New vetting process will test need for new Kane Co. morgue
Kane County Coroner Rob Russell's quest to build a new morgue isn't dead yet.
Russell said Wednesday he will make the case for a new morgue to as many county board committees as necessary to get the facility built.
His remarks came as the county board's finance committee approved a new process for considering major capital building projects. The format is a stark contrast from the last time the board prioritized projects in 2011.
That year, board members hosted a four-hour meeting where they put priority stickers next to a list of projects placed on board. At the top of the list was construction of a new judicial center parking garage. That project still hasn't been completed.
No. 13 on that list was a new morgue.
Russell said it needs to be a higher priority.
"It should be in the five-year plan right now," he said. "The construction should begin in no more than a couple years. The sheriff got a new building (shooting range). The state's attorney got a new building. The circuit clerk got a new building. Even the treasurer and clerk's offices were remodeled.
"Everyone else has gotten what they need; now it's time for the coroner to get what we need."
There are multiple hurdles involved with the new vetting process. First, Russell must submit a request to the judicial and public safety committee justifying the need.
If the committee supports the idea, then the judicial/public safety strategic planning & technology commission would determine if it fits into the county's overall strategic plan.
If the commission agrees, an official cost estimate would be calculated. Russell has estimated construction to be about $1 million.
Then the county finance department must figure out a way to pay for the new morgue while officials rank the priority of the morgue against competing needs. The 2011 top priority of a judicial center expansion, including a new parking garage, had an estimated cost of $100 million at the time.
Two committees and the full county board would then vote on any changes to the overall strategic plan. Any attempt to move a new morgue to the top of the list would likely see push back from county board Chairman Chris Lauzen. He recently told Russell in a public meeting he doesn't see a new morgue even coming under consideration until three to five years from now.
Russell said the new morgue must be completed by 2019.
"If we're not moving into a new building in the next five years, I don't know that this building will make it," Russell said. "I'm not saying the bricks are going to fall over, but we're already putting Band-Aids on the building. I can't promise we won't have major problems with the building in the next few years."