WC Board
Will County Public Health & Safety Committee July 3 Meeting Briefs
Grain Dust Complaint Prompts Investigation: Will County resident Tracy Henning of unincorporated Peotone addressed the committee about health problems she attributes to grain dust from a neighboring facility. Henning, who has been diagnosed with lupus and toxic grain dust syndrome, reports debilitating symptoms when dust fallout occurs from the facility located 6-8 feet from her…
Read MoreWill County Seeks Asian Carp Provision in Federal Legislative Agenda
Will County Board member Julie Berkowicz is pushing to add specific language addressing Asian carp invasion to the county’s federal legislative agenda, citing the ongoing threat to local waterways as a critical regional concern. During Monday’s Legislative Committee meeting, Berkowicz renewed her annual request to include dedicated Asian carp language in the county’s federal priorities,…
Read MoreWill County’s Major Capital Projects Hit Key Milestones, VAC Buildout on “Aggressive Schedule”
Will County is making significant headway on several major capital improvement projects, with the new Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) & Support Center in Joliet on an “aggressive schedule” for a November completion, Facilities Director Bill Fern reported Tuesday. During an update to the Will County Board’s Capital Improvements & IT Committee, Fern detailed progress across…
Read MoreState Legislative Session Update: Transit, Energy Bills Stall Despite Democratic Control
Illinois lawmakers failed to advance major transit funding and comprehensive energy legislation during the recently concluded spring session, leaving key issues unresolved despite Democratic supermajorities in both chambers, according to a legislative update provided to Will County Board members. The General Assembly did pass a $55.2 billion state budget that leaders describe as balanced, but…
Read MoreCounty Board Approves 2026-2031 Transportation Plan Despite Project Opposition
Will County board members approved a contested five-year transportation improvement plan Tuesday after heated debate over a controversial Homer Glen road project that has drawn sustained community opposition. The Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee voted 4-2 to adopt the fiscal year 2026-2031 Transportation Improvement Program, which outlines $756 million in planned road projects…
Read MoreContentious I-3 Rezoning for DuPage Township Storage Yard Narrowly Advances
A proposal to rezone a 20-acre parcel in DuPage Township from agricultural to the county’s most intensive industrial classification narrowly earned a recommendation for approval from the Will County Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday, following sharp criticism from neighboring residents and municipalities. The 4-2 vote sends the controversial case for property at 13141 S.…
Read MoreWill County Legislative Committee July 1 Meeting Briefs
Federal Budget Impact: Will County could face significant funding challenges if federal budget reconciliation measures reduce Medicaid and SNAP benefits. The county health department and social services rely heavily on federal pass-through funding for local programs. Legislative Agenda Timeline: The Legislative Committee plans to finalize both federal and state legislative agendas by early November to…
Read MoreCounty Moves Forward with $200.8 Million Bond Refinancing Plan
Will County Finance Committee members on July 1 approved moving forward with a comprehensive bond refinancing ordinance that could save taxpayers more than $716,000 over the life of the bonds while addressing infrastructure and operational needs. The committee unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing the issuance of General Obligation Alternate Revenue Bonds not to exceed $200,845,000…
Read MoreAccess Will County Dial-a-Ride Program Sees Record Growth, Eyes Expansion
Will County’s dial-a-ride transportation service for seniors and disabled residents reached record ridership levels while officials plan major expansion to cover all county townships. The Access Will County program served 4,235 rides from December through March, putting the service on track to exceed 13,000 rides this fiscal year, according to quarterly reports presented to the…
Read MoreWill County to Launch New Public Meeting Agenda System in August Amidst Data Conversion Concerns
Will County is set to launch its new public meeting agenda and records software, Granicus “OneMeeting,” in August, but the transition will see over a decade of historical records converted into a less-than-ideal format, officials said Tuesday. County Board Chief of Staff Chuck Pelkie informed the Capital Improvements & IT Committee that while the new…
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