Lee County Facilities and Maintenance Committee Meeting - 11/10/2026

The Lee County Facilities and Maintenance Committee met on November 10, 2026, to receive facilities and building-department updates. Facilities staff reported ongoing controls and mechanical work at the new courthouse, maintenance issues at county buildings, and plans to switch the county’s natural-gas accounts from Windy City to Rock River Energy in February. The Rock River Energy rate will be fixed for three years to improve budget predictability; the transcript does not clearly preserve the rate amount. Staff also raised a possible redesign of the old courthouse project—removing the front stairs and using a planter and sidewalks instead—as an option that could save up to $300,000. No approval or spending vote on that option was recorded.

The building department reported October activity of 37 permits and nine contractor registrations, with a total project valuation of $2,351,753. Plans for the Magnus Hotel are in third-party review, and a floodplain permit was completed for a planned Dixon Rural Fire Department facility; the transcript indicates the facility’s plans had not yet completed plan review. The committee discussed the requirement for commercial projects to receive review by an uninterested third party. No contract award or procurement vote was identified.