After 20 years without a real kitchen, the Niles Police Department will receive a $110,000 kitchen upgrade with funding from the state and assistance from the village's public works department to keep costs down. .
Niles Deputy Police Chief Nick Zakula said the current kitchen is “not really a kitchen,” but more like a break room with a sink, refrigerator, microwave, toaster oven and three tables. This has been the case ever since it opened in 2016. 2004. According to village documents, the renovations include installing a stove, oven, microwave, refrigerator, upright freezer, ice maker, kitchen base, cabinets, overhead pendant lighting, under-cabinet LED lighting and vinyl tile. That is scheduled.
The village board approved a $63,000 contract with AGAE Contractors Inc. for kitchen renovations at its April 23 board meeting. In an email sent from Niles Police Chief Louis Tygara to Village Mayor Joe La Margo, Tygara requested that surplus funds from the department's training room capital improvement project be used to renovate the kitchen. He said the village will receive a $60,000 refund from the Illinois Department of Commerce Economic Opportunity Grant and will need to cover the remaining costs. Tygara said funds from last year's budget will be used to pay for new appliances.
Zakula said the new kitchen will “allow staff to prepare healthy meal options during the shift instead of buying fast food.” It also ensures staff privacy during breaks and meals. ” He added that this is an important element of officer health.
The village is funding the expense with $60,000 from an Economic Opportunity Grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce. The Village Board approved his purchase of new appliances from Abt Electronics for $6,557. The Department of Public Works will handle the electrical portion of the project at a cost of $40,000, bringing the village's estimated total expenditures to just under $110,000. The board must approve the purchase of electrical materials at a future board meeting.
