Emergency Freezer Replacement Approved for Adult Detention Facility

Finance Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026

Article Summary: The committee authorized an emergency expenditure of $155,000 to replace a failed walk-in freezer system at the Adult Detention Facility (ADF). The Sheriff’s Office reported that the 18-year-old system had completely failed, forcing the facility to rent freezer trucks at a high daily cost.

ADF Freezer Key Points:

• Emergency Situation: The deep freeze system at the ADF failed completely, necessitating the use of rental freezer trucks costing $500 per day plus fuel.

• Cost: The replacement contract with AMS Industries is valued at $149,450.

• Funding: The funds will be drawn from the County Board’s contingency fund, as the Sheriff’s maintenance budget cannot cover the cost.

• System Upgrade: The new system will feature separate compressors for better redundancy and ease of maintenance.

A critical failure of the walk-in freezer at the Will County Adult Detention Facility prompted swift action from the Finance Committee on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The committee unanimously approved a $155,000 transfer from the county’s contingency fund to replace the facility’s refrigeration system.

Keith Breausche and Joseph Novak from the Sheriff’s Office maintenance division explained the urgency of the situation. “We lost the deep freeze at the ADF and right now we’re paying for two semi-trailer freezer trucks out there,” Novak said. He estimated the rental costs at $500 per day, not including fuel.

The existing system, which is 18 years old, suffered a catastrophic failure after multiple compressor replacements in recent years. “Now there’s just so much stuff built up in the line and the evaporator itself that it just keeps going into the new compressors and they keep failing,” Novak explained.

Member Jackie Traynere (District 11) expressed concern over the lack of planning for such an old piece of equipment. “To me, an 18-year-old freezer, that’s an accident waiting to happen,” she said. “I feel like maybe we’re missing some things.”

Breausche responded that while they knew the system was aging, the sudden total failure was unexpected. He added that the department has a “very long” list of priorities and limited budget.

The new system will separate the deep freeze compressors from the main cooling rack, which currently holds three coolers and the freezer on one skid. This change is expected to make future maintenance easier and provide better reliability.

Because the Sheriff’s Office does not have its own contingency line item large enough to cover the $149,450 bid, the money will be transferred from the County Board’s contingency fund.