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Maintenance supervisor reports early heavy snow, equipment repairs and staffing challenges
Summary
Iroquois County maintenance supervisor Chris Drake told the Management Services Committee that crews have cleared more than a foot of snow so far this season, completed safety certifications and repaired a failed heating pump; he flagged aging snow‑removal equipment and a claims line labeled 'Trevipay' for follow‑up.
Iroquois County’s maintenance supervisor, identified at the meeting as Mr. Drake, told the Management Services Committee on Dec. 1 that crews have already handled more than a foot of snow this season and that the county has been busy with safety recertifications and equipment repairs.
"In fact, well, over a foot of snow already this year," Mr. Drake said, summarizing early‑season conditions and the extra demands on staff. He said crews cleared deputies’ and correctional officers’ parking lots over two shifts and spent about five hours on the latest removal operation before returning early the next morning to continue work.
The supervisor listed several recent maintenance actions: twice‑annual certifications for the jail kitchen’s pyrochem suppression system; repairs to a circulating pump and impeller assembly after a bearing failed following a heating conversion; replacement of a failed security camera hard drive in the courthouse basement; and multiple small electrical and electronically controlled plumbing fixes in the jail. He said replacement parts were stocked for seat systems and other recurring needs.
Mr. Drake also noted the recent return of a forklift that enabled the county to offload three metal lockers from Lyon Mills that the sheriff requested for the morgue and for investigative purposes. He said a white truck (1998) and a larger truck (a 2006 Ford F‑250 with about 240,000 miles) remain in service and that crew members are evaluating smaller sidewalk machines used by local schools as a lower‑cost alternative for walkways.
The supervisor flagged equipment fragility and routine maintenance needs. "I had a small part on my snow plow on the truck that I have to find a part to fix it. Nothing major at all," he said, while also warning that major snow events would test the county’s current backup capacity. Committee members noted there is no formal mutual‑aid arrangement in place with neighboring jurisdictions and encouraged further discussion on contingency planning.
Mr. Drake pointed to an unusual claims entry labeled "Trevipay" (variants of the spelling were discussed) that listed a Texas address and several batteries; he said it appeared to be a Walmart purchase and expected the items to be allocated to maintenance and the sheriff’s department. The committee agreed to follow up to identify the vendor and verify proper procurement coding.
The committee did not adopt new policy at the meeting but asked staff to review equipment replacement options and the need for formal mutual‑aid agreements before the next winter surge. The next Management Services Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 5 at 9 a.m.
