Lake County judges, court staff press commissioners for urgent heating fixes, backup hearing space

District court Judge Kathy told the Lake County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 23 that a recurring lack of heat in the courthouse is affecting courtroom operations and forcing consideration of canceling court until conditions are safe.

"We are very seriously talking about canceling court, because it's not an okay working environment," Judge Kathy said, describing jury deliberation-room temperatures she said measured about 35 degrees. She asked county staff and commissioners to prioritize short-term fixes and to identify alternate hearing sites while long-term renovations proceed.

The judge said staff will meet with county facilities staff in the next 12 to 24 hours to restore heat and that Michael (facilities staff member) would walk judges and court staff through temporary measures. Facilities staff and commissioners described using space heaters in the interim, moving portable heaters used in other county facilities, and replacing a failing heat exchanger unit that was ordered on rush but noted as several weeks out.

Commissioner Andrew Lee said temporary measures such as handing out blankets were not acceptable. "Handing out stars and blankets as people walk in is not an acceptable solution," Lee said.

Court staff and judges emphasized the need for a formal backup location for court proceedings during renovations. Judge Kathy asked the board to plan where civil and criminal matters could be held if the courthouse is unusable, naming municipal council chambers and other public facilities as possibilities but noting technical and logistical limits such as recording needs, defender presence and accessibility.

County staff said an architect and program manager will be on site next Friday to begin planning renovation logistics with the judicial branch, including where court operations could relocate during construction. Commissioners and judicial leaders also raised concerns about not using funds earmarked for long-term courthouse renovation to pay for temporary fixes.

Facilities staff described specific mechanical problems: a leaking heat exchanger that requires a replacement slide-in unit ordered on expedited delivery (staff said the unit had an "eight-week" lead time when ordered), disconnected radiator piping in some jury rooms, and patch repairs that had been deferred by prior maintenance staff. Staff proposed rotating portable heaters and targeted radiator repairs as short-term steps while the new exchanger and more permanent repairs proceed.

Judges and court managers said the county must balance rapid temporary fixes with preserving the long-term renovation funding so that one-time funds intended for capital work are not spent on stopgap measures.

Commissioners said they will convene with the architect and court leadership, and staff said Michael would provide status updates to the chief judge. The board scheduled the kickoff meeting that includes the district's chief judge and the court executive to map a timeline, workspace needs and relocation options during renovation.