LaSalle County coroner asks committee to finish fence, install automated gate and add awning; property committee forwards the projects to finance

LaSalle County Coroner Rich Plock told the property committee on March 13 that he wants three projects completed at the county forensic center: finish the existing fence along the north side of the site, install an automated security gate for the rear receiving area, and add a small awning over the back receiving door to shelter decedent transfers.

"We're bringing decedents in and out of our building," Plock said, noting a recent school bus and commercial trucks had entered the lot, and that the site lacks a sally port or garage. He told the committee the three projects together should not exceed $40,000 based on preliminary estimates and said the county highway department may be able to do preparatory work as it proceeds with the planned parking-lot project.

Committee members pressed Plock on how the work would be paid for and whether the pieces should be budgeted for the next fiscal year. "If it's not budgeted in public safety," Don Johnson said, "how else are we gonna pay for it?" Several members emphasized the need to follow procurement rules if the total exceeds the county's $30,000 threshold.

Architect Kurt Rimley and Plock described the permitting and procurement picture: the City of Oglesby had preliminarily approved Plock's drawings and plot survey, but final contractor selection would need to be an approved city contractor and, depending on the final price, could require a formal bid process to ensure apples-to-apples comparisons. Kurt Rimley said the $30,000 threshold triggers a formal bid process but that, historically, smaller maintenance projects have been handled by collecting competitive quotes.

On a motion to forward the coroner proposals to the finance committee for funding discussion (and to authorize Plock to continue collecting contractor proposals), the property committee approved the referral in a roll-call vote. The committee recorded four votes in favor and one opposed; the motion passed. Plock said he would send committee members the drawings and bring the additional quotes back to the next property meeting or to finance as required.

Next steps: Plock will obtain at least two more bids, email the committee the project drawings and coordinate permit steps with Oglesby. The item will be considered by the finance committee for funding and by property staff for procurement compliance.