LaSalle County reports cybersecurity monitoring, office renovation timeline and new scanner purchase

LaSalle County's IT and Central Services staff reported on January operations, cyber-intrusion monitoring and an ongoing office renovation during the IT and Central Services committee meeting on Feb. 20, 2025, where members approved routine minutes, departmental reports and bills.

The reports provide a snapshot of central operations and near-term infrastructure work that county departments say is needed to relocate equipment and secure networks. Committee members moved to place the reports on file and to pay routine bills during the session.

Tracy Hartaric, director of Central Services, presented monthly output and expense figures, including microfilm counts and scanned images for January. Hartaric told the committee the department recorded 40,921 microfilm documents and 64,528 scanned images. She said the countywide copy-machine total for the month was 64,407 copies and that Central Services had purchased three digital printers (recorded as $96,045 on the report). Hartaric also reported routine reimbursements and postage expenditures and said January produced a small net savings. "The 4¢ savings is the metered mail savings because we have a meter in Central Services, so we save 4¢ on each stamp," Hartaric said. She also explained a per-item saving for using e-certified mail, saying, "the savings on the certified is a dollar 48." Hartaric told the committee she purchased one new scanner for Central Services, at a cost of $4,995.

John Hague, IT director, summarized technical operations and security activity. Hague said the IT ticket system logged 678 tickets in January. He reported a new field in the ticket report that tracks monthly infosec training: roughly 33% of employees had started the training and about 32% had completed it. On intrusion monitoring Hague said federal scans against county systems are routine and variable in volume. "Some months we see 4,000. Some months we see 80,000," he said, and added that those attempts are being blocked. "This is how many have tried to get in and we've stopped everyone," Hague said.

Hague reviewed ongoing infrastructure projects that affect county services. He said staff are coordinating a multi-office renovation that includes the sheriff's office and the public defender's office and that the IT group is relocating equipment to a temporary basement space. Hague gave a tentative arrival date of March 10 for new server racks but cautioned that the date is "soft" because parts are being shipped from overseas. He said a fence contractor is slated to begin work in the basement equipment area on the 17th or 18th of the month to secure server racks and that final IFiber contract proceeds are not expected until June or July.

Hague also said the county recently installed new HR reporting software with CIC and that the IT staff have been coordinating cabling and electrical work to support relocated equipment. He described the move as disruptive but necessary: staff have dismantled and moved furniture to allow contractors access to walls and floors during renovation. Hague invited committee members to inspect the temporary space if they wished.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve previous meeting minutes: mover Tina Bush; second Bridal Dose; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Motion to accept Tracy Hartaric's Central Services report and place it on file: mover Nancy Urich; second Bridal Dose; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Motion to pay Central Supply bills: mover Tina Bush; second Kindra Pottinger; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Motion to place the IT report on file: mover Tina Bush; second Bridal Dose; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Motion to pay IT-related bills: mover Kindra Pottinger; second Nancy Urich; outcome: approved (voice vote).

The committee adjourned after approving the routine motions. Staff noted the renovation and equipment timelines will continue to drive short-term project work and that the IT office will remain in temporary locations until equipment racks arrive and installations complete.