1-General News Categories
Divided Will County Board Authorizes Condemnation for 143rd Street Widening
Article Summary: Following intense debate and emotional public testimony, the Will County Board narrowly approved a resolution to begin condemnation proceedings for the controversial widening of 143rd Street in Homer Glen. The 12-7 vote allows the State’s Attorney’s Office to acquire private property needed for the project, despite unified opposition from Homer Glen officials and…
Read MoreWill County Eyes Major Overhaul to Consolidate Scattered Government Offices
Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting October 7, 2025 Article Summary: Will County officials are formally debating a new facilities master plan to address aging buildings and dozens of scattered departments, with options including a new, consolidated county building in downtown Joliet. The Board’s Capital Improvements & IT Committee on Tuesday discussed the…
Read MoreSheriff’s Office Reports Crime Down 10%, Cites Body Cam Footage as Main Challenge of Safety Act
Will County Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting October 2, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Sheriff’s Office reported a nearly 10% overall drop in crime compared to the same period last year, though proactive enforcement has led to a 700% increase in child pornography cases. An official told a county committee that the biggest…
Read MoreCounty Board Abates Over $25 Million in Property Taxes for Bond Payments
Article Summary: Will County property taxpayers will be spared over $25 million in taxes for the 2026 payment year after the County Board voted to abate taxes for six separate general obligation bonds. The board will instead use other county revenue sources to make the debt service payments, a common fiscal practice that avoids a…
Read MoreWill County Reverses Zoning on Peotone Farmland to Facilitate 10-Acre Sale
Article Summary: The Will County Board unanimously approved a request to rezone a 10.08-acre portion of a property in Will Township back to agricultural use, reversing a 2023 zoning change. The move allows property owners Mark and Doris Baumgartner to combine two smaller lots into a single 10-acre parcel for a planned sale. Peotone Farmland…
Read MoreWill County to Pay Enbridge $82,000 to Relocate Pipeline Equipment for Exchange Street Improvements
Article Summary: Will County will reimburse Enbridge Energy for costs associated with relocating its pipeline facilities to make way for roadway improvements on Exchange Street in the Monee and Crete area. The County Board approved an agreement for an estimated $82,018, acknowledging that Enbridge has superior rights in its existing easement. Enbridge Relocation Agreement Key…
Read MoreLaraway Road Widening Project in New Lenox and Frankfort Gets Additional $468,000 for Redesign
Article Summary: The Will County Board approved a supplemental agreement worth $468,374 for additional design and engineering work on the major Laraway Road expansion project. The funds are needed for Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc. to update plans to account for several new commercial and residential developments along the corridor in New Lenox and Frankfort.…
Read More“Federal Policy Uncertainty” Blamed for Delay of Peotone Solar Farm; County Grants Second Extension
Article Summary: The Will County Board has granted a second permit extension for a solar farm in Peotone Township after the developer, Trajectory Energy Partners, cited “ongoing uncertainty regarding federal renewable energy policy” as a cause for delay. The extension for the Pralle Farms Partnership project on West Kennedy Road pushes its deadline to February…
Read MoreWill County Grants Extensions to Five Solar Projects Sold to New Developers
Article Summary: The Will County Board approved first-time permit extensions for five commercial solar projects across Monee, Crete, and Joliet townships, all of which were recently sold to larger energy developers. The new operators, Nautilus Solar and Madison Energy Infrastructure, now have until 2026 to begin construction as they work to secure final permits. Solar…
Read MoreWill County Board Approves Controversial Drug Recovery Retreat in Crete Township
Article Summary: The Will County Board has approved a special use permit for The Second Story Foundation to operate a long-term residential recovery program for men on a 68-acre horse farm in Crete Township. The 17-2 vote came after extensive debate and testimony from residents and township officials who raised concerns about safety, property values,…
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