Posts by Newspaper Staff
County Rep Cites Solar Lawsuits, Grant Shortfalls as Key Issues Facing Will County
ARTICLE SUMMARY: Will County Board member Sherry Newquist reported that the county is navigating lawsuits related to solar farm approvals and anticipating budget challenges from the loss of federal grant money. Key Points: Newquist stated the county is involved in litigation over solar farm siting, which has created uncertainty for board members on how to vote…
Read MoreAssessor’s Office Hires Staff to Handle Workload After 6% Multiplier Hits Property Owners
ARTICLE SUMMARY: Following the application of a 6% property assessment multiplier across Green Garden Township, the assessor’s office has hired a new staff member to help manage the increased workload and resident inquiries. Key Points: Assessor Jane Bushong introduced new staff member Helen Selzer, a Certified Illinois Assessing Officer, to help address resident questions and appeals.…
Read MoreTownship Appoints Temporary FOIA Officer During Trustee’s Leave of Absence
ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Green Garden Township Board appointed resident Belinda Olszewski as a temporary, non-paid Administrative Assistant and FOIA Officer to fill the roles while Trustee Sarah Boxer is on a medical leave of absence. Key Points: Trustee Sarah Boxer, the township’s previous Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Officer, is on a temporary leave of absence…
Read MoreMeeting Summary and Briefs: Green Garden Township Board for August 11, 2025
The Green Garden Township Board pushed forward with plans for a new town hall and approved key budget transfers to support the assessor’s office during its August 11th meeting. Supervisor Dean Christofilos announced that formal paperwork had been submitted to Will County to transfer a $500,000 grant, originally for renovating the current building, to the…
Read MoreWater Well, Waste Hauler Ordinances Updated by Will County Committee
Article Summary: The Will County Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee approved updates to chapters governing water well permits and waste hauler reporting, forwarding them to the Executive Committee for consideration. Changes to the waste hauler ordinance include new definitions for homeowner associations and an increased fine, while the water well ordinance was updated to reflect current…
Read MoreWill County Health Department Seeks $1 Million to Avert ‘Drastic’ Service Cuts from Expiring Grants
ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Health Department is requesting an additional $1 million in county funding for its 2026 budget to prevent the elimination of 11 critical staff positions, warning that expiring grants will otherwise lead to significant cuts in core public health services.Key Points:• Due to expiring COVID-era and other non-recurring grants, the department…
Read MoreWill County’s “First-in-Nation” Veterans Center to House Workforce Services, Sparking Debate
ARTICLE SUMMARY: The new Will County Veteran’s Assistance & Support Center will also become the home for the county’s Workforce Services department, a move officials say will save approximately $250,000 in annual rent but which drew questions from board members about future expansion space for veteran needs. Capital Improvements Committee Meeting Key Points: Floors one and…
Read MoreImproved Vendor Service Creates $1.2 Million Shortfall in Sheriff’s Medical Budget
ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Sheriff’s Office is facing a more than $1.2 million shortfall in its budget for inmate medical services, a problem officials attribute to an ironic cause: their medical vendor has improved its performance. The Finance Committee has postponed a request to use contingency funds to cover a portion of the gap.Key…
Read MoreWill County Public Works Committee Unveils 25-Year Transportation Plan, Projects $258 Million Gap
ARTICLE SUMMARY: Will County officials have presented “Our Way Forward 2050,” a new long-range transportation plan that provides a 25-year vision for infrastructure projects while forecasting a $258 million shortfall in funding for all identified county roadway needs. Key Points: The plan projects $2.49 billion in revenue through 2050, with $2.18 billion available for capital projects…
Read MoreWill County Animal Protection Services Seeks New Facility Amid “Gaping Wound” of Space Crisis
Article Summary: Will County Animal Protection Services is seeking approval for a new facility, telling a county committee that its current building is critically inadequate for housing animals, leading to severe operational challenges and the suspension of its public adoption program. Administrator Anna Payton described the situation as a “gaping wound” that stop-gap measures can…
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