DuPage to close own youth home, use Kane County's
A proposal to close DuPage County's youth home is moving forward despite warnings from local judges and law enforcement officials that it would be a mistake.
The county board voted 11-7 on Tuesday night to enter into an agreement that would transfer DuPage's youth detainees to the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center, a regional facility in St. Charles.
If the four-year deal is approved by Kane's board, it would give Kane the chance to move its adult work-release inmates to the DuPage County Juvenile Detention Center in Wheaton.
DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin praised the proposed partnership with Kane, which officials estimate could save DuPage at least $800,000 annually.
“Today we have demonstrated that DuPage County is a leader,” Cronin said. “We are showing the taxpayers that we can fulfill our mission in a smarter, more effective and efficient way.
“Kane County offers a very good program,” he added, “and this youth population will be well served.”
But a list of opponents, including two judges and a police chief, told board members before Tuesday night's vote that closing DuPage's youth home would be a mistake.
“It's a 100 percent clear that everybody who does the work says this is a bad idea,” Judge Robert Anderson said. “This is an idea that's going to come back and haunt us for a very long period of time.”
The Wheaton facility needs an additional $400,000 just to stay open because of state budget cuts. At least $630,000 would be needed to hire more detention officers, social workers and nurse positions that previously were eliminated.
Still, Anderson and others say the facility is worth saving because it offers services and programs that make a difference. “If this facility closes, it's a failure of leadership,” he said.
However, supporters of the partnership with Kane say DuPage's youth home has been underused in recent years. The facility, which was designed to house 90 youths, has an average daily population of about 24. With 80 beds, Kane's facility has room for the additional juveniles from DuPage, officials said.
Board member Robert Larsen said the deal with Kane would be a “win-win” for the county.
“This is a demonstration of leadership,” Larsen said. “The easiest thing in the world to do is to just follow the status quo and do what we've done year in and year out and just wait until the ship sinks.”
But board member Jim Zay, who opposed the agreement, said the county shouldn't ignore the law enforcement officials who want DuPage's youth home to stay open.
“We spent $11.4 million to build this facility in 1999, and it's been state of the art,” Zay said. “And now because we don't have a huge population ... we're going to get rid of it? We've got to step up for kids — kids who need our help in this county.”
Closing: Official say change could save county $800,000 annually
How they voted
The following is a breakdown of how DuPage County Board members voted on a proposed agreement to close the county's youth home in Wheaton and transfer detainees to Kane County's facility in St. Charles:
Yes votes: Paul Fichtner, Patrick O'Shea, Jeff Redick, Brien Sheahan, John Curran, Brian Krajewski, Grant Eckhoff, JR McBride, James Healy, John Zediker, Robert Larsen
No votes: Rita Gonzalez, Don Puchalski, Michael McMahon, Debra Olson, Jim Zay, Tony Michelassi, Dirk Enger