Facilities committee hears ARPA capital-projects update, jail roof work to start

Champaign County Board Facilities Committee members received an update on county capital projects funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars and other budgets during their September meeting, with the Pope Jail roof replacement slated to begin within days and other maintenance and renovation work either underway or in planning.

The update matters because the projects touch multiple county facilities and budgets and will affect operations this fall and winter. Committee members pressed staff for clearer budget-to-actual numbers and asked for follow-up briefings on costs and major upcoming procurements.

Michelle, a county facilities staff member, told the committee she had circulated “the same spreadsheet from before I just added” columns showing amounts paid, billed and estimated to improve budget transparency. She reported that contractor meetings are complete and “the Pope Jail roof work starts, I think next week,” and that the contractor has met with jail staff to plan around the security and operational constraints of a working detention facility.

Michelle said the roof contract will include foundation joint repair and that jail-side smaller projects — including a new grease trap and replacement of a walk-in cooler floor — are scheduled once parts arrive. She cautioned that the roof work will be disruptive: “It’s gonna be pretty disruptive. There will be a couple of days … they’re going to have to close down the kitchen,” and the jail will need waivers because normal meal-service requirements could be affected.

The committee heard updates on other ARPA and capital items. At the courthouse, staff reported continued problems with the boiler system, including a newly discovered leak while the county awaits delivery of an ordered replacement boiler. For the juvenile detention center (JDC), the architect is preparing plans and is evaluating whether full stainless-steel window-sill replacement is necessary or whether flashing and seal work will suffice; staff said avoiding full replacement would “dramatically reduce the cost of that project.”

Staff also described other project statuses: drywalled lobby glass at Bennett instead of replacing bulletproof glass to reduce cost; removal of the courthouse fountain to create a dumpster pad and a few parking spaces; a pending energy audit by Alpha Controls tied to a larger building-automation-controls project intended to reduce energy use; and plans to replace the courthouse door-access system. Larger winter projects — nursing-home demolition and coordinated installation of air-handling units at the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration (ILEA) — were noted as linked and therefore requiring coordinated scheduling and contractor coordination.

Committee members asked about available ARPA/budgeted funds and whether planned projects without movement would have funding. Michelle said she had not started the stalled projects because she did not expect available funds this year and that the committee would have a clearer picture by year-end after the largest project, the jail roof, is complete. When asked for the ARPA budget target, staff and members referenced a figure of $3,000,000 as the working target for that category.

Members asked for contractor labor breakdowns and monthly reporting once work begins on the jail roof; Michelle said the county has an approved Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for the job and will complete remaining signatures with the East Central Illinois Building Trades before work starts. The committee did not schedule votes or approvals at this meeting and did not direct immediate contract changes; members asked staff to return with more detailed budget-to-actual reporting and to coordinate timing of the winter roof and air-handler work.

The committee also discussed sequencing of projects and coordination among architects and contractors to reduce cost and construction impacts. No formal action was taken at this agenda item; staff described the item as an information update and answered clarifying questions from committee members.

Less-urgent items mentioned included deferred work on the Metcalfe roof, paused garage-skin work, and coroner office workspace projects that staff plan to complete during winter months when contractor load is lighter. Staff said they will return with updated cost reporting and, if requested by the committee, can invite the jail contractor to present monthly labor and progress reports.

Committee members asked for follow-up details such as exact remaining life estimates for major systems and a clearer listing of what would go into a capital “nest egg” or reserve for large, unexpected building repairs. Michelle said the county’s 11-year capital plan contains much of that information and that she will coordinate with finance to present updated figures and a concise summary for the full board and committee.