Coroner building omitted from county capital plan

GENEVA Kane County Coroner Rob Russell who has spent his first term advocating for new facilities said he is disappointed a new building isnt among the 98 projects included in the countys five-year capital improvement plan.

I dont understand how anybody could think that this office is not in need of a new facility, he said. Im very concerned about the possibility of ADA or OSHA violations in this building.

Kane County Board members received a copy of the capital improvement recommendations at Tuesdays Committee of the Whole meeting, where staff stressed the plan is fluid.

The list includes additions at the judicial center, HVAC controls upgrades, boiler replacements, carpet replacements, vehicle replacements and sidewalk repairs.

While the coroners office has $76,000 allocated this year for a new walk-in refrigerator and new morgue freezer, it is absent from the improvements eyed for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Board member Phil Lewis, R-St. Charles, said the coroners office is in desperate need of a new building, and he would like to see it on the list.

Board Chairman Chris Lauzen said Wednesday he expects the coroner building, as well as other projects, will be added to the capital improvement plan a comment that Russell said is encouraging.

The coroner noted how other county offices, such as the sheriff, have gained new facilities.

I dont understand how [the coroners office] cannot be part of the conversation considering I have news articles from more than 20 years ago stating the building is inadequate, Russell said.

But Lauzen also placed some of the responsibility on Russell, saying the coroner could take some initiative about what type of facility he would want and how much it could cost.

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Coroner building omitted from county capital plan