Posts by Newspaper Staff
P&Z Approves Lockport Bounce House Business Expansion
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | April 7, 2026 The commission unanimously approved Zoning Case #ZC-25-137 for Victor H. Lule Huerta, owner of 3262 S. State Street in Lockport Township. The applicant requested a map amendment from R-4 (Single-Family Residential) to C-3 (General Commercial) to expand his existing party equipment and bounce house…
Read MoreWill County P&Z Commission Grants Extensions for Joliet Township Solar Farm Ground Cover
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | April 7, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously granted a final deadline extension for a commercial solar developer in Joliet Township, giving the company until September 2026 to plant specialized native pollinator ground cover beneath its solar arrays. Joliet Solar Farm Key…
Read MoreWill County Treasurer Seeks Policy on Cash Payments as U.S. Mint Discontinues the Penny
Briefs: Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | April 7, 2026 Article Summary: With the U.S. Mint ceasing production of the penny, the Will County Treasurer’s Office is asking the County Board for a policy on how to handle cash payments for property taxes, sparking a debate over rounding down tax bills to avoid shortchanging…
Read MoreLend a hand this spring at Volunteer Morning programs
Volunteers are being sought for spring programs that help spruce up the preserves by removing invasive species, controlling brush and planting native plants. Here are the spring Volunteer Morning programs. (Unless otherwise noted, programs are from 9 a.m. to noon and for ages 10 and older.) April Saturday, April 18: Joliet Junior College, Joliet. Brush…
Read MoreProposed State Legislation Sparks Debate Over Will County Veterans Assistance Commission Budget Control
Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | April 7, 2026 Article Summary: State legislation aimed at granting county boards ultimate approval power over Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) budgets sparked debate among the Will County Board Legislative Committee regarding the balance of financial oversight and VAC independence. VAC Legislation Key Points: House Bill 5085 and Senate…
Read MoreMeeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee for April 7, 2026
Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | April 7, 2026 The Will County Board Public Works & Transportation Committee met on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, moving forward a massive slate of infrastructure contracts totaling nearly $10 million. Beyond the high-profile speed limit debates on Cedar Road and the initiation of the Bluff Road…
Read MoreVeterans Assistance Commission Buildout Complete, Body Scanner Installed at Juvenile Center
Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | April 7, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Facilities Department announced the successful completion of the Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) building renovations and the installation of a new full-body scanner at the River Valley Justice Center. Facilities Update Key Points: The VAC buildout at 1300 Copperfield…
Read MoreForest Preserve District Advances Major Extensions and Repairs on Plum Creek Greenway Trail in Crete Township
Article Summary: The Forest Preserve District is currently undertaking dual construction projects on the Plum Creek Greenway Trail, initiating a massive 1.5-mile southern extension through Plum Valley Preserve and commencing repairs on an 80-foot bridge damaged by a fallen tree in Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve. Plum Creek Greenway Trail Projects Key Points: A new 1.5-mile…
Read MoreWill County Survey Reveals Widespread AI Use as IT Drafts Governance Policy
Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | April 7, 2026 Article Summary: An internal survey revealed that nearly a dozen Will County departments are already utilizing Artificial Intelligence software in their daily operations, prompting the IT Department to draft a comprehensive AI governance policy expected by June. AI Policy Key Points: Eleven county…
Read MoreMeeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board for March 19, 2026
Will County Board Meeting | March 19, 2026 The Will County Board met on Thursday, March 19, 2026, to handle a diverse agenda that included heavy infrastructure spending, large-scale tax abatements, and regional planning. In addition to approving a $345 million tax abatement for Hyundai Translead and granting a special use permit for a new…
Read More