Commissioners direct staff to negotiate lease, delay renovation approval for elections office

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 on April 1 to direct staff to negotiate lease terms for a building the Supervisor of Elections has identified as a potential administrative office, while pausing further renovation commitments until lease terms and construction price estimates are clearer.

Commissioners pulled the item from the consent agenda and discussed whether to approve design work now or make any design approvals contingent on signing a lease. Several commissioners said they did not want to pay for architectural design or construction to proceed without knowing the lease start date, triple-net common-area costs and an overall renovation price.

Supervisor of Elections staff and county property managers told the board the current tenant of the building is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy and the landlord estimates a May vacancy date, but that date depends on the bankruptcy court. The county's property manager also said the current tenant pays about $65,000 a year for common-area maintenance, insurance and property taxes — costs that could change under a new lease.

An architect provided a preliminary construction estimate for internal renovations of roughly $150 to $250 per square foot, which the county said would produce a construction-cost range near $2 million to $3 million. County staff also advised that because the site would be leased, infrastructure sales tax revenue could not be used to pay for building renovations.

After discussion, Commissioner Smith moved and Commissioner Sabatini seconded a motion directing staff to negotiate a lease and return with proposed terms; the board approved the motion unanimously 5-0. Commissioners asked staff to return with lease terms, estimated common-area charges and construction-price parameters before the board approved any work beyond design.