Will County News

June 28th, 2020 at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Elwood, Illinois.  This video shows the Iron Bridge Trail Prairie Restoration. A shipping container train passes by blooming prairie plants at the start of this video:

Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks published multiple photos of garbage dumped in the parks.   Hosting over 3 million visitors a year has taken its toll on these State Parks.  The garbage pictured included many single-use plastic bottles and plastic food containers.  

The Village of New Lenox will honor Military Service Members, First Responders and Essential Business Personnel with a parade on July 4, 2020. This parade to honor essential workers will start at 11 a.m., beginning at the Lions Den on Cedar Road and ending at the Village Commons.   To participate in the parade, fill out this form on the Village of New Lenox website. 

The Illinois General Assembly approved the appropriation of $122.5 million dollars from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of State Police for the purchase and refurbishment of Lincoln-Way North High School into a State Forensic Lab. The appropriation was included on Page 2,216 of House Bill 0064, which is available in full here . The section concerning Lincoln-Way North High School states: House Bill 0064 includes funds for the Illinois State Police to purchase and refurbish Lincoln-Way North High School for the purposes of developing a state forensic lab.

The Village of Mokena will celebrate Independence Day with fireworks on July 4, 2020 at 9:00 p.m.. Fireworks will be launched from Ozinga Brothers, located at LaGrange and 191st Street.  Some parking will be allowed at the nearby Metra lot, details on that parking from the Village of Mokena :  "The Village is additionally making a limited number of nearby “socially distanced” parking spaces at the Hickory Creek Metra lot available to Mokena residents for drive-in viewing.  Access to these spaces will be restricted to drivers of vehicles able to present a valid Illinois driver’s license validating their status as a Mokena resident. Gates to the lot will open at 7 p.m., with any remaining available slots opened to non-resident members of the public after 8:30.  Other gathering at the display site is strongly discouraged, and the Village will require that all viewers hold to the social distancing guidelines in place on July 4. "

Metra has announced an Enhanced Temporary Schedule for the Heritage Corridor Line starting June 29th, 2020. The schedule for trains at Heritage Corridor stops Joliet, Lockport, Romeoville, Lemont, Willow Springs, Summit, and Chicago Union Station is outlined below, and in effect until further notice: Enhanced Temporary Schedule for Metra Heritage Corridor Trains

Presentation from the Illinois State Water Survey, Groundwater Science Section regarding the deep sandstone aquifers in Will County and nearby areas.  While the City of Joliet plans to switch to Lake Michigan water by 2030, the declining water levels still present a challenge to surrounding communities:

Today, July 25, 2020, the Illinois Gaming Board announced that Illinois casinos and video gaming can resume operations on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.. The Gaming Board released the following statement on their website , which gives details on how state agencies developed reopening plans with casinos and video gaming operators: "CHICAGO – Statewide casino and video gaming operations were indefinitely suspended on  March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the pandemic’s impacts, Gaming  Board staff across all division have remained at work performing the agency’s functions. Among other tasks, the Gaming Board has continued its work to implement the provisions of last  year’s landmark gaming expansion law, including the analysis and investigation of 10 new  casino applications and two new racetrack gaming applications, the launch of online sports wagering, expanded video gaming, and essential rulemaking activities. The Gaming Board has also been at work

The Illinois Rental Property Owners Association announced support for a lawsuit challenging Governor Pritzker's eviction ban: Press release from the Illinois Rental Property Owners Association: LAWSUIT CHALLENGES GOV. PRITZKER’S EVICTION MORATORIUM The Illinois Rental Property Owners Association (IRPOA) announces our support of the lawsuit filed by IRPOA members JL Properties Group, Mark Dauenbaugh and Steven Cole, challenging Governor Pritzker’s legal authority to deny housing providers access to the courts. The Governor’s moratorium on evictions essentially ties the hands of housing providers to enforce our lease agreements. While we agree with the Governor’s intent of protecting renters affected by COVID-19, the Governor’s moratorium also applies to people who are not affected by COVID-19 but are choosing not to pay their rent. Furthermore, the Governor’s moratorium limits a housing provider’s ability to address lease violations that are related to behavior and n

Plainfield School District 202 announced an expected budget shortfall due to impacts of COVID-19 on local property taxes.  Full release from the District here: " District 202 officials expect the 2020-21 operating budget revenues to fall short of expenses by about $5.5 million because of the effects of COVID-19 on local property taxes, according to the proposed 2020-21 budget.   The Plainfield District 202 Board of Education received the First Draft 2020-21 budget at its June 22, 2020 regular meeting.   Changes may follow later this summer as the state continues to sort out funding due to COVID-19. The district may dip into fund balances or possibly decrease staffing costs through normal attrition to reduce or eliminate the projected operating deficit, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lane Abrell said. The First Draft of FY 2021 budget will allow District 202 to maintain high-quality educational programs while continuing to develop and implement a responsible, sustain

Union nurses represented by the Illinois Nurses Association (INA) at AMITA St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Illinois have filed a 10 day strike notice.  The notice means a strike could occur as early as July 4, 2020. In May, nurses voted 558 to 53 to authorize an unfair labor practices strike. 89% of members rejected the latest offer by AMITA. Staffing, pay, and benefits have remained points of contention in negotiations. One of the lead nurse negotiations, Pat Meade, RN, stated :  “ AMITA proposed a three-year wage freeze whereas INA has offered wage increases more closely tied to cost of living increases. They are unwilling to act on nurses recommendations to improve staffing and patient care, which is a top priority for our members. We presented AMITA’s offer to our members and 89 percent rejected it.” “AMITA’s proposal and bargaining tactics can only be described as greedy and aggressive ,” said Alice Johnson, executive director of the INA. “While AMITA nurs

The Village of Shorewood, Illinois will launch fireworks from its Towne Center at 9:15 p.m. on July 4, 2020. Press release from the Village: "The fireworks will begin at 9:15 pm in the Towne Center and last approximately 15 minutes. However, due to  safety distancing required for fireworks, as well as social distancing requirements, residents are encouraged to view  the fireworks from home. The show will feature only high aerial fireworks to maximize visibility for all neighborhoods. Fireworks over the Des Plaines River in Joliet Limited parking will be available at Village Hall, however entrance to the safety zone will not be permitted (see  map ). Wynstone Drive will also be closed to traffic from 9:10 through the end of the show. Additionally, the show will be live streamed to the Village’s Facebook page for those who would like to view from there."

The Will County Fair Association announced the cancellation of the 2020 Will County Fair in Peotone, Illinois via Facebook, but did leave open the potential for smaller events in the fall: The Fair is a end-of-summer tradition for many and a chance to display everything from crops to garden vegetables: Honey and Canned Goods at the Will County Fair:

Today, Governor Pritzker joined local elected officials to announce two new Amazon fulfillment centers, in Markham and Matteson, Illinois. Pritzker stated 2,000 jobs would be created at the two sites, bringing Amazon's total workforce in Illinois to 20,000.  Pritzker stated all jobs at the two new sites would start with at least a $15 an hour wage. View the entire press conference:

Plainfield School District 202 will hold a Board of Education meeting Monday, June 22, 2020.   The public portion of the meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and public comments can be submitted via email  through 5 p.m.  on June 22, 2020 to tahernan@psd202.org.. An agenda for the meeting is here . The public can watch the meeting through a Zoom webinar with this information: TO ACCESS/VIEW THE MEETING Please click the link below to join the webinar by: VIDEO Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://psd202.zoom.us/j/83197468017?pwd=YXpMNHJyWEUvOTZUNDZtWGxNdnlJZ z09 Password: 0pmqMt Or iPhone one-tap : US: +13126266799,,83197468017#,,,,0#,,414660# or +16465588656,,83197468017#,,,,0#,,414660# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US:+13126266799 or+16465588656 or+13017158592 or+1253215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 Webinar ID: 831 9746 8017 Password: 414660 International numbers available:  htt

On June 19, 2020, the Illinois Department of Employment Security announced it will begin to borrow funds from the federal government to cover unemployment claims in Illinois. The Department anticipates borrowing about $300 million through the end of June, and is approved to borrow up to $3.8 billion through September of this year. Full release: 

Whether by writing a card, email, or other activity, here is a chance to get involved and lift spirits of both Veterans and essential workers right here in our community: "The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) today launched "Operation Rising Spirit," a campaign challenging service organizations, volunteers, and patriots of Illinois to raise the spirits of military veterans and the heroic staff who care for them every day at state veterans' homes in Anna, LaSalle, Manteno, and Quincy, Illinois. Illinois veterans' homes were directed to restrict visitation as part of the staunch measures implemented to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic. And every day, staff at the homes enter the frontlines to safeguard our veterans' safety and wellbeing. "Uplifting messages and displays of support from the community will help boost the morale of veterans and staff during this unprecedented time," said IDVA Director Linda Chapa

To celebrate Independence Day 2020, the Village of Romeoville will launch fireworks from three locations on July 3, 2020 to allow residents to view fireworks from home. According to a Village website , residents are strongly encouraged to view the fireworks from home.   The fireworks shows will be based from:          --Volunteer Park (1100 Murphy Dr.) --Lukancic Middle School (725 Normantown Rd.) --Discovery Park (300 S. Highpoint Dr.) The parking lots at these facilities will be closed July 3, 2020.

The Illinois Secretary of State announced today, June 20, 2020, that the Joliet Drivers Facility on Joyce Road will close until further notice.   Press release : "Out of an abundance of caution, the Joliet Drivers Services Facility (201 S. Joyce Rd.) is closed  because of an employee who tested positive for COVID-19. Drivers are encouraged to visit the nearest facilities which include Naperville, 931 W. 75th St., Ste.  161 and Morris, 425 East Route 6."

The Will County Board has announced they are working on a process to distribute $120,500,000 dollars in federal funds provided by  The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Press release from the Will County Board:  "JOLIET - The Will County Board is moving closer to distributing more than $120.5 million in federal relief funds that were provided by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ​ “We are working as quickly as possible to get these vital funds to local taxing bodies, farmers, business owners and others who desperately need relief after the economic pain that occurred due to COVID- 19,” said Will County Board member Ken Harris (D-Bolingbrook).  The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) passed by congress provided a lump sum of revenue to the Will County Board. The board must now determine who is eligible for the funds and how to best accept applications and deliver those funds. Last month, County Board S