LaSalle County property committee members discussed whether to change the timing and workflow for opening county property bids to reduce procurement lead times and reviewed a proposed wayfinding and window-graphic signage package for courthouse entrances.

Committee members and staff said the current practice—opening bids at the first property meeting of the month and scheduling a formal recommendation for the full board the following month—can add about six weeks to procurement cycles. Kurt (staff member) and other committee members said some projects with long lead times would benefit from flexibility in opening and reviewing bids so approvals can align with material delivery windows.

“Sometimes make an exception and open them at the second [meeting] of the month and make a full recommendation to the full board in that two-week period instead of losing that whole amount of time,” Kurt said when explaining the change staff seeks. Committee discussion agreed that streamlining could be handled on a case‑by‑case basis and that state’s attorney review and architect verification remain part of the process.

Separately, staff presented a signage design for clearer wayfinding at the governmental center and criminal justice center entrances. The vendor proposed vinyl lettering across entry beams and one-way-permeable window graphics that display building names and departmental information from the parking lot while preserving sight lines from inside. The estimated total for the three entrances was cited in discussion as about $303,600.

Why it matters: faster bid handling could shorten procurement timelines for projects that have long material lead times (security glazing, electrical work, treasurer’s office remodel). Clearer signage aims to reduce visitor confusion and improve accessibility for people arriving at the complex.

Next steps: staff will continue to pursue flexible scheduling for bids where appropriate and will bring signage designs and refined cost estimates back to the committee for budget review. No final contract awards or changes to procurement policy were approved at the meeting.