Meeting Summary and Briefs: Green Garden Township for October 13, 2025

The Green Garden Township Board meeting on Monday, October 13, 2025, was dominated by two major issues: a growing community-led fight against a massive proposed solar facility and the board’s official decision to abandon its town hall project. The Green Garden Watershed Committee presented a detailed five-point strategy to stop an 18-square-mile solar project planned by Earthrise Energy, calling on residents to sign petitions and prepare for legal battles. You can read the full story on the solar opposition for more details.

In a contentious session, the board also confirmed it was withdrawing from a grant and halting all plans for a new or renovated town hall. Supervisor Dean Christofilos explained that Will County had moved up the project completion deadline to an “unrealistic” date, creating a risk that the township would be on the hook for the entire cost. The decision drew sharp criticism from some residents. For more information, see the full story.

Belinda Olszewski Appointed to Trustee Vacancy
The board appointed resident Belinda Olszewski to fill the trustee seat left vacant by the resignation of Sarah Boxer due to health reasons. Olszewski, who has been assisting the township with Freedom of Information Act requests, is the Republican precinct committeeperson in Green Garden. She previously served for eight years as an alderman in Oak Forest. After being sworn in, she took her seat on the board.

Speed Limit Reduction Recommended for Stuenkel Road
Road Commissioner Jim Hilliard reported that a recently completed speed study recommends reducing the speed limit on Stuenkel Road between Route 45 and Scheer Road to 45 miles per hour. The recommendation will now be forwarded to the Will County Board, which has the final authority to set speed limits on township roads.

Township Finalizing Land Use Plan
The township’s planning committee is nearing completion of a new land use plan, which officials see as another tool to protect the area from unwanted industrial development. An open house for public feedback on the latest draft of the plan is tentatively scheduled for early November before it is submitted to the board for official adoption, likely in December.

Resident Raises Concerns Over 88th Avenue Repairs
During public comments, a resident voiced frustration over the condition of 88th Avenue, questioning when repairs would be made. He cited pavement that is breaking up again in an area that was previously patched, a partially fallen tree in a ditch that was not fully removed, and the growth of invasive weeds.