County reports courthouse repairs, asbestos abatement and windows grant submission; contractors and material-price volatility noted

Facilities staff reported several ongoing maintenance and capital projects at the downtown courthouse and governmental center during the LaSalle County Property Committee meeting on Feb. 8, and said county staff submitted project information to NCICG for potential grant funding.

Bob (facilities) described a leaking hot-water galvanized pipe in the courthouse basement and said asbestos insulation will be removed before pipe replacement. He said the asbestos abatement will cost about $2,600. “It's a hot water line down in the basement... I already signed the paperwork, it's gonna cost me $2,600 to remove all the asbestos,” Bob said. He described a mix of old galvanized and copper piping and said the complexity requires a specialist to access and replace piping in confined crawl spaces.

Bob also provided progress updates: ceiling tiles and electrical penetrations have been addressed after wiring work; a new air-conditioning unit and controls for the jail’s computer room have been installed; roof replacement appears to have stopped leaks; and fence work and gate interconnects are near completion with a security contractor (SAS) scheduled to finish interconnect work in early March.

Grant work and windows: staff said they prioritized two projects for an NCICG grant search: lintel/window replacement at the governmental center and masonry stabilization at the downtown courthouse. Staff submitted the project information to NCICG for potential grant opportunities and will await responses. “We got that information submitted,” a facilities speaker said; later he clarified the submission went to NCICG for grant-finding assistance.

Price volatility: Kurt (facilities/project staff) reported sudden price increases for aluminum storefront/window systems that affect several projects, noting recent notices of 26% and two 13% price jumps attributed to tariffs and raw-material sourcing. “Our estimates are kind of up in the air right now,” he said, advising the committee that bids and estimates will require close monitoring and coordination with procurement timelines.

Other work: Bob said the downtown courthouse kitchenette will receive new commercial cabinets and countertops, several offices and judge’s chambers are being cleaned and painted, and lightning protection work remains scheduled for spring. He said the interconnects for gates are pending a March contractor visit and that fencing and a concrete slab for a basement area are in progress.

Why it matters: the work addresses public-safety and building-safety issues (asbestos removal, electrical upgrades, jail cooling), preserves county assets (masonry stabilization), and may be eligible for outside grant funding, but staff warned that fluctuating material costs could affect bid timing and project budgets.

Next steps: staff will coordinate asbestos abatement and pipe replacement, complete remaining electrical and interconnect work with contracted vendors, monitor pricing and bid timelines for window and masonry work, and report back as grant opportunities or procurement decisions develop.