Local Beecher News
Will County to Take Jurisdiction of Countyline Road Following $1.8 Million Agreement with Kankakee County
Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | April 7, 2026 Article Summary: Will County will absorb a 4.27-mile stretch of Countyline Road into its highway system, aided by a $1.84 million financial contribution from Kankakee County to help cover the costs of replacing two aging bridge structures. Countyline Road Transfer Key Points: Kankakee…
Read MoreWill County Legislative Committee Unanimously Backs Resolution Demanding Return of Local Solar Siting Control
Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | April 7, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Legislative Committee unanimously passed an amended resolution on Tuesday demanding the Illinois General Assembly repeal or amend state laws that stripped local governments of their authority to regulate the siting of commercial solar, wind, and battery energy facilities. Resolution…
Read MoreNine Will County Municipalities Face Expired License Plate Reader Agreements; Crest Hill Opts Out
Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | April 7, 2026 Article Summary: Will County’s network of Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) is undergoing a renewal phase, with nine municipalities operating on expired agreements, prompting upcoming testimonies from local police chiefs regarding the cameras’ effectiveness. ALPR Renewal Key Points: Agreements for ALPRs located on…
Read MoreJudge Orders Will County Board to Approve Previously Denied Solar Farm Permits
On Wednesday, Will County’s efforts to maintain local control over solar farm developments were dealt a heavy blow when 12th District Associate Judge Ben Braun ruled the County Board must approve several previously denied solar farm requests. Braun’s long-awaited ruling combined lawsuits filed against the county by Channahon McKinley Woods, RPIL Solar 13, Florence Renewables…
Read MoreCounty Board Members Pitch “Granny Flats,” Hobby Farm Zoning, and Farmland Mitigation in LRMP Brainstorm
Will County Board Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | March 26, 2026 Article Summary: During a brainstorming workshop for the county’s new Land Resource Management Plan, Will County Board members pitched a variety of hyper-local zoning concepts. Proposals included “small agriculture” zoning for artisan farmers, mandatory land-replacement mitigation for developers paving over farmland, and…
Read MoreWill County Kicks Off Comprehensive Land Resource Management Plan Update with Focus on Proactive Zoning and Environmental Justice
Will County Board Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | March 26, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Land Use and Development Committee held a special workshop to kick off the county’s first major Land Resource Management Plan (LRMP) update since 2001. County Board members urged consultants to draft a plan that shifts the county…
Read MoreWill County Land Use Committee Splits Votes on Massive Earthrise Solar Projects Amid Intense Public Opposition
Will County Board Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | April 2, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Land Use and Development Committee on Tuesday faced a marathon session dominated by two massive solar farm proposals from Earthrise Energy, ultimately advancing the 2,258-acre Plum Valley Solar project while deadlocking on the 6,099-acre Pride of the…
Read MoreWill County Previews ‘GuideWill’ Comprehensive Resource Management Plan
Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | March 2026 Article Summary: Will County’s Land Use Department unveiled the branding, interactive tools, and initial timeline for its updated Resource Management Plan, scheduling a series of spring listening sessions across multiple townships and targeted meetings with agricultural stakeholders. GuideWill Key Points: The new comprehensive county plan…
Read MoreWill County Targets May Draft for Comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Policy
Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | March 2026 Article Summary:Will County is moving closer to adopting a formal Artificial Intelligence policy, with IT staff planning to deliver a comprehensive draft by May to establish guardrails for the technology’s use by county employees. AI Policy Report Key Points: A “redline” draft of AI directives establishes…
Read MoreWill County Closes Out $16.2 Million Federal Rental Assistance Program, Transitions to Local Funding
Will County Finance Committee Meeting | March 3, 2026 Article Summary: Will County has officially closed out its massive federal Emergency Rental Assistance program after distributing millions to keep nearly 2,000 households housed during recent crises. Moving forward, the county is utilizing local cannabis tax revenue to fund a scaled-down housing stabilization effort while facing skyrocketing…
Read More