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Cook County Administrator James Joerke led the first of three public meetings held on Thursday, December 1, to talk about the county’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which will guide investments in county buildings over the next four to six years.
The 10 a.m. to noon meeting was packed. Later meetings were held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Joerke promised this was the first of more public meetings to come. He and the county board have decided public engagement and feedback from the public is crucial in this process.
Joining Administrator Joerke during the 15–20-minute presentation was Chad Rykal, Principal of CR-Building Performance Specialists Inc. (CR-BPS), whose company the county hired to perform a comprehensive space needs analysis and facility study of the county’s 25 buildings.
Following the introduction, people were split into groups and visited four stations to learn more in-depth about the various processes used in the study. When participants were done, they were asked to fill out a short survey.
Administrator Joerke said the county would use information gleaned from the surveys to help with the CIP.
“Why is the Comprehensive Facility Study and CIP process important?” Joerke asked. Because in the past, the county has tried to maintain its buildings when problems arise, which isn’t efficient or cost-effective.
A crew from CR-BPS came in August and spent three days touring the county’s facilities. Then, they came back in September and spent three more days here. While in the county, they took 360-degree pictures of the insides of buildings and rooms in the buildings. Everything was documented, from flooring, windows, doors, paint, heating systems, square feet of a building, siding, roofing, etc., and the age of the components. Once the data was collected, it was input into a computer where 3-D models of the buildings was made. This took four to six weeks to accomplish.
Once the facility site systems and conditions of the structures were gathered, the crew from CR-BPS performed a space needs plan, looked at hazards, disaster risk assessments, sustainability of the structure(s), human experience (air quality, acoustics, etc.) and other drivers including the history of the building and partnerships associated with the structure(s).
Once all the data is input into the computer, it can be updated on an ongoing basis as conditions of the buildings change, noted Rykal.
When the survey results are tabulated and reviewed, they will be used to update the current Capital Improvement Plan. A second public engagement will be held in January or February, said Joerke.
County owned buildings
Airport arrival/departure, Airport equipment, Airport hangar, Airport maintenance, Courthouse, Museum, Bill Bally Blacksmith main building, Bill Bally Blacksmith metal, Community Center main, Community Center Search & Rescue, Community Center Warming House, Community Center Restroom, Law Enforcement main, Law Enforcement Search & Rescue, Recycling center, Highway Department main, Highway Department Goble, Highway Department Cold Storage, Hovland Town Hall, Hovland New Garage, Hovland Old Garage, Colvill Town Hall, Tofte Garage and YMCA.
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