County Board - Regular Meeting

Good morning everyone. Welcome to the Will County Board meeting for December 18th. Call this meeting to order. Leader Richmond will lead us in the pledge of allegiance and introduce the clergy. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Sorry. Good morning everyone. Uh today I'd like to introduce Pastor Kevin Dietrich. He's the lead pastor at Cross Point Church in Lockport, Illinois. He served there as a pastor for over three years and has been in the ministry in various churches throughout the Chicagoland area for over 30 years. So, let's welcome Pastor Kevin.

Good morning. Thank you. It's an honor to be here. I'd just like to open us in prayer this morning. So, if you would just bow your heads with me. Heavenly Father, thank you for this morning. Thank you for all the things that are going to be accomplished today. I pray that you would fill this uh council with your wisdom and understanding that as the various things that are discussed this morning comes up, they would know uh what are the best decisions to make. I pray for a sense of unity, God. Not a unity that where we all have the same mind, but a unity that we are seeking the same purposes, Lord, and uh that we are able to make the best decisions possible because uh we're able to discuss with clarity and hear one another out. So, give us uh the ability and the wisdom to listen to one another, God. And uh I just pray for blessing, Lord. May the things that are discussed and planned and the purposes that are accomplished today bring blessing to Will County and the surrounding areas, Lord. And I pray your blessing upon everyone that participates in this meeting. Bless them, their families, and we thank you for this in Jesus name. Amen.

Yeah. Madame clerk, please call the role. Richmond, Williams, Dean, Slapman, Ogala, Pretzel, Butler, Newquist, Balich, Oxley, Brooks,

Winfrey, Bullock, Logan, Breeman, Revvice, Mitchell Ortiz, Burkowitz, Hickeyi, Costa, Trineer, Vandine, 18. With 18 members present, we have a quorum. Um, I need a motion to place on file the certificate of publication. Motion by Revvis, seconded by Traneer. Madame clerk, please call the role. Richmond Williams. Pretzel. Yes. Butler.

Newquist. Axley. Yes. Brooks. Yes. Winfrey. Bulock. Logan. Yes. Freeman. Revvice. Burkowitz. Hickeyi. Costa. Trineer. Yes. Vanine. Yes. With 18 in the affirmative. The motion carries. Moving on to the approval of minutes. I need a motion to approve the minutes from the November 20th, 2025 board meeting. Motion by N, seconded by Hickeyi. Is there

previous roll call by Brooks, seconded by Oxley. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. I need a motion to approve the minutes from the November 20th, 2025 executive session. Motion by Freeman, seconded by Triner. Previous roll call by Winfrey, seconded by Revvis. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Finally, I need a motion to approve the minutes from the December 4th, 2025 special meeting. Motion by Freeman, seconded by Butler, previous roll call by Hickey, seconded by Brooks. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Madame Clerk, will you please acknowledge elected officials and media present today?

We have County Executive Jennifer Bertino Tarant, County Clerk Annette Parker, Recorder of Deeds Karen Stukco, and Treasurer Tim Brophy. Oh, and I see Sheriff Mike Kelly. Thank you. This time we are going to invite Speaker Van Dyne to come to the uh the podium to read the proclamation honoring the retirement of Will County Under Sheriff Brian Kzer. Thank you, Madam Exe Executive. Let's let Yeah. Okay. You're going to call him up on

Yeah. Uh Under Sheriff Concert, if you'd like come down and uh invite all your colleagues if you if you if you'd like. There's there's room. There's plenty of room, guys. Stand right here. Some people stand right here.

All right. Um, County of Will proclamation. Whereas Brian Coner has served for the Will County Sheriff's Office with distinction for 29 years, earning the respect of his colleagues with the work ethic and commitment to the public safety. And whereas after beginning his career as a deputy correctional officer in 1996, Brian Coner has risen through the ranks of the Will County Sheriff's Office, serving as a deputy sheriff, sergeant, lieutenant, deputy chief, and under sheriff. And whereas Brian Coner has served as the under sheriff since 2019, providing strategic leadership and oversight to all aspects of the Will County Sheriff's Office, including adult detention, enforcement, special operations, and support services. And whereas Brian Coner has dedicated his professional career to public service as both a law enforcement leader and a veteran of the United States Air Force. Now therefore, it be proclaimed that the Will County Board and the Will County Executive do hereby recognize the leadership and dedication of Brian Coner to the county of Will and the people of Will County through his 29 years of service at the Will County Sheriff's Office. Be it further pro proclaimed that the Will County Board and the Will County Executive wish him a long, healthy, and happy retirement. dated the 18th day of December, 2025, signed by Joe Van Dy, Will County Board Speaker, Jennifer Bertino Tarant, our Will County Executive, and attested by Annette Parker, our Will County Clerk. And I so move.

We can do it. Doesn't matter. Motion by Van Dy, seconded by Revis. All in favor? Motion carries. Congratulations. A quick picture before you go in front here quicker than I can sit down. Want to get in the sh? Sure.

Yeah. Yep. Some words. Let me start. Okay.

Thank you very much for this honor to represent Under Sheriff Brian Kaer. Couple things I'll say. um you know, as sheriff for the last 11 years. I had an under sheriff when I first got elected in 2014 and he retired and I thought to myself, when you lose your right-hand person, what are you going to do? You know, you got to find someone to replace him. And I knew right away Brian was the guy for the job for sure cuz I worked with Brian for he got hired in 96 and I got hired unfortunately in ' 88, but that's how old I am. So, you think to yourself, how's this going to go? you know, you you lose your right-hand person and but then you hope you got somebody as good or even better. And my under last under sheriff was very very good. This one has surpassed my expectations as under sheriff and the uh Will County Sheriff's Office and the citizens of Will County and of course myself, Will County Sheriff owe this man a lot of gratitude. 29 years on somewhere is a long time. before that he was served his country. So, I'm gonna miss him. Uh don't think I'm not going to call you once in a while just just in case. Um so, I wish you all the best and uh I appreciate everything you did for this department uh since the day you were hired, Brian. Yeah,

this is impromptu. Um I have to lower the mic a little bit here. Um, I just appreciate the county board, the county executive's office, the state's attorney's office. They've all made this easy for me. We've gotten things done when we needed body cams. Both sides of the aisle got together. Um, I can't thank everybody enough for making this possible. It's been a great 29-year career, and I'm going to miss all you. Thank you very much for this. At this time, we're going to move on to public comment for agenda items only. At this time, I invite anyone to come up to the public uh for today's agenda items. If you are here for a land use case, you will be able to speak during land use. So, if you have uh public comment, please come up at this time. Any other any public comment for today's agenda items? Yeah. If it's a land use case, you don't have to come. Is it a land use? Okay, then. Sure. Come on up. A reminder that our uh our speakers have three minutes. and please introduce yourself. Thank you.

Uh I am Dr. Sharma. I have the I believe it's a second agenda item for uh proposed drug and alcohol rehab facility. Um I do have a statement that I just wanted to read, so bear with me. Um first and foremost, happy holiday. I do think you're in land use. So, yeah, it'll go under our land use hearing. Yes, you are. Yeah. So, thank you. Yep. Okay. Thank you. You're number two.

Yeah, you can wait if you want to. Right there. Yeah. Any other for non-land use public agenda items? All right. Thank you. Moving on to old business. All resolutions and ordinance from the November 20th, 2025 board meeting have been returned. The resolution from December 4th, 2025 board meeting has been signed and returned. Moving on to land use and development. Sorry, I lost my I lost my display here. Sorry, I can't turn you on. There you are. Chair Pretzel.

Madame Executive, I'd like to make a motion to open public hearing for all land use cases. Second by clerk. Motion by pretzel. Seconded by Revis. Madame clerk, please call the role. Richmond. Williams. Pretzel. Yes. Butler. Yes. Newquest. Yes. Axley. Yes. Brooks. Yes. Winfrey. Yes. Bulock. Logan. Yes. Freeman. Yes. Revis. Burkowitz. Hickey. Costa R.

Thank you. We're now in public hearing. Absolutely. No new evidence or information will be allowed once land use public hearing is closed. Dr. Sham uh Dr. Ben Sharma. Um, good morning chairperson, board members, and distinguished guests. My name is uh, Pippen Chararma, and I'm the CEO and founder of Existential Counselor Society. It's an honor to be here today as we take this final and crucial step toward expanding life-changing services for women in Will County. Since 2016, ECS has proudly provided gender specific residential treatment for men, specializing in substance use and co-occurring disorders. Over the years, we have seen firsthand how gender responsive treatments promote deeper healing, stronger engagement, and more durable long-term recovery. This experience has shaped our understanding of what works and importantly, what is missing. For years, our community partners, referral networks, hospitals, and behavioral health organizations have consistently asked us the same question. When will ECS open a woman's program? Today I stand here because we are answering that call. Women experiencing substance use disorders often face unique and complex challenges including trauma histories, caregiving responsibilities, and limited access to treatment environments designed specifically for their needs. Yet today in Will County, there is no freestanding residential treatment program for women. This is a critical gap in care that no longer can be ignored. As of November 25, 2025, women accounted for 13 of the 59 overdose overdose deaths in Will County. Roughly 22% of all confirmed fatalities. These numbers represent mothers,

daughters, sisters, and friends. Their lives matter, their recovery matters. And today, we have the opportunity to build a kind of dedicated space where they where that recovery can truly begin. At ECS, our care is grounded in existential psychotherapy, an approach that helps individuals reconnect with meaning, purpose, identity, and agency. Addiction often strips these things away. Existential therapy allows our clients to rebuild from within to confront the deeper emotional and personal struggles that fuel substance use and to step into stronger, more self-defined future. The facility we are proposing today is designed to be safe, structured, and clinically sound with the following features. Fully licensed, and inspected according to state standards. Locked and access controlled to ensure safety for clients in the community. Staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by trained professionals. A low census of 13 to a maximum of 16 clients allowing individualized therapeutic focus. non- detox, non-acute, serving only medically stable clients, quiet, structured, and therapeutically centered, not disruptive or high traffic. We also we are also proud to be one of the few providers in this region who accept Illinois Medicaid plans, ensuring that treatment is accessible not just to those with means, but to every woman who needs it. Recovery should never be determined by the socioeconomic status of a person. Our proposed women's residential treatment program reflects the needs voiced by our partners, the hospitals, law enforcement, coalitions, and behavioral health agencies who see the gaps daily and who know exactly how urgently this is needed. Many of the partners here today in support including Silver Oaks Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, Ros Councils of Will County, Grundy and Kanka Key, the Behavioral Health Alliance of Grundy County, Hartgrove Behavioral Health System,

Chicago Behavioral Hospital, Aadia Healthcare Southwest Coalition on Substance Abuse Issues, the Will County Sheriff Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, TASK, Wilmington Coalition for a Healthy Community. Their presence and support speaks louder than any statistic. They represent the front lines, those who meet individuals and families at their most vulnerable moments. Their unified endorsement of this program reflects a shared commitment to safety, dignity, and recovery for women in the community. To the board, we respect I respectfully ask for your yes vote. A vote that will expand access, save lives, and bring a long-awaited, desperately needed resource to Will County. On behalf of ECS, our staff, our partners, and the women whose futures will be forever changed by this program. Thank you for your time, your consideration, and your leadership. I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have. Good morning. My name is Angela Ciss. I'm owner of Crossroads Counseling Services and president of the Grand County Behavioral Health Alliance. And I'm here to speak in strong support of existential counselor Society's proposal to open a Women's Residential Treatment Program in Will County. At Crossroads, we work daily with individuals and families impacted by substance use disorders. And we see firsthand that this crisis is not theoretical. It is local, urgent, and growing. Nationally, overdose deaths remain at historic highs, driven largely by fentanyl and poly substance use. Women are are increasingly affected, often with co-occurring trauma, depression, anxiety, and caregiving responsibilities that make traditional outpatient care insufficient.

What makes this proposal especially meaningful to us is that Crossroads Counseling Services has directly witnessed the quality of care provided by ECS. We have seen their clinical approach in action and we have heard powerful testimonies from clients whose lives were quite literally saved. Individuals who found stability, dignity, and renewed hope through their program. This is not a theoretical model. It's a proven one. Women benefit from gender responsive trauma-informed residential treatment that recognizes unique pathways into substance use and the barriers women face in accessing care. Programs like this improve engagement, reduce relapse risk, support family reunification, and ultimately strengthen the entire community. This proposed women's residential program represents a critical gap being filled in Mo County, one that will reduce preventable harm, save lives, and provide long-term pathways to recovery. On behalf of Crossroads Counseling Services and the Grundy County BHA, I strongly urge the board to support ECS in bringing this essential service to our community. Thank you for your time and consideration. Good morning and happy holidays to everyone. My name is Nisha Stringfellow. I serve as the executive director of HLM recovery which stands for HeartLife Ministries. We are a faith-based organization but we are in partnership with the state of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Human Services. We are a ROS a recovery oriented system of care. There are 30 49 recovery oriented systems of care throughout different counties and will county has to be happens to be one of the ones that serves. We are the resource and the network hub that leads people to existential counselor society. We get calls all the time and we are bridging the gap and also filling the gaps where there are within the county to say hey there are support services needed through mental health, substance use

disorder, unhoused people and also unemployed. We know without uh prolonging the issue is just to say that healthy people represent healthy communities, healthy families and a healthy world. And so we definitely endorse um the existential counselors women's facility that's coming and I say coming very hopefully to be able to bridge the gap and to meet the needs that are in the community. Thank you so much. Good morning. My name is Paula. I am the um my sorry my name is Paula Extramm. I'm from Southern Will County in Wilmington. I am the program director for the Wilmington Coalition for Healthy Community. Our job is to do prevention education and we work towards um substance misuse and stigma dealing with the stigma of mental health. We know the importance that prevention cannot stand alone in our battle against substance misuse and mental health issues and we know that we have to partner with treatment and recovery. I am also a person of recovery. Um I have 37 years um since I decided to change my life. Today I want to speak to you as a woman of recovery. It's it's different to be a woman in recovery. We are supposed we are we are raised to be the heart and soul of our family to be the one that takes care of the children whenever whenever nobody else is there. We are

the ones that that teach our children right from wrong. We are the ones that keep them warm. We are the ones that feed them. We are the ones that attend their events. Now, please, I am not male bashing here, but we know that typically men have been the breadwinners and their most important thing in in their lives, many of them, is to pay for all of this. They're not necessarily the handson that the women are. So if you do not have a woman who is thinking properly, who is taking care of their mental health, uh that is trying to deal with the issues that they have in life by treating themselves with alcohol or substance misuse, then that's going to carry down to the children. So, by dealing with a female home of recovery, it gives a a woman a safe place to be able to talk to be able to talk about the things that go on in their lives, the things that have happened to them because of the decisions that they have made in their lives. When I first be when I first see recovery, when I left, all my stuff was thrown out on the front porch and the front yard. I had no place to go. I didn't have a job. I was a stay-at-home mom and I had to stay in a in a women's shelter. Um, so I know what it's like to not have a place to lay your head, to not have a place to put your stuff, to not have the money for a down payment on an apartment, um, not have a job. And so those are all things that many women have to face. and

to have as steady of a base of recovery under them as possible is a huge huge thing for not only them but for the families that they are trying to raise. So I encourage you all to um to approve the amendment to the ordinance. Thank you. Good morning, Will County Board. My name is Sabrina Parino. I'm the director of clinical services at Heartrove Behavioral Health System. I've been with the organization for nearly 10 years. Um, this is Carol Kellgalen, director of strategic partnership for Hart Grove. She's been with our organization for nearly 30 years. We've worked with ECS for many years discharging our psychiatrically stable adult male dual diagnosis patients into their men's substance abuse residential program to continue their treatment journeys. We've been one of the facilities encouraging and awaiting anxiously for ECS uh to open a women's treatment program because we trust the care that ECS provides our patients during a time of vulnerability. In addition, Harker has just received our super license and can out treat primary substance abuse patients. Following this change, we anticipate um the need in our partnership with ECS to grow even stronger. The ability to be able to refer women to continue their treatment journey where they where we know they will be able to receive excellent care is very much so needed for this patient population. The need for a program like this is there. We strongly encourage the board to approve ECS opening these beds for women so that they can continue to impact lives um positively. Thank you. Good morning. My name is Minister Dr. Mary White

and um I am an overcomer of adverse childhood experiences witnessing um my brother being run over by a truck around the age of six, sexually assaulted, um hit on the head with a bat at an elementary school with no authority intervention. um substance um misuse, abuse, uh suicide attempts and gestures, hospitalization, mental health hospitalization, detox rehab, halfway house, uh I was a high school dropout, uh a substance abuse counseling, uh and uh a high school dropout and uh homelessness and all of that was in included in my uh testimony here. Um but uh I was able to get my GED uh associates degree in substance abuse counseling, a bachelor's uh degree in psychology, and a bachelor's degree in social work with a double major right here at the University of St. Francis. a master's of social work degree, a doctoral degree in ministry, and I'm a boardcertified mental health coach, a board certified master mental health coach, and a master diploma in a youth mental health coaching and uh in human flourishing today. And I thank God for this here. I am a wife, a a mother, a grandmother, and a great grandmother. and I am a licensed ordained ministry currently associate ministry minister of New Beginnings Christ Church of Faith Ministries where I also serve as their

super uh Sunday school superintendent uh through all of this here and I thank God more uh the most for everything for everything. um Periclet Ministries, which is approaching our 25th year of existence. We are a nonforprofit organization. 2026, I'll say it again, 26 years of giving back to Will County and giving back to the community. Um I'm a published author and um through Pericle Ministries we uh 2007 uh increase the light broadcast on WWATN radio. Uh 2008 soul care affair 2013 we began the longest night homeless memorial celebration which continues today. uh 2018 grandparents raising children 2021 Christ centered coaching for churches and I am one of many women who have profoundly benefited from uh a woman's residential facility. I what went into at the time was um Tri County then over to sheltering arms and um and through uh the counseling and the mental health intervention and things that I needed uh you know God you used all of that for me to be here and standing before you today. Today I can say that uh I am living a good life uh thanks to God. H uh happiness and life satisfaction. My mental and physical health is good. I have meaning and purpose in my life. I I believe I have a good character and virtue. Uh I have good close relationships and my financial and I am financially and

materially stable. And so today, I just ask you to please approve this so many more women will be able to have a a good uh resilient and flourishing life. Thank you, Minister White. I think we have a question for you. Member Revis, I didn't catch your name. Could you share that? I right here. Could you c could you share your name one more time? My name is Minister Dr. Mary White. What an impressive story. I think it's great testimony and it's proof how God works in mysterious ways. So keep it up and keep being inspiration to everybody that you help. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Good morning everyone. My name is Quentina Shelby and I'm coming to you from Silver Oaks Behavioral Hospital. I have been an employee of Silver Oaks for 5 years and I've seen many women come in and out of the doors needing help. And the only thing that we need currently now is a place for those women right here in the Will County area to be able to have a secure place for them to go. Um women programs are able to dedicate more time issues like support for mothers managing mental health disorders like depression and anxiety and all female treatment program also helps to reduce the stigma that associated with addiction. Women often face harsher criticism for their addiction related behaviors and choices than men. Being surrounded by other women who share similar experiences can create a more supportive atmosphere that promotes growth and increases the effect effectiveness of treatment. The bonding that women experience in a treatment program goes far beyond casual friendships and relationships. Women tend to learn to encourage and support one another in their recovery journey. They also learn how to mentor one another and help each other stay accountable for long after their treatment is done. Generally speaking, women are more often receptive to talk therapies. Talk therapies which meaning they're able to talk about their traumas. They're able to talk about their stress. They're able to talk about their depression, their anxiety, their panic attacks, their major life changes. As we know, women go through a lot of changes. Female biology can also make women more susceptible to specific to specific medical pro problems related to drugs and alcohol such as digestive

issues. Gender specific programs focus on the needs of women without spending time on issues that don't enhance their recovery. I ask that you all vote today that we all bring a all women facility to the area. Thank you and you all have a blessed day.

Hi everybody. Thank you so much for your time today and for listening to everybody's stories and um just support of ECS. My name is Yolanda Zenega and I'm a treatment placement specialist with Aadia Healthcare. And as a treatment placement specialist, my role is to help individuals and family find the right level of care for primary substance use disorders. Often at moments of crisis, this is where I see clients the most call for help and finding um programs in their community that can support them in their hour of need. What I see consistently is a lack of gender responsive options for women, especially programs designed specifically for primary substance use treatment. Too often, women are placed into settings that weren't built with their needs in mind or they delay in care altogether because the right option doesn't really exist. An all women's substance program isn't a luxury, it's a clinical necessity. Women are more likely to engage and remain in treatment when care addresses trauma safely and in re good relationship dynamics. As a treatment placement specialist, I see the gaps when these programs don't exist and the pro sorry and in the progress when they do. ECS has the opportunity to meet a critical need and strengthen recovery outcomes for women in our community. and I hope you vote yes to allow them to build that for us. Thank you. Good morning everybody. Um my name is uh Britney Ringo and I'm the director of business development for Silver Oaks Behavioral Health Hospital. Um, Silver Oaks regularly partners with ECS as part

of our continuum of care and many of our male patients have been successfully discharged to the ECS um, residential treatment program. We have been uh, the firstand um, we have been the firstand place uh, for individuals struggling with mental health and substance abuse and it's really important that we have providers like ECS to be able to discharge our patients to. Um however from a clinical and an operational standpoint we face a significant gap within when it comes down to our women. Um we routinely stabilize women at the impatient level who are clinically appropriate for residential treatment. Yet there are very limited and um often no local options available in within Will County for safe trauma-informed women women's residential care. As a result, women are frequently discharged far from home, separated from their support systems or placed in settings that are not designed to meet their specific needs. Um, as a second reminder as well, a lot of uh females that we do service are the caregivers of their family and they are battling with depression and also substance abuse. Um, when we cannot care for them, they cannot care for their families. So, it just adds to a cycle of um, you know, displaced care within um, our families um, in our community. Um I also recently this um year as I'm pretty new to Silver Oaks um I had attended the uh shine your light substance abuse event hosted by the new Linux safe um communities coalition and um I had the opportunity to speak directly firsthand with so many ECS clients. Um many of them had started um within their journey at Silver Oaks and then we discharged them to their program. So many of them came to me and um honestly just had down to earth conversations and told me how much they benefited from the ECS program and how it changed their life. And a lot of the men said that they would not be alive today if it wasn't for the care and the

uh the support that they had received for their substance abuse issues. Um approving a women's residential treatment program in the Will County would directly address a critical gap in our local behavioral health system. Um, it would allow hospitals like ours to safely discharge women to appropriate care, improve continuity of treatment, and ultimately strengthen our outcomes for women and families in our community. Um, I strongly support the ECS proposal and resp um, respectfully urge for you all to approve their program. Thank you.

Is there anyone here any other presentations for land use? Think we're good. Chair. Madam Executive, I move that we close public hearing. Motion by Pretzel, seconded by I'm sorry, who's Oxley. Madame clerk, please call the role. Richmond, yes. Williams, pretzel, yes. Butler, yes. Newquiz, yes. Oxley, yes. Brooks, yes. Winfrey. Bulock. Logan, yes. Freeman, Revis, Burkowitz, Hickeyi, Costa, Trineer,

Bandid, yes, thank you. First up on today's agenda, OAD25-353 for zoning case 25-104. This is a map amendment from R2 to C3 at 13737 South Archer Avenue, Lamont, Illinois County Board District number four. PZC approved 4 to zero and land use and development committee approved six to zero. And I so move. Motion by Pretzel, seconded by Freeman. Previous previous roll call by Oxley, seconded by Brooks. All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion carries. Number two, OARDD25-354 for zoning case 25-103 map amendment from C4 to R5 and a special use permit for a halfway house or an inpatient rehab facility at 111 Patterson Road, Joliet, Illinois County Board District number six, PCC approved 6 to zero. Uh the map amendment, land use and development approved six to zero the map amendment and I so move Hold on one second. Hold on. We're going to set we're going to do one for the map and then one for the special use. So, can you just announce the map one again? Right. So, first we're going to vote on the map amendment from C4 to R5 and I so move.

Motion by Pretzel, seconded by Traneer. Previous previous roll call by Oxy, seconded by Burkwitch. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Next, uh same case, special use permit for a halfway house or an inpatient rehab facility. And I so move motion by uh pretzel, seconded by Freeman. Previous roll call by Burkwood, seconded by Brooks. All in favor? Any oppose? Motion carries.

Three on the agenda. OD25-355. Zoning case 25-109. Special use permit for a light equipment sales/renalss in New Lennox Township at 202 Ford Drive, New Lennox, Illinois County Board District number two. PCC approved 4 to zero. Land use and development approved six to zero with seven conditions and I so move. Motion by Pretzel, seconded by Nquist, previous roll call by Burkwitz, seconded by Oxley. All in favor? Any oppose? Motion carries.

Number four, OAD25-356. Amending chapter 155 of the Will County Code of Ordinances. Will County zoning ordinance chapter 155-10.20 for temporary uses. PCC approved six to zero and I so move. Motion by Pretzel, seconded by Burkowitz. Previous roll call by I'm sorry by Nquis, second by Richmond. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Number five, OD25-298 for zoning case 25-080. I'd like to make a motion to move this case to the January agenda, please.

The motion to move until January. Motion by Pretzel, seconded by uh Freeman, previous roll call by Oxley, seconded by Newquish. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. It'll be tabled till January. Till January. Yeah, that was just uh it was an it shouldn't have been on this agenda in the first place. So, thank you.

Uh under land use and development committee resolutions. First up, resolution 25-357 SCT25-022. This is a first extension for a special use permit for a commercial solar energy facility with four conditions. Zoning KZ ZC23093 Mooney Township 26723 South Will Center Road Mooney Illinois County Board District number three and I so move. Motion by Pretzel, seconded by Freeman. Previous roll call by Nquis, seconded by Madam Clerk, please call the role. Richmond, Williams, yes. Pretzel, yes.

Butler, Newquiz, no. Axley, yes. Brooks, yes. Winfrey, yes. Bulock, yes. Logan, yes. Freeman, yes. Revisit, yes. Burkowitz, yes. Hickeyi Costa Traineer Trader Traer. Yes. Van Done. Yes. 16 in the affirmative. The motion carries.

Number two, resolution 25-358 SCXT25-023. This is a first extension for special use permit for a commercial solar energy facility with four conditions for zoning case ZC23094 again in Mooney Township at the northwest corner of West Pauling Road and Southville Center Road Mooney Illinois County Board District number three and I so move motion by Pretzel second by Freeman previous roll call by Winfrey seconded by Bullock all in favor I any opposed motion carries yeah I'm assuming the Same nose as we're Yep.

number three, resolution 25-359, SCXT25-024. This is a second extension for special use permit for a landscape and lawn maintenance business with five conditions at 17958 South Cedar Road, Homer Glenn, Illinois County Board District number four. And I so move. Motion by Pretzel, seconded by Freeman. Yes. Madam clerk, please call the role. You have a question. Okay. Sorry. Madam Richmond. Williams, yes. Pretzel, yes. Butler, yes. Newquest, yes. Oxley, yes. Brooks, yes. Winfrey, yes. Bulock, Logan, yes.

Freeman, yes. Revis, yes. Burkowitz. Hickeyi Costa Traer. Van Dy, yes. In the affirmative. The motion carries. Uh, next resolution 25-360. I'd like to make a motion to remove this from the agenda. Motion by Pretzel. Second. Seconded by Oxley. Any discussion? Um, is there previous by Richmond? Second by Winfrey. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Next land use and development committee meeting is scheduled for I'm sorry. Just wanted to make sure. All good.

Yep. All good. Uh, next land use and development meeting is scheduled for February 5th. There will be no January meeting because it falls on the new year. So, thanks everybody. Thank you. We're moving on to finance. Chair Nquist. Good morning everybody. We did not meet. We have a couple of resolutions that'll be in the executive section, but we do have uh the monthly finance reports to be placed on file and I so move. Motion by Newquist. Second Hickey. Seconded by Hickey. Previous roll call by Brooks. Seconded by Winfrey. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. That's it. Our next finance committee meeting is scheduled for January 6, 2026. Thank you.

Thank you. Moving on to public works and transportation. Chair Traneer. Thank you, Madame Executive. Uh we had a fairly calm meeting. Um we do have an consent agenda. Um, has there been any changes to consent agenda? I was told there was going to be a change.

What would you like removed? A. Okay. Thank you. A is what you'd like to remove, Mr. Bich? Yeah, I I uh like the project, but I just want to bring up the fact that we can talk about it then. We're just removing it at this point. We'll we'll have a separate vote then we'll come back to it. So I'll start it's removed

with letter B on the consent agenda confirming award of contract to various contractors let on November 19th for countywide maintenance materials pumminous patching all county board road districts. Uh letter C confirming award of contract to various contractors let on November 19th for countywide maintenance materials Bumitus Prime all county board districts. Letter D, confirming award of contract to various contractors led on November 19. Countywide Maintenance Materials various aggregate all county board districts. Letter E, confirming award of contract to Decker Supply, Inc. Let on November 19th, countywide maintenance materials sign materials, all county board districts. Letter F, confirming award of contract to Decker Supply, Inc. led on November 19th. Countywide maintenance materials sheet aluminum sign panels all county board districts. Letter G, adopting ID dot resolution for improvements by county under the Illinois County Highway Code for the countywide maintenance materials. All county board districts using MFTt funds 5 million 5,300,600. Letter H, authorizing approval of professional services supplemental agreement for right-of-way acquisition services, aka appraisals with Hampton, Len Zeni, and Renwick, Inc. for several parcels of property for the Galer Road, County Highway 52 over the Canadian Railroad County Board District number two. Letter I authorizing approval of professional services supplemental agreement for right-of-way acquisition services appraisals with shunk oiler shunker appraisers for several parcels of property for the Galer Road County

Highway 52 over the Canadian National Railroad County Board District 2. Letter J authorizing approval of professional services supplemental agreement for right-of-way acquisition services. Reviewing the appraisals with Chicago Metro Realy Valuation Corp. for several parcels of property for the Galer Road County Highway 52 over the Canadian National Railroad County Board District T. Letter K, authorizing approval of the establishment of an extended speed zone number 33 along Shanahan Manuka Road, County Highway 32, County Board District 1. And finally, letter I, authorizing approval of the establishment of altered speed zone 712 along Golf View Drive within Green Garden Township County Board District 3. And I so move

second. Motion by Traneer, seconded by Freeman. Previous roll call by Brooks, seconded by Winfrey. All in favor? I. Any oppose? Motion carries. So now for the rest of the items on the public works and transportation committee. Letter A, intergovernmental agreement for paratransit service. And I so move.

Motion by Trineer, seconded by Revvis. Member Ballage. Bage. I uh don't have a problem with the program, but I in the committee I brought up the fact that we need to have a backup plan of where the money is going to come from to pay for this once the uh state or the federal government removes the funding, the grants and the subsidies because uh I don't see it happening right now. But as you can see with RTA, they just cut uh four and a half% of the five and a half% I think it was that's the numbers out of the RTA money. We just had that in committee. At any given point, the state can do whatever they want to us. So we have to have a backup plan. Where are we going to get the money from? Because once you start this program and it's going everywhere, it's a big help to a lot of people. So, it's important, but at the same time, we got to know how we're going to pay for it if we lose the grants and we lose the subsidies. And they didn't want to talk about that in the committee. So, I'm just bringing it up because I found it was very important, you know. So, that's all I got to say.

Thank you, member Burkwitz and then Revis.

Uh, thank you, Madam Executive. So, uh, first of all, on the agenda, um, there's no background materials and and basically what we've got on our agenda is the resolution and then a 13 uh 13page um summary. Uh, I I would really like to see some of the materials um in the that happened in prior meetings um like presentations to uh our committees. anything having to do with this topic. Um, of this 13page document that's on here, um, the one thing I I don't see the counties or the townships that are in this program listed anywhere. So, is every township in Will County in this service plan? So it includes every township in Will County. I just want to clarify that. Hello memberwitz. Yes, every single township, every single resident that is 60 years and over and every resident in Will County living with a disability is now eligible to access this dialeride program as outlined in this IGA.

Okay. And then uh the access will boundary on page 12. Yes. Uh it appears that it extends into DuPage County somewhat. Correct. Yes. Okay. All right. Is is that because those are areas where Will County residents frequent and um we determined that they should be a part of our service area.

Yeah. So what you'll see on the service area map is the outline of Will County. So the outline of Will County is to showcase that all seniors, every resident living with a disability is able to access the program. The other line that you'll see that encompasses the the Will County map uh is the boundary area. So where we will take residents. So that was designed to be a mile buffer around the the county boundary uh as well as access to southern Cook County because there's a lot of residents that have historically taken trips medically related to that. So

So I appreciate that. But I think that's great. One thing that I know will cause our portion, the northern portion of the district some some issues is that many of our residents were literally right next to DuPage County and for medical care medical services. Many people cross into DuPage in that Neapville area there. So that probably will cause a little bit of a um insufficiency in our districts over on the northern border. So if we can take a look at that and make sure that our residents have that ability um I' I'd like them be to be able to continue their medical care um rather than try to shift it to accommodate this um limited access area as it stands.

Yes, absolutely. And inside the IGA, there is language that states that as we have sites that come up, as we have residents requesting to say maybe go to the exact same location back to back, we can have conversations that are ongoing with PACE. And we add them as specific points of interest. So, um, we've done that historically in the past where we have residents say, "Hey, I'm looking to go to this specific dialysis center." And we've added that into our service area. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome.

Member Revis and then Trir. Thanks, Madam Executive. Uh, I just wanted to kind of echo um, member Balich's comments. I know we talked about in committee at length. It seemed like Elaine and Colin were aware of what the concern is just to brainstorm what some backup plans for funding might be in the event that the feds or the state take away some of this money. So, um, I appreciate the work you're going to do. And I'm a yes. I encourage everyone to vote yes as well. Member Traneer. Thank you. Electron job. Sorry. I don't have a question. Just uh looking to move on with the vote. Oh, okay. Sorry. Oh, that's right. You're the chair. Sorry. That's why you're light up. I'm sorry. So, we have a Merry Christmas.

Yeah. Mayor. Yeah, we have a motion and we have a second. Um, is there a previous roll call? Previous by Winfrey, seconded by Bage. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Okay, then we're going to go on to on our agendas item number two. um authorizing approval of professional services agreement for design engineering services phase one with Alfred Benisuch and company on Wilmington Pieton Road County Highway 25 from US Route 452 to Center Road County Highway 19 section 25-0016-16-PV county board district 2 and I so move

second framer motion by trir seconded by Freeman. Any discussion? Is there pre previous roll call by Winfrey? Seconded by Bage. All in favor? Any oppos? Motion carries. Item number three, authorizing an intergovernmental agreement between the village of Poton and the county of Will for placement of license plate reading cameras located on county highways in the county of Will. And I so move. Motion by Traneer, seconded by Pretzel. previous bro. Okay. Um, madame clerk, please call the role. Richmond, yes. Williams, yes. Pretzel,

yes. Butler Newquist, Axley, Brooks, Winfrey, Bulock, Logan, yes. Freeman, yes. Revisits, yes. Hickeyi Costa Rer yes yes 17 affirmative the motion carries and last our next public works and transportation committee meeting is scheduled for January 6th I hope to see you all there thank you thank you chair butler public health and safety

uh we have nothing to move forward uh next meeting is January 7th thank you chair Winfrey legislative Good morning, Madame Executive. The federal and state agenda have been reviewed and will be placed for approval at the January 6th meeting, excuse me, when the committee sits again. Thank you, Chair Freeman. Capital improvements. We did not have a meeting. Everything was moved to executive this month. Our next scheduled meeting is January 6th. Thank you. Thank you, Chair Oxley. landfill.

Thank you, madam. Um had the the luxury of reviewing the landfill and the gas plant. Very interesting. Uh we have some things coming up at our January 13th meeting that will be brought to this full board after that. Thank you very much. Thank you, Speaker Van Dy. Executive Committee.

Thank you, Madam Executive. We do have a number of items on our consent agenda. Um, letter A, approval of collective bargaining agreement with the Will County Correctional Officers. B, the executive contract for economics ratification. Letter C, Sunny Hill Nursing Home Room Rate increase. D, trustee resolutions, E budget transfer, and a handful of uh, amending the liquor control ordinances. Uh, three three of those items as well. Um, I will make a motion to approve the exec the uh consent agenda.

Motion by Van Dine, seconded by Traneer. Mad uh uh previous roll call by Winfrey, seconded by Hickeyi. Would you like to be a yes on these? Okay. All in favor? I Any opposed? Motion carries. Our next executive committee meeting is scheduled for January 8th, 2026. Thank you.

Thank Thank you. Um there uh we're moving on to public comments matters under the jurisdiction. I'm kind of in shock here. Mr. Richmond, you're gonna get to your lunch even earlier. Yeah. Um is there any pol uh public comments relative to the I may have just jinxed it though. We do have county board comments. Uh public comments relative to the matters under the jurisdiction of the county. Any comments relevant to the matters under the jurisdiction of the county? Once twice. All right. Moving on to comments by county board members. Please press your button and I will go in order. Member Traneer.

Thank you, Madame Executive. Um, we are not celebrating our normal tradition. For those of you that haven't been on the board for a long time, sometime around COVID, I think we stopped doing this, but we used to make a treat. every county board member would bring a family treat, something that was a tradition in your family and we would share um each other's uh family treats. So, I did bring a plate of um lovely truffles this morning and uh please help yourself if you'd like to try one. I I'm very saddened in this week's news um learning of Mr. Boino's uh return to our community. I was kind of hoping we'd get a break in the spring. I saw an article in the paper written by Steve Shore of Chicago and I'd like to share that with my fellow board members. My former roommate and close friend for 35 years is Salvadorian. His children and grandchildren live in the Midwest. He has a tourist visa to enter the US. He spends Christmas with his family here every year. He won't be visiting this year because people who look like him are being thrown into overcrowded prison cells with inadequate food and sanitation facilities. Recently in Chicago and nearby, we have seen a teacher with a valid work permit abducted by armed masked men in front of small children and their parents. A US citizen suffering from broken ribs after being dragged from his car by federal immigration agents. A Chicagoan hospitalized after federal agents put him in a chokeold and then refused to allow his family to see him. US citizens dragged outside in their underwear and pajamas, zip tied and held for hours while immigration and customs enforcement ransacked their homes. Scenes similar to this are occurring

across our country. To be clear, no one should be treated like this, regardless of their status. That happens to be UD US citizens makes even it more despicable. Regardless of who you voted for, regardless of whether you're a Republican or a Democrat or an independent, we all need to be demanding that our elected officials put a stop to this immediately. This is really sad articles to have to read every day in our newspaper. I hope we can do better in 2026 and I want to wish everybody a merry Christmas. Thank you, Member Revis.

Thank you, Madam Executive. Uh I just wanted to share with the board that I uh was recently appointed to the Tri Rivers Law Enforcement Board. Um I'm very excited to be working uh with them. It is uh Will County, Cani, and Grandy County. We uh you know there are uh various classes and training classes offered to police departments and we basically manage that money from Alletby. So I look forward to uh working closely with them. Uh and uh really the the reason uh one of the other reasons you know at the end of the year we kind of look back and uh name things that we're grateful for. I'm grateful for that opportunity but I'm really grateful uh since being on the board all the different people I get to meet and uh that get to uh acknowledge me. Uh many of these people are from Will County and it's impressive to see how many uh individuals in Will County go on and make such a positive impact in our community. Uh one of those individuals uh was is quite a mentor to me and he gives me a lot of advice and he uh celebrated his birthday on Monday. So I just want to say happy birthday Mike Mahoney. Uh thank you for all that you do.

Thanks a lot. Yeah, the uh member Butler.

So, I'm not sure exactly what's happened, but I just wanted to point out that uh Destiny Ortiz, I feel uh did a great job as a legislative chair. She worked very hard to prepare the meetings. Um she she was very fair and open during her meetings and she she empowered her members and got them to engage which is what should happen in a committee and I feel that she was treated unfairly and I would like to see that that be remedied and um I would like to make sure that um there's a formal process here that takes place because I believe it hasn't and I disagree entirely on the way the situation was handled and I and I plan to continue to push this point

member balich Bich

I just want to make sure everybody remembers that Christmas is the season of Christ's birth you know and Santa Claus is St. Nicholas. And on Christmas Eve, I know Santa Claus is going to come to my house and he's going to go down the chimney and he's going to have a nice gift for me because I have not been naughty. No. So anyway, I think it's important for everybody everybody to realize that this is a celebration of uh families and good things and positive themes and all this other stuff and but it's all about the birth of Christ. And if we forget that, you know, we're wasting our time about Christmas. Oh, sorry.

God bless you guys. Yeah. Thank you. Member Freeman. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Happy birthday, Herb. I won't sing because I know how much you just don't like to hear me sing. And I would also like to wish our um chief of staff a um early birthday. It's coming up as well. Everybody be safe, have a happy holiday, and see you next year. Happy birthday, Annette Parker, our clerk.

We're we're moving on to uh announcement by leadership leader Richmond and then Williams. Just want to wish everybody merry Christmas, happy new year, and look forward to 2026. Thank you. Thank you, Leader Williams. I just want to say it has been very um interesting being the um leader of uh this caucus on this board and I know that 2026 is going to be even better than what we have done this year. Couldn't get too much worse. Um I just want to wish everybody happy holidays and see you next year. Speaker Van,

thank you again, Madam Executive. Um, as everyone else had stated, I I do want to wish everybody a merry Christmas and a happy new year. And looking back at the last year, um, I just want to thank this board for giving me the opportunity to lead this board. Um, it it was a lot more than what I expected. Very hard work, but it it was worth um every every minute of my time, and I appreciate that. Um, happy holidays. Thank you.

Thank you. And with that, I too will wish everyone a happy holiday, happy new year. Enjoy the time with your family. Uh because you are right member a biologist is about uh family. So enjoy. I hope everyone is safe and we look forward to seeing you in on January 15th, 2026. So can I get a motion to motion by Trenton, seconded by Freeman? All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries.