Lake County Gazette

Addressing building and infrastructure improvements, Lake County’s Financial and Administrative Committee will meet 1:00 p.m. Wednesday in the County Courthouse and Administrative Complex's 10th floor assembly room.

Call to order, pledge and approval of minutes are first on the agenda, including joint budget minutes from Oct. 20, 2015, and Oct. 21, 2015. 

Time will be designated for public comment, followed by old business and new business. Public works and transportation will take center stage as the committee considers several joint resolutions.

The first regards an upgrade to the Public Works Maintenance Facility. Originally built in 1977 and nearing the end of its structural lifespan, the project calls for replacement of roofing, garages and doors; ADA-compliant locker room area alterations; and training room construction. 

Of four contractors, Lake County selected Boller Construction Company of Waukegan with the lowest bid of $1,220,500. The vendor has an existing relationship with the county and has performed past projects satisfactorily.

Also up for approval are four joint resolutions for additional vendor services, including a data company from Fredericksburg, Va., for handling Public Works Department utility bill payments in the amount of $92,032 and an underground utility locating project costing $171,744 by a Sterling Heights, Mich., company.

Additionally, the commission will consider two sales tax appropriations for transportation funds: $600,000 to install electronic communication structures, including cameras, along various routes and an additional $1.5 million to cover right-of-way costs in a widening project. A joint committee action item to approve extra funding for a road reconstruction is the final item in the public works sector.

Financial and administrative business includes three committee actions to reclassify positions in the Division of Transportation along with one presentation about the impact of the excise tax included in the Affordable Care Act.

The commission will then go into executive session, hear the county administrator’s report and hold discussion on compensation for the chairman of the County Board prior to adjournment.