Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Criminal Justice Committee met March 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present 

Mr. Hess, Mr. Liehr, Mr. Snipes, Ms. Parker, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Kenneth Smith, Mr. Swanson, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Kerkstra and Mr. Wheeler

Members Absent 

Mr. Long, Ms. Peters, Mr. Gowler, Mr. Sirois and Mr. Collins

In Attendance 

• Board Members 

• Department Heads 

John Coghlan, Jim Rowe, Anita Speckman, Judge Cunnington, Ed Pentuic, Chad Gessner, Tom Latham, Eric Cavender, Bob Gessner, Sandi Cianci

Media 

None

Call to Order 

The meeting was called to order by the Committee Chairman, Mr. Hess at 7:30 a.m.

Public Comment 

None

Approval of Minutes: February 9, 2022 

Mr. Swanson made a motion to approve and Ms. Parker seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. 

Judicial – Chief Judge Thomas Cunnington 

Judge Cunnington updated the committee courts, including a technology grant of over $500,000.

Circuit Clerk’s Office - Sandi Cianci 

• Monthly Report 

Ms. Cianci provided the committee with reports, there were no questions or comments.

Mr. Ekhoff made a motion to approve the report, and Mr. Kerkstra seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. 

• ARPA Request – Document Shredding 

Ms. Cianci spoke of the need for document shredding. Mr. Wheeler advised that this is included in the basement project and will update the previous approval.

State’s Attorney’s Office – Jim Rowe 

John Coghlan was present to review the report.

• Grand Jury Report 

• Grand Jury Statistics Report 

Mr. Liehr made a motion to combine and approve the reports and Mr. Carrico seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. 

Public Defender’s Office – Ed Pentuic 

• Monthly Report 

Mr. Pentuic reviewed the report with the committee.

Mr. Kerkstra made a motion to approve, and Mr. Hunter seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. 

Probation – Tom Latham 

• Monthly Report 

Mr. Latham reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

Mr. Fairfield made a motion to approve, and Mr. Kerkstra seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. 

Mr. Latham updated the committee regarding Juvenile Detention. Discussion were held.

Sheriff/EMA Department – Sheriff Mike Downey 

Chad Gessner was present to review the reports with the committee.

• Monthly Report

Sheriff reviewed the report with the committee. Discussions were held. Mr. Ekhoff made a motion to approve, and Mr. Liehr seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote 

Mr. Gessner spoke about programs that are offered within the jail. Discussions were held.

• Animal Control Update

Mr. Gessner provided the committee with an update of Animal Control. There were no questions from the committee.

Mr. Gessner stated that there was still a PT tech position open within Animal Control.

Coroner’s Office – Bob Gessner 

• Monthly Reports 

• Monthly Receipts of Money

Mr. Gessner was present and reviewed the reports with the committee.

Mr. Carrico made a motion to combine and approve, and Mr. Ekhoff seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. 

Mr. Gessner updated the committee on drug overdoses in the area. Discussions were held.

• Declare 2005 Equipment as Surplus

Mr. Gessner reviewed the items with the committee.

Mr. Fairfield made a motion to approve, and Mr. Swanson seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. 

11. Old Business/New Business 

 None

12. Adjournment 

Mr. Kerkstra made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:17 a.m., and Mr. Snipes seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. 

https://www.k3county.net/files/committees/criminal_justice_3922.pdf