County administrator: abandoned gas well found at jail site; juvenile court parking work moved forward

The county administrator reported that construction on the new sheriff’s office encountered an old natural gas well associated with an elevator shaft. The county obtained an expedited permit from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in roughly five and a half working days and crews have started the process of abandoning and filling the well, the administrator said.

Gilbane and its contractors have adjusted sequencing to make up lost time on the project, the administrator said, and other elements of the project continue: elevator shaft work and stairwells are progressing and crews are on site.

The administrator also said planned parking improvements for the Lake County Juvenile Court – originally slated for the end of the construction schedule – have been moved to the beginning and will start next Monday. The vast majority of juvenile court parking will be closed during the work, which the administrator estimated will take about six to eight weeks to fully redo both lower and upper parking areas.

Public parking will be available on the upper lot across the street from the main courthouse lot, and the administrator said a large sign will be placed on the construction fence directing the public to additional parking at the old Chicago Title Building. The administrator said employees have been informed of their parking locations.