County commission approves COVID-19 and security project for State’s Attorney’s Office

The Lake County Commission has agreed to move forward with a COVID-19 and security project in the county’s State’s Attorney’s Office.  Commission Administrative Officer Shelli Gust told commissioners during their meeting Tuesday that in August, Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Dave Hare discussed a proposal with them to make COVID-19 and safety related changes to seven county offices.  Gust said the quote from Amert Construction of Madison for work in five of the offices was close to 45-thousand dollars and up to 60-thousand dollars was approved for all of the projects.  She said initially Hare thought that the work in the State’s Attorney’s Office and Highway Department  would be able to be done in-house and weren’t included in the original quote from Amert.  But, Gust said that the work is more extensive due to the office’s request for bulletproof materials that would be similar to what is in the Clerk of Courts Office in the Courthouse.  Amert’s quote for the State’s Attorney’s Office work is $9760, and Gust said added to the original quote on the projects the total will still fall below the 60-thousand dollars approved for the projects.  Commissioners Tuesday approved the quote and for Hare to move forward with the State’s Attorney’s Office project. 

Also on Tuesday, commissioners approved a new hire for the county’s Highway Department.  Nathan Keller will start as a full-time Heavy Equipment Operator for the department on November 2nd at a pay rate of $18.25 an hour.  Keller’s hire is contingent upon a satisfactory background check and pre-employment screening.