Geneva alderman visits coroner's office: 'It's a disgrace'

GENEVA – After being overwhelmed by the smell of nine decomposing bodies from May 14 to June 9, Kane County Coroner Rob Russell received a 10th to the office on June 19.

The coroner's facility has been the subject of recent debate over its adequacy, with Russell citing multiple issues including poor refrigeration in the aging building.

Recently, Russell invited a reporter to experience the facility's olfactory effects first-hand – and by coincidence, 4th Ward Geneva Alderman Jeanne McGowan was making a second visit to assess the office herself.

“It is my opinion, after having toured and spent several hours there over two days and seeing with my own eyes, the coroner’s office should not be at that building any more,” McGowan said. “It’s a disgrace.”

But Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen isn't looking for her opinion, suggesting McGowan should be more concerned about issues in her ward than in county government.

“We make sure we don’t make decisions about Geneva government,” Lauzen said. “We make sure we don’t criticize and step into their problems. That is why people run for different offices.”

McGowan emphasized that she toured the coroner’s office as a citizen and taxpayer of Kane County, not in her elected role as an aldermen.

McGowan said the viewing room for families to identify and claim the body of a loved one is a small, narrow windowless hallway that is "undignified."

“I feel terrible for any family member who has to go claim a loved one or meet with staff for follow up,” McGowan said. “It’s a very small, tight, enclosed space and it feels like a tomb."

A new facility

Political disputes aside, Russell has stated repeatedly that he needs a new office – and not just for situations where bodies pile up without enough room in the freezer.

Beyond the smells of decomposition is the fact that his building has no showers, locker rooms or laundry facility where deputy coroners can change clothes and bathe after handling a death.

One source of funding for a new coroner’s office would be proceeds of selling the 30-plus acres on Fabyan Parkway where the sheriff’s office used to be, as suggested by some county board members.

“It’s a possibility, if we sell the land,” Lauzen said, of being able to afford to build a new coroner’s office at a cost of $2 million to $4 million, according to estimates.

But Lauzen cautioned that the county has other areas where the money could be spent.

“We also have $18 million of other needs on a formal inventory,” Lauzen said. “It’s a more deliberative process than saying, ‘there’s some land, sell it and use it for only one purpose.’”

Rather, Lauzen has suggested the coroner should share resources with the DuPage County Coroner’s Office in Wheaton.

Lauzen also asserted that Russell has never asked for showers, locker rooms or laundry facilities, only for a new building.

“When he asks for things other than a building, the board has said yes,” Lauzen said.

But Russell said he did not see the point of asking for things when there is no room to put them.

“If I have a quart bottle, why would I ask for a gallon?” Russell said.

'As soon as possible'

Still, McGowan said as the county considers its inventory of priorities, the coroner’s office should be at the top of the list.

“We have a nearly state-of-the art Kane County Animal Control facility on Kaneville Road. We have a brand new shooting range for the police,” McGowan said. “The Kane County Courthouse has a brand new elevator."

All important things, McGowan said, "… and this needs to be the very next project and it needs to happen as soon as possible.

McGowan said all Geneva residents in her ward are also Kane County residents and the coroner's office affects all county residents.

“I feel that the Kane County Board Chairman and all 24 members of the Kane County Board need to take immediate steps to resolve this current situation and move the coroner’s office to a new, modern facility,” McGowan said. “Kane County should be self sufficient and not be relying on the hard work and taxpayers of another county who have a modern coroner’s office building. We deserve better. The people deserve better.”

'Bloody murder and decomposing bodies'

Lauzen said the county has spent thousands of dollars on upgrades to the coroner’s building, and also has $2.4 million in the county’s five-year capital plan for a new coroner’s facility. But in the meantime, Lauzen said coroners' offices sharing facilities is common in Illinois.

Lauzen also praised a private citizen who called to suggest using a ionization air cleaner to help with the odor issues.

Lauzen said the county bought a dozen, one for each room in the coroner's office, to help quell the odors.

“This is … a short term solution. It takes a year and a half to two years to stand up a new building or do significant remodeling,” Lauzen said.

Russell said he appreciated the ionizers, which were added to the air scrubbers already installed in the office.

"I do not want to seem ungrateful," Russell said. "But it's a shame that it takes a tragedy to get anything done, or a bad circumstance to get anything done."

However Lauzen also said as Russell has authority under law to run his office, he also has the responsibility to do it properly.

“These problems belong in the coroner’s hands,” Lauzen said. “Yet the coroner goes screaming ‘bloody murder and decomposing bodies.’”