LaSalle County property committee members discussed a proposed diesel generator for the downtown courthouse at their March 28 meeting, hearing staff estimates that the equipment and site work would cost about $450,000 and could take more than a year to arrive.

Kurt, a county staff member who presented the update, told the committee the project’s "current cost estimated with the generator manufacturers was $450,000," including a custom level‑4 sound enclosure chosen to reduce noise for nearby apartments and businesses. He said generators with that enclosure were reported to have a "13 month" lead time from shop‑drawing approval.

The cost estimate assumes relocating Ameren electrical equipment at Ameren’s expense and installing a concrete pad, transfer switch and diesel tank. Kurt described the largest generator and clearance plan the committee used for layout: "the largest of the 3 was with this level 4 soundproof enclosure is 20 feet long, 8 feet wide by 8 and a half feet tall," with required clearances expanding the fenced footprint to roughly 20 by 32 feet in the county’s sketches.

Committee members pressed staff on logistics and timing. Gary Small, a committee member, and others noted the 13‑month lead time likely crosses into the next fiscal year; Kurt acknowledged that if that lead time holds "it'd be 13 months before it arrives" and that the county could seek updated lead times from the other two manufacturers named in the project manual.

Kurt said the project's electrical engineer expects a long useful life for a properly maintained diesel generator: "they expect a useful life with proper maintenance is 40 plus years," though manufacturing representatives often cite 20–25 years.

Committee members also discussed coordination with Ameren, which would relocate transformers and other equipment and would perform work on weekends to limit courthouse downtime. Doug, a committee member, summarized the coordination: the county would prepare its portion and Ameren would perform its transfers when both were ready so hookups could occur together.

The committee discussed alternatives. Kurt reviewed past analysis of natural gas versus diesel, saying when a generator is derated for natural gas "it turned out it was larger" and that prior county projects favored diesel because of footprint and performance considerations. The committee did not adopt any motion on the generator at the meeting.

Staff said they would continue seeking updated lead times from the other manufacturers named in the project manual (Caterpillar, Cummins Power and Kohler Power Systems) and bring further information back to the property committee. A tentative follow‑up meeting with the city mayor was scheduled for the following week to clarify options and timing.

No formal vote or award was taken on the generator at the March 28 meeting; the item remained under discussion for future meetings.