In designing a new courthouse, Will County officials said they want to make sure people are not left outside, standing in the rain.
While the architects and construction manager finalize the design and work to make it fit within the $195 million budget, architect Jason Dwyer said a “huge topic of conversation” has been how to avoid bottlenecks and allow pedestrian traffic to flow throughout the building.
At Tuesday’s meeting of the county board’s capital improvements committee, it was noted that at the current courthouse, lines often form and spill outside, while people wait to go through the two security screening stations.
The new 10-story complex will have six screening stations and a larger lobby with a waiting area for 100 people, Dwyer said, adding that he designs it for capacity, not staffing.
They want to make sure there is adequate screening, but not overbuilt, because the bottlenecks typically occur at peak times in the morning, when the courthouse first opens, he said.
“My main concern is to make sure we have adequate staffing,” said board member Gloria Dollinger, R-Joliet. “Are we able to man the six stations to keep the lines flowing?”
The current lines are “strictly an operational issue. It has nothing to do with the building,” said board Speaker Jim Moustis, R-Frankfort Township. “The lines are created because the building does not open early.”
Moustis said he expects a request to increase staff when the new courthouse opens.
The Will County sheriff’s department operates the security screening stations.
County officials also stressed that they want to hire local labor for the courthouse project, which is expected to get underway in the spring of 2018.
The new public safety complex, now under construction at Laraway Road and U.S. 52, has employed 35 percent local contractors, said Dave Tkac, deputy chief of staff for County Executive Larry Walsh.
Due to the size and scope of the courthouse complex, it will be more difficult for smaller, local contractors to bond the job, and have the labor force to complete the work, he said.
Board member Don Moran, D-Romeoville, suggested that they break the contracts into smaller jobs to attract more local firms.
“We are really interested in hiring local labor, not just local contractors,” Moustis said, adding that he wants the contractors to hire out of local labor unions.
Twitter @SusanLaff
