WC Board
County Board Approves Raises for Elected Officials After Heated Debate
Will County elected officials will receive their first salary increases in nearly two decades after the County Board narrowly approved raises Thursday despite concerns about taxpayer impact. In split votes following extensive debate, the board approved a phased salary increase for countywide elected officials and a separate raise for board members themselves. The increases for…
Read MoreCounty Board Briefs: Volunteer Recognition, Courthouse Renaming, Legislative Support
Emergency Management Volunteers Honored: Will County Emergency Management Agency Director Allison Anderson recognized EMA volunteers during Thursday’s County Board meeting in observance of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Anderson reported that 70 active volunteers contributed nearly 7,000 hours of service last year, worth an estimated $232,186 in savings to the county. Eighteen volunteers who completed more than…
Read MoreLabor Representative Addresses County Committee on Public Transportation Reform Efforts
JOLIET — A labor representative warned Will County officials Thursday that proposed reforms to regional public transportation governance could diminish the county’s voice in transit decisions during a presentation to the county’s Executive Committee. Brian Shanahan, special rail division coordinator for the International Association of Machinists, briefed the committee on competing bills in the Illinois…
Read MoreCommittee Advances $1.7 Million Upgrade Plan for River Valley Juvenile Detention Center
JOLIET — The Will County Executive Committee voted Thursday to advance a $1.7 million proposal to upgrade the River Valley Juvenile Detention Center rather than pursuing costlier alternatives to house juvenile offenders elsewhere. After reviewing three potential options for addressing the county’s juvenile detention needs, committee members unanimously forwarded the upgrade plan to the finance…
Read MoreCounty Executive Committee Briefs: Transportation Program Expands, Ordinances Updated
Mobility Management Program Expands to Three Townships: The Executive Committee approved an intergovernmental agreement to expand the Will County Mobility Management Program to include Channahon, Manhattan, and Plainfield townships. The program provides transportation services primarily for seniors and people with disabilities. Committee members questioned the funding structure, with staff confirming that Will County is currently…
Read MoreCounty Executive Committee Advances Elected Officials’ Pay Increases After Extended Debate
The Will County Executive Committee voted Thursday to advance a proposal for pay increases for countywide elected officials and county board members, setting the stage for a final vote at the upcoming full board meeting. After nearly an hour of discussion, committee members approved the salary proposal with a unanimous vote despite concerns from some…
Read MoreCounty Considers Bond Refinancing That Could Save Millions
JOLIET — Will County officials on Thursday discussed a potential bond refinancing opportunity that could save the county approximately $3.6 million in debt service costs by taking advantage of favorable market conditions. Karen Hennessy, from the county’s finance department, presented the Executive Committee with details of a proposal to refinance bonds from 2015 and 2016,…
Read MoreWill County Ordinance Committee Briefs: Unanimous Votes for Proclamations, Title Changes, Audits Discussed
Committee Clarifies Unanimous Vote Requirement for Honorary Proclamations: The Ordinance Committee refined language in Chapter 30 regarding honorary proclamations, specifying that they shall be allowed “only by unanimous vote” of members present at the executive committee. Committee member Judy Ogala suggested the wording change to ensure clarity that proclamations require unanimous support to move forward.…
Read MoreCounty Undertakes Formatting Overhaul of Decades-Old Ordinances
JOLIET — Will County officials are modernizing the format and structure of the county’s ordinances, some of which date back to 1943, as part of a comprehensive review process to improve readability and consistency. During Thursday’s Ordinance Committee meeting, members and staff worked through detailed formatting changes to Chapter 30 of the county’s code, which…
Read MoreCounty Reviews Rules on Virtual Meeting Attendance, Committee Participation
JOLIET — Will County officials discovered Thursday that their current practices regarding virtual meeting attendance may not fully comply with state law, as the Ordinance Committee worked through updates to the county’s code of ordinances. During a detailed review of Chapter 30, which governs county administration, committee members learned that while the county’s rules require…
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