LaSalle County facilities staff reported several maintenance projects and a non-injury alarm event at the downtown courthouse during the April 25 meeting.

Why it matters: courthouse and jail systems affect public access and safety; facilities upgrades can reduce long-term maintenance costs and improve operations for staff and visitors.

Facilities staff said a smoke detector on the courthouse fourth floor activated around 4:45 a.m. on Wednesday, prompting an alarm and temporary clearing of the building. Staff member Bob and a colleague entered the building, identified the faulty detector on the fourth floor, replaced it and silenced the alarms; they also checked building doors and systems before leaving.

Bob described multiple projects at county facilities: final parts for a fence motor have arrived and installation should be completed pending a punch-list walk-through; two vendors inspected windows in a trial area and will submit quotes for replacement; and planned masonry work and flashing around the government complex are part of the resolution approved by the board.

At the jail, facilities staff said contractors poured a new handicap ramp and crews installed insulated rubber tubing beneath the concrete to allow future winter heating. Staff described reconnecting old piping during excavation and testing the system’s circulation. Facilities staff also reported the jail’s old hot-water tank was removed and replaced with a new high-efficiency unit; the smaller ductwork required for the new boiler was noted as a reason the replacement improved efficiency.

Staff said two new heaters were installed in the sally port because replacement parts for the originals were no longer manufactured. Facilities staff also reported power-washing sewer drains, completing masonry work near the jail entrance and continuing roof work on the jail and training building, including plans to reinstall lightning protection before final manufacturer walk-throughs.

Information-technology relocation work was described as about 90% complete: flooring remains and a large rack still needs removal pending IT rewiring to the new location. A downtown generator item was deferred for site review at the May 9 downtown meeting.

Facilities staff answered questions from board members about the useful life of new heat-exchanger components (reported to be about 25 years) and confirmed the new hot-water tank had been installed in the jail area. Staff noted some installations are turned on seasonally (for example, ramp heating is activated in winter), while other equipment is controlled via photo sensors or manual switches.

Staff said they expect the fence motor punch list and final inspections for several projects to conclude within about a week.