BUILDING AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DIVISION

Karl Jeske

OPERATING AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE

The Building and Facilities Management Division supervises, oversees, operates and maintains all County-owned buildings and facilities except those administered by the Highway and Parks Departments. The buildings and facilities include the Racine County Courthouse, County Board Office building, Law Enforcement Center, Countryside Humane Society facility, Western Racine County Service Center, Sheriff's Patrol Station, County Schools Admin. facility and the Racine County Service Center. The division also interacts with maintenance staff and improvement activities at Ridgewood Health Care Center. 

The Buildings and Facilities Management staff are responsible for the day-to-day operation and asset improvements at most County buildings. The tasks performed vary from daily housekeeping services to building and systems maintenance repairs and remodeling projects. Staff duties also include operation and enhancement of each building's electrical, data transmission network, security, fire protection, plumbing, and heating / ventilation / air conditioning systems.

In addition to monitoring and directing the work listed above by the 15 in-house staff personnel, administrative assistant, and maintenance coordinator; the division Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent provide the technical and planning efforts and cost estimates for building maintenance and building capital improvement projects. They design, plan, and create specifications required for construction projects and contracted services overseen by the department. The two supervisors also administer competitive bidding, present bid recommendations, monitor adherence to consultant and construction contracts and inspect maintenance, contracted services and construction projects from beginning to end to ensure the delivery of on-time, quality, and cost effective projects. 

OBJECTIVES

Provide an environment that is clean, attractive, and functional for citizens and employees. 

Provide work places which are clean and safe with efficient climate control and appropriate lighting. 

Continue performing maintenance and repairs using a proactive approach during 2001. 

Continue to upgrade the facilities' amenities including carpeting replacements, sidewalk repairs, wall repairs, and facility automation systems.

PRIOR YEAR ACHIEVEMENTS

Completely refurbished 7th Floor Courtroom using both contract vendors and in-house personnel.

Coordinated installation of exterior metal caps on Law Enforcement Center (LEC) roof parapet walls. 

Coordinated remodeling two Courthouse bathrooms to achieve ADA compliance.

Coordinated rebuilding of two cooling towers at the LEC.

Continued departmental safety program as developed by Safety Survey.

Continued facility on-going upgrade and refurbishing utilizing both in-house and contracted services.

Coordinated, developed, and controlled numerous capital and asset improvement projects.