Kane County morgue to re-open Tuesday after mold, freezer problems

The Kane County morgue will re-open Tuesday after problems with mold forced the coroner's office to outsource autopsies to DuPage County for about eight months.

The Geneva facility will host an open house after the 9:45 a.m. county board meeting until 11:30 a.m. at 719 S. Batavia Ave., Building E.

Coroner Rob Russell called the mold outbreak, coming after a freezer failure, the "apex" in a "dysfunctional facility." Testing showed the mold was not toxic but needed to be removed because of allergy concerns.

"We have had freezer breakdowns, electrical issues, security issues, heating and cooling issues, as well as many other smaller equipment breakdowns," Russell said in a news release.

The deal with DuPage County contributed to a $123,000 budget deficit in 2014 for the coroner's office. Officials in late January told the Daily Herald of the re-opening.

Russell again called for a new facility despite renovations.

"The size of the facility was not expanded, only the functionality," he said in the release. "Plans need to be made for the next five years. Eventually, we will run out of room if we do not plan for the future."