A county official told commissioners that he has assumed oversight of the Stephenson County coroner's office and described recent steps to address equipment and communication shortfalls.

The official said he met with the coroner's deputies and office manager and reviewed the office budget and needs. For October, he reported three autopsies and 52 total deaths: two were suicides, three causes were pending and 47 were natural.

To address operational problems, the county obtained two functioning cots that fit the coroner's transport truck, repurposed six evidence cameras from the sheriff's office after the sheriff's office adopted new body cameras, and supplied two handheld radios plus a truck radio for deputies. The official said the coroner's office previously relied on cell phones and that radios had not been standard in prior administrations.

The county official said he would continue to oversee improvements and report back to the commission. "I'll be watching over this office for months to come and however long this takes," he said.

No formal budget request or ordinance related to the coroner's office was presented or voted on at the meeting.