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County Expands Protections for Major Road Corridor with Freeway Designation
The Will County Executive Committee voted Thursday to designate a two-mile stretch of Manhattan-Monee Road as a county freeway, adding new protections for the recently acquired roadway while sparking debate about future development impacts. The designation of County Highway 6 between Route 45 and Center Road as a freeway requires developers to dedicate 75 feet…
Read MoreWill County Takes Steps to Release Opioid Settlement Funds Amid Growing Crisis
The Will County Executive Committee approved a framework Thursday that will help release long-delayed opioid settlement funds to local organizations, as officials reported distributing over 13,000 doses of the overdose reversal drug Narcan in the first ten months of 2024. The committee’s action establishes a formal program aligned with national settlement guidelines, potentially ending months…
Read MoreWill County Legislative Committee Meeting 11/13/24
Will County Health Officials Push for Expanded Vaccine Access, Narcan Distribution
Will County Health Department officials appeared before the Legislative Committee Thursday to advocate for expanding vaccine access and maintaining free distribution of overdose prevention tools. Assistant Executive Director Denise Bergen and other health department leaders requested support for expanding the Vaccine for Children program to include uninsured and underinsured adults. The department also seeks resources…
Read MoreIllinois Legislature Enters Veto Session with Focus on Energy Policy
The Will County Legislative Committee heard that Illinois’ veto session could see action on energy policy, particularly regarding battery storage, as the state considers codifying regulations that might be rolled back under a Trump administration. “If they fear that the federal government will roll back some energy regulations and they want to see those kept…
Read MoreFederal Changes Coming as Trump Returns to White House, Legislative Update Shows
During a federal legislative update to Will County’s Legislative Committee, lobbyist Katherine reported that President Trump’s return to the White House is already impacting Congressional priorities, including decisions about the federal budget and key legislation. Congress faces several critical decisions during the lame duck session, including: “With Republicans having flipped the House and taken the…
Read MoreAquifer Study Funding Approved Amid Discussion of Regional Water Concerns
The Finance Committee’s approval of $300,000 for aquifer research highlighted growing concerns about water sustainability across Will County, particularly in unincorporated areas relying on shallow aquifers. The study will involve multiple stakeholders, including: The Will County Environmental Network, which has advocated for the study since raising initial concerns that led to Joliet securing Lake Michigan…
Read MoreWill County Committee Approves Budget with Route 66 Funding Change, Debate Over Tourism Impact
The Will County Finance Committee approved the fiscal year 2025 budget Thursday, but not before extensive debate over a last-minute $200,000 funding request for Route 66 Centennial celebrations that highlighted tensions between tourism promotion and fiscal oversight. The funding request from Heritage Corridor, which covers seven counties along the historic route, sparked discussion about proper…
Read MoreSunny Hill Nursing Home Raises Private Pay Rates, Cites Rising Costs
The Sunny Hill Nursing Home Board of Directors approved a modest increase in private pay room rates during their recent meeting. The increase, which will go into effect in early 2025, aims to help the facility cover rising daily operating costs. Maggie McDow, representing the Friends of Sunny Hill organization, reported the nursing home’s recent…
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