required to submit the application.

The sheriff explained the county's participation in the 287(g) program is currently in the warrant‑service officer model: "If we book someone into jail that is illegal, we'd notify ICE that they're in our jail," he said, adding the model formalizes notification and can include limited processing steps to improve transfer efficiency. He distinguished that model from the task‑force model, which the county does not use.

Commissioners discussed authorization mechanics and asked that the chair be allowed to sign the application and, if necessary, the final acceptance paperwork. The commission voted unanimously to permit the chair to sign the application and approved authority for the chair to sign for a grant award up to $800,000 if awarded. No final award was reported at the meeting.

The commission did not vote on acceptance of a specific award amount at the meeting; staff said a later signature may be needed if the grant is awarded and the grant packet requires final acceptance.