Will County News

FEBRUARY 2014 UPDATE: Illiana Tier Two Draft Environmental Impact Statement Public Hearing February 19th, 2014 in Wilmington JULY 2012 Update:Next Illiana Public Meeting: JULY 31, 2012, Peotone High School . UPDATE: The Illiana Corridor Planning Team has proposed two additional corridors alternatives,one of which passes just south of Manhattan, Monee, and University Park, Illinois.  This A3S2 alignment, below in red, also passes north of Elwood, Illinois and Beecher, Illinois: View Recommended Corridors A3S2, B3, B4 Interactive Map in a larger map These 2 new corridors, along with the originally recommended B3, above in green, will be studied by the planning team.  The public may submit comments to the Illiana Planning Team here . More than 300 area residents attended an informational meeting March 21, 2012 presented by the Illiana Corridor Planning Team at the Local 150 Training Center.  The Corridor Team held the meeting at the request of the Wilmington City Council.

On today's primary ballot, voters in the Manhattan-Elwood Library District will decide whether to approve a  referendum question that seeks $3.5 million in bonds to be issued for purchasing 13,000 square feet of the building in the Manhattan Station at the corner of Gougar and Sweedler Roads.  The amount includes remodeling and purchase of furniture, shelving and electronic materials.  The breakdown includes $2.2 million for purchase of the building, $1 million to remodel, and $250,000 for furnishing the library. For results, go here .  Results will be posted after polls close at 7 p.m. and will be updated throughout the night by the Will County Clerk.  UPDATE:  The referendum has been defeated. MANHATTAN-ELWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT REFERENDUM (Vote For 1) VOTE TYPE SUMMARY CONTEST DETAIL MAP 6 of 6 Precincts Reporting     Percent Votes YES 43.58% 1,072 NO 56.42% 1,388       2,460

The Forest Preserve District of Will County is set to begin ecological restoration at Kankakee Sands Preserve, in Custer Township. The District will enter into the first phase of the project starting in March 2012. Kankakee Sands Preserve is a 524-acre preserve, located north of Route 113 and west of West River Road, in Custer Township. Initial restoration activities will include 30 acres of brush and tree control, seven acres of tree thinning and follow-up invasive herbaceous species control. This project is the first step in restoring the natural quality of Kankakee Sands Preserve, and will coincide with other ongoing restoration activities within the area. The site is being restored using funds from the Forest Preserve District’s Capital Improvement Program. For more information about this project, including a printable fact sheet and mapping, visit ReconnectWithNature.org/Preservation-Improvement or call 815/727-8700.

People opposed to a proposed Detention Center in Crete are marching from Chicago to Crete to draw attention to the issue.  The marchers left Our Lady of Guadalupe in Chicago on Friday, March 30, 2012.  Marchers plan to arrive in Crete at noon on April 1, 2012 and will march through Crete to the site of the proposed Detention Center. UPDATE: photos and video from the march and rally in Crete . The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement has selected Crete as the future site of a possible immigrant detention center. The possible Crete Detention Center was discussed at a recent Crete Village Board Meeting: For more videos of the meeting, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyUhr5bZIRU&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLBAD8068C65AB976A

Springfield – During his first week as State Senator for the 43rd District, Pat McGuire (D-Joliet) was confronted by the stark reality of Illinois’ budget woes. Less than a week earlier, the governor presented his budget proposal, which called for closing the Illinois Youth Center (IYC) in Joliet. “Illinois faces lots of red ink. I understand that we are going to have to make some extremely difficult choices this year—choices with real impacts on people’s lives,” McGuire said. “But I have to question closing the Illinois Youth Center on McDonough Street in Joliet. I discussed this with aides to the governor yesterday. I’ve shared my concern with elected officials of both parties at the state, county, and local level. I will visit the IYC Monday to see for myself.” McGuire was sworn into office Saturday, February 25 and arrived in Springfield Monday, February 27. To get up to speed, McGuire has: --Met with Crest Hill officials seeking state help for infrastructure needs. --Join