Can money saved mean jobs kept for Kane County?

In an attempt to rescue 25 jobs at the Kane County Health Department from budget cuts, the Democratic candidate for county board chairman proposed Monday using surplus money from the construction of the new jail.

"The board chairman claims the new jail was 'on-time and under budget' by $2 million dollars, which she said was returned to the county," Sandy Kaczmarski said in a written statement. "I am calling on her to commit to spend this unexpected windfall to save these jobs and preserve critical health services for the people of Kane County."

The County Board and incumbent Chairman Karen McConnaughay are set to meet Tuesday for the first time since the health department announced layoffs to plug a $1.4 million budget hole.

McConnaughay is expected to amend her call for a hiring freeze allowing an exception for sworn law enforcement officers and some personnel in the Kane County State's Attorney's office.

But using the $2 million surplus to save health department jobs isn't an option, she said, because legal restrictions limit the funds to jail-related expenses.

"We can't just take that money and spend it however we want," she said. "It cannot be used to fund salaries and certainly not in another department altogether."

McConnaughay said she's already had discussions with the sheriff's department about how to best use the $2 million.

Also on tap for Tuesday's board meeting is a revision to the county's resolution about the pending sale of the EJ&E railroad to Canadian National.

McConnaughay said one key change will be the removal of the phrase "in support of" from the title of the resolution. The change emphasizes the county's concerns about a lack of funding for under and overpasses many local leaders believe will be necessary to route car traffic around increased freight train congestion.