[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6063829,"mediaKeyId","3262576-7d900663fbc158b2f6283f4770a0cdcc","parentId",3262576,"title","Will County committee approves returning start time of board meetings to 9:30 a.m.","audioSeconds",80,"startMs",765000,"endMs",845000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3262576-7d900663fbc158b2f6283f4770a0cdcc&start=765&end=845","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3262576-7d900663fbc158b2f6283f4770a0cdcc/thumbnail_765000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6063829/Will-County/Illinois/Will-County-committee-approves-returning-start-time-of-board-meetings-to-930-am","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063829-7800beef44a8b735ab140a2e9cef8cd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196336&Signature=L~5EL3dm4yb3N2r2MyDRPhKb6O8yfeqaD5HA8zlfUWfa2~KISxtXTEeolBg0WGCW-ALr3oGpdy0lLzbQTn87WNwG-Oa0ETS7d0KNhcGOH7EqZNAmZNXOHK8SiveDadoyt~jnjEfLW-IrrPfWNs8k5CKNDESW6LEVDwiQDSEo07YD0KfGkmCGScsrJ~J8Zy~w650nhVR~XYDhQufGUkoCbPqXyoHP3RDMWyjVAsDMDNBKNz4OvvkET4Cn4Bf6UxurHWjfcH4mRmh3gAagqfYfsXc-ESxSC8QbCks8lH1S6~4U0WzwLIWiu4jDMxH4~yPyDm0qp1uarrQzRWmFaqWTaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Will County, IL","date","2025-05-11T00:49:51.25Z","article","The Will County Executive Committee voted to amend governance rules to set regular and special meeting start times at 9:30 a.m., reversing an earlier change to 9:00 a.m. Committee members said the later start gives staff additional preparation time and accommodates new personnel; the amendment passed on a recorded voice vote at the committee.

A member noted the rules change requires a supermajority of the full board (the exact fraction was discussed as 3/5 at the full board level) and therefore will need to be adopted at a subsequent full‑board meeting with the appropriate threshold. Members who had opposed the 9:00 a.m. start said the 9:30 a.m. time provides a needed cushion for staff and reduces interruptions caused by technical/login issues prior to meetings.

The committee approved the amendment and moved it forward accordingly.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Will County Executive Committee Meeting May 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Executive Committee approved an amendment to governance rules changing regular meeting start time from 9:00 a.m. back to 9:30 a.m.; the change will be considered at the full board under the required threshold for rules changes.","taxTitle","Will County, Illinois","taxId",2549,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6063834,"Committee backs resolution supporting dissolution of Southeast Joliet Sanitary District and transfer to City of Joliet",550,5760000,6310000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3262576-7d900663fbc158b2f6283f4770a0cdcc&start=5760&end=6310","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3262576-7d900663fbc158b2f6283f4770a0cdcc/thumbnail_5760000.jpg","/articles/6063834/Will-County/Illinois/Committee-backs-resolution-supporting-dissolution-of-Southeast-Joliet-Sanitary-District-and-transfer-to-City-of-Joliet","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063834-4779854c4b651119efcadb4bbde11ef8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196336&Signature=gy6gXg0-sDJoYAjjLF3Kq5rwZDOgmm7XBZhi0cbu2q8YoqyFK7nLmU0R8j6i2vGnFACSbe-VT9T5x7206tCFb2Mt66HuS0WqBrusLqk75mxdONjIh57Uo2CoLV5hMOnuyZ7jYRTjPSkRIg6O2qXaMsYLL2VJcOFZGHQiwdBDuPBNFa6Dktf8rSH2wVSIrNL~DKLCcQvw8NvrKV2T93LIS7HXFAWr9RDmzwLavAsvMSeh740QOgFUWK23cltATf1E5U1nhs72Eq2nVBUDVFbzLYET6QIBpg9Jmf--1tbDr4Dh5O-1e0UrGndguK0Fc8sWLlmZtqE9JkCa7F7WftSctA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Will County Executive Committee approved a resolution supporting dissolution of the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District and transferring its assets and liabilities to the City of Joliet; the measure passed with one recorded abstention.

County staff and the city described a planned infrastructure upgrade to bring the district onto the City of Joliet system and to connect to Lake Michigan water; staff said the full system upgrade and transfer is estimated at roughly $14 million. Funding for the work is planned from a combination of sources the county cited in the meeting: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, initial ARPA funds previously set aside (which staff proposed to reallocate toward infrastructure), and other grant funding. The county noted that the sanitary district historically levied no tax and relied on rates charged to customers.

Staff said some district assets (for example, an office house and equipment) may be unwanted by the City of Joliet; those assets would become county property if Joliet declines them under the terms of the transfer. Committee members asked whether losing federal CDBG funding would affect the project; staff said final CDBG allocations were not yet finalized but that project funding had been planned with those sources in mind. One committee member abstained from the vote.

The committee approved the resolution endorsing the dissolution and transfer and asked staff to confirm final CDBG allocations and report any exposure the county would assume if federal funds are reduced.","The executive committee approved a resolution endorsing dissolution of the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District and transfer of assets/liabilities to the City of Joliet; the project would use CDBG, ARPA and other grants to fund infrastructure upgrades estimated at $14 million.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6063839,"Will County adopts ordinance allowing local preference credits for public‑works bids",300,4485000,4785000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3262576-7d900663fbc158b2f6283f4770a0cdcc&start=4485&end=4785","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3262576-7d900663fbc158b2f6283f4770a0cdcc/thumbnail_4485000.jpg","/articles/6063839/Will-County/Illinois/Will-County-adopts-ordinance-allowing-local-preference-credits-for-publicworks-bids","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063839-075d1fa91609b200c08615063bfb46e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196336&Signature=SKFeuJbn01haVyvrPWe~pOwfxzBoda2lrClhpkEUDtRuhC7GWMlBXQovnLYhSjxekJnoviG7VKAPkbjy82OveTzLy~YOSV4y1F-IOwCL5IkrC02iDxb5ok8guU7XxEpCFCQYwelVluz1wwaMM9Gr0x8pFcEPYvOafFMkGIs6uhKfIvMrdqjLcnBa1ju~C-Qaw21xXA~GkODVllYkDU2CST-k-xN4FuTSb5bSz6jWx5UQOsTZVcc~waMJkrx0-DLUuQPZVY2G9VRDLU8Lzbet6TQ8QiuGTJVbl2AKqAkw3VuBeQbqCAdJH37Zsr9Cw0iU~~upLsHFuc1Q-OQYAIQW2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Will County Executive Committee approved an amendment to the county purchasing code that creates an optional local preference for public‑works projects and clarifies responsible‑bidder rules and tie‑breaking procedures.

Sponsors said the change is intended to help local contractors win county projects when bids are extremely close — sometimes within a few dollars — and to keep taxpayer dollars in the local economy. The ordinance allows the county, at its discretion, to apply a local preference credit of up to 3 percent for bidders whose principal place of business is within a 50‑mile radius of the county and within Illinois; the ordinance also caps the maximum local‑preference credit at $100,000 for any single procurement. The amendment codifies existing responsible‑bidder criteria (including disqualification for prevailing‑wage violations) and adds a process for tie resolution where multiple bidders submit identical low offers.

Committee members asked how the 50‑mile radius would interact with Collar Counties and Cook County bidders and whether a local preference could increase project costs; staff said the 3% credit is optional per procurement and that a $100,000 maximum means the credit only affects very large projects. Public‑works members requested better access to bid opening data and a regular spreadsheet of bids; staff said bid openings are public, the county posts procurement records online and they would provide updated bid lists on request.

The committee adopted the ordinance on a recorded vote; members discussed possible adjustments to the radius but took no amendment at this meeting.","The executive committee approved an amendment to the county purchasing code that permits a local preference credit (up to 3%) for public‑works bids within a 50‑mile radius in Illinois and establishes tie‑handling rules; committee discussion raised concerns about scope and cost impacts.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6063844,"Will County moves to complete buyouts tied to DuPage River flood‑risk project",63,552000,615000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3262576-7d900663fbc158b2f6283f4770a0cdcc&start=552&end=615","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3262576-7d900663fbc158b2f6283f4770a0cdcc/thumbnail_552000.jpg","/articles/6063844/Will-County/Illinois/Will-County-moves-to-complete-buyouts-tied-to-DuPage-River-floodrisk-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063844-4a40be639db52a583a0b0afa3b522573/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196336&Signature=BGY6387Rrq3vfLhb7I~h3PeQskDAAWKZaGuHn8zdsd0Z9NDFXi149Y5VXnhj~w1SiGgBThLkrfvCZCJpiCQDR3nAgcZKSmpsKYBMV84WdJu7R3U-JpgO5WpFjrwVxRGXsiONe-ckNMwb~I4au~jG4KOkJ5uhJy41t3OahmOPj4vp27gL63KkjigmlIbVIdPvCYucJQyOY7xiovF1Ksyaz-KGSAXPn-IPJPGtzWWg4xop1TSzUCwqJNLFzX4JABYT923TIlQQpRIdj3TNjRSBrRqhe30Cv~sK-CHw5K4FyLnKezLY8a8Rc68zbOaxhoORgVDmJvBxGqrJ5le4Bp3E5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Will County staff reported progress on a multi‑year DuPage River buyout project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and received committee approval to proceed with purchase of one remaining property in Shorewood that lies in the floodway.

County land‑acquisition work on behalf of the Corps began under a feasibility study started in 2015; the feasibility report was issued in 2019 and a project partnership agreement was signed in 2020, county staff said. Under that agreement, the county is required to buy properties identified for removal from the floodplain and floodway so structures can be returned to vacant land or parkland and future flood claims reduced.

Staff said the county earlier completed purchase and demolition of six properties in Plainfield Township; demolition and site restoration were finished about two weeks before the meeting. Two study areas remain: a site in Bolingbrook where the Corps is still determining whether additional purchases are necessary, and a Shorewood property near U.S. 59 and Jefferson that is in the floodway and for which the county sought approval to purchase under the same terms used for the earlier acquisitions. The committee approved moving forward with that Shorewood purchase.

County staff emphasized that purchases required under the Corps agreement are targeted to remove structures from the floodplain/floodway; the ultimate disposition of returned parcels could be vacant land or parkland. Committee members asked clarifying questions about the Bolingbrook study and one Shorewood site that might instead be flood‑proofed, and staff said the Corps will determine those outcomes in coming months.

The committee approved the resolution authorizing the Shorewood purchase; the motion passed on a clean roll call.","Will County staff said six buyouts tied to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers DuPage River feasibility project are complete and the committee approved purchase of an additional property in Shorewood; two other areas remain under study.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6063849,"Will County board debates removing county-level public hearings for land-use cases",3540,883000,4423000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3262576-7d900663fbc158b2f6283f4770a0cdcc&start=883&end=4423","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3262576-7d900663fbc158b2f6283f4770a0cdcc/thumbnail_883000.jpg","/articles/6063849/Will-County/Illinois/Will-County-board-debates-removing-county-level-public-hearings-for-land-use-cases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063849-2e9db658b073cd98cd3992dfbd46c147/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196336&Signature=MFWI0~Gfy1tICdT01K05QOV0Wh6DKFQyd-SojQukJ7qcpJ2-LXZl~cQ7HkIAaxLnmBoR2mFd5uNMAlv29SFoMj4zhx0360yEGnWh3TwiUjYvc4tbkHANKi7xL-2Or2NCI3F4fqlq8ejL6cOuJQi9lN47dJrT6~LFicZ9iLgFF2ceOvigM0awOulTZp46K81zj12omgeNeedicHBTx7F9nJW0okZR0Yhl47vLtNku8oSnT9poy66Am13rwhJlGOs6hjScJYky4Gh4vqpEHgVzFRimC-QNNxUKa5cH~B9U-Xs0cZDoTemGoCH055iM9~SVmZzjgrTBSokSY8z4VsMybg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A proposal to eliminate county board public hearings for land‑use cases and rely on the Planning and Zoning Commission (PCC) record prompted an extended debate at the Will County Board Executive Committee meeting, with no final policy change decided and a committee‑of‑the‑whole training scheduled for May 14.

Supporters of limiting hearings to the PCC said state statute requires a hearing before the PCC and that relying on a single adjudicatory record could reduce duplicative procedures and legal exposure. An attorney from the State’s Attorney’s Office told members the statute requires at least one hearing before the PCC and that the county board’s second hearing is a policy choice rather than a legal requirement.

Opponents said removing the county‑level public hearing would reduce opportunities for residents to be heard before the elected body that casts the final vote and could undermine public trust. Multiple county board members said they attend PCC or land‑use meetings now but noted many residents cannot easily attend evening PCC meetings. Several members argued the full board’s hearing gives the entire governing body a chance to hear testimony directly.

Committee discussion covered process and legal issues, including:
- The statutory baseline: the attorney advised the PCC hearing is required by statute and that relying on the administrative record is a recognized administrative‑law practice, but that whether to hold a separate county board hearing is a policy choice.
- Evidence and due process: legal staff said only evidence introduced and admitted in the public hearing may be relied on in adjudicatory decisions; extraneous conversations, emails or site visits cannot be the basis of a land‑use ruling.
- Practical concerns: members said duplicative hearings can increase meeting length and public burden, while others said removing the county hearing would make residents feel shut out.

The committee did not vote on any ordinance change. The State’s Attorney’s Office will lead a training on May 14 for the full board to explain the land‑use flow (PCC, land‑use committee, and full board), evidentiary limits, FOIA/deposition risk and how committee recommendations translate into final votes. Committee members were asked to submit specific questions ahead of that session.

The discussion will continue at the committee of the whole training; no procedural changes were adopted at this meeting.","County officials and staff debated a proposal to eliminate the county board public hearing for zoning and land‑use matters and rely on the Planning and Zoning Commission record; no vote was taken and the item was scheduled for deeper training and review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Will County committee approves returning start time of board meetings to 9:30 a.m.

Committee backs resolution supporting dissolution of Southeast Joliet Sanitary District and transfer to City of Joliet

Will County adopts ordinance allowing local preference credits for public‑works bids

Will County moves to complete buyouts tied to DuPage River flood‑risk project

Will County board debates removing county-level public hearings for land-use cases