Lake County Law and Judicial Committee Meeting - June 25, 2026

[This is a meeting of the Lake County Law and Judicial Committee. The committee considered several consent agenda items and approved multiple intergovernmental agreements for police services, grants for juvenile justice and wrongful conviction reduction, a gun violence prevention grant, and a budget adjustment for the children's waiting room. All agenda items were approved unanimously. The meeting date is noted as June 25, 2026 per official records, though the transcript indicates Tuesday, January 6, 2026, creating a discrepancy that is noted for accuracy.]

Consent Calendar

• Minutes 8183 – Minutes from the previous meeting were approved unanimously (Motion by Member Peterson, second by Member Kenisha).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• Intergovernmental Agreement for Police Services – Lake Barrington and North Barrington (Item 8.4): A resolution authorizing a contract among the villages of Lake Barrington and North Barrington, Lake County, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028, with an estimated annual cost of $1,156,970.89. Jim from the Sheriff’s Office presented this as a renewal contract reviewed by the State’s Attorney, finance, and risk management. Approved unanimously.
• Intergovernmental Agreement for Police Services – Beach Park (Item 8.5): A similar resolution for the Village of Beach Park covering the same period with an estimated annual amount of $771,313.93. Presented as a renewal contract. Approved unanimously.
• Juvenile Justice Council Grant (Item 8.6): A joint resolution accepting a $80,000 grant from the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission through IDHS to enhance the Lake County Juvenile Justice Council administered by the State’s Attorney’s Office. Joe Gravitter (Chief Deputy, Administrative Services) explained the grant funds printed materials, a part-time JJC coordinator, a racial/ethnic disparity reduction coordinator, and national speakers for the annual JJC conference. Approved unanimously.
• Wrongful Conviction Reduction Grant (Item 8.7): A joint resolution accepting a grant modification of $245,370 (as inferred from the transcript) from the Bureau of Justice Assistance via the Illinois Innocence Project, with the State’s Attorney’s Office as subgrantee. The funds support the conviction integrity unit director, a contractual investigator, a paralegal, and software to reduce wrongful convictions. Approved unanimously.
• Gun Violence Prevention Initiative Grant (Item 8.8): A joint resolution accepting a $1.5 million grant from IDHS for the State’s Attorney’s Office gun violence prevention initiative, funding five staff positions, a subaward to Waukegan Township for Peacemaker services, a contract therapist, a youth coordinator, and community outreach. In response to questions, Steve Spagnola reported 13 Peacemakers currently on staff, with plans to reach 15. Member Dan inquired whether this was the anticipated funding, which was confirmed. Approved unanimously.
• Children’s Waiting Room Budget Adjustment (Item 8.9): A joint resolution from the 19th Judicial Circuit Court authorizing an emergency appropriation of $8,200 from fund balance to cover FY2025 benefit expenses exceeding the original budget. CFO Regina Tuzak explained the increase was due to filling a vacant position and an employee opting back into benefits. A scrivener’s error on the account number (should be 74080 instead of 74010) was noted. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• All consent and regular agenda items were passed unanimously by the committee (members present: Chair Cunningham, Dan Forrest, Kenny Zach, Kyle, Peterson; absent: Altenberg, Roberts).
• No county administrator report or executive session was conducted.
• The next meeting was announced as January 27, 2026 at the same time (per the transcript; date consistent with the transcript's date of January 6, 2026).
• Meeting was adjourned.

(Note: The transcript begins with “Tuesday January the 6th, 2026,” creating a date discrepancy with the provided meeting date of June 25, 2026. This summary follows the instruction to use the latter date, but includes this note for accuracy.)