Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Coroner Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DuPage committee approves extra coroner headcount after extended questioning
Summary
The DuPage County Judicial and Public Safety Committee voted to add one full‑time deputy coroner after hearing testimony from Coroner Lucas about chronic understaffing, training needs and cremation‑permit delays; several members pressed for performance expectations and data on compliance and turnover.
The DuPage County Judicial and Public Safety Committee voted June 16 to add one full‑time headcount to the coroner’s office, approving resolution FIR‑88‑26 after extended discussion about staffing levels, turnover and cremation‑permit processing times.
Coroner Lucas, appearing online, told the committee the office has been chronically short‑staffed for years and has relied on phone‑based screenings rather than on‑scene investigations in many cases. "We are investigating the deaths but our investigation is not thorough — we need to be on more scenes," Lucas said, arguing an additional deputy would help the office perform more thorough, in‑person work and shorten time to issue cremation permits.
Members pressed Lucas on the factual basis for the request. Member Kjookuski questioned whether caseloads have increased enough to justify a mid‑year hire and whether DuPage is out of compliance with Illinois statutes. "Are we in compliance with the Illinois statute?" Kjookuski asked; a representative from the state’s attorney’s office said she was not aware of any statute the coroner was violating and that the office appeared to be in compliance.
Committee discussion also focused on staff turnover and pay. Lucas said the office had lost many deputies since 2020 and is still training recent hires. Member Dart sharply criticized the coroner’s management approach and questioned the office’s ability to retain staff; Lucas responded by offering to provide documentation and said some turnover predated her term.
Members discussed cremation‑permit delays. Lucas said permits can take "one to two days" under current practice, and that reducing that to hours would better serve families awaiting arrangements.
Several members expressed support for the single headcount as modest and necessary given the workload; Chair Evans said she was concerned about the timing of a mid‑fiscal‑year request but wanted the office to succeed. The chair called for performance expectations and said she would support the hire conditionally.
A roll call was held and the chair announced the motion passed: "the ayes have it" with seven in favor. The added position was described in the packet as funded from coroner‑related fees rather than the county general fund.
