McHenry County would accept a $50,000 state grant to build a children’s waiting room in the Government Center in Woodstock but it would not spend the money until finishing a study of the county’s space needs, under a recommendation of the County Board’s Law and Justice Committee.
The committee voted unanimously Monday to accept the grant. Last month, the committee voted to delay acceptance because of concerns about a lack of space in the Government Center and questions over potential legal liabilities.
Sheriff Keith Nygren, who applied for the grant, suggested accepting the money but waiting until after a consultant finishes a space study, probably in three or four months. Nygren said the county has two years after grant acceptance to spend the money, which would be plenty of time to decide the issue.
The room would give parents a place to leave their children while they are in court. As proposed, it would occupy about 840 square feet near the Sheriff’s Department.
Nygren said Monday the space study might result in a better site for the room.