Will County Board Graphic.03

Veterans Assistance Commission Buildout Complete, Body Scanner Installed at Juvenile Center

Spread the love

Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | April 7, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County Facilities Department announced the successful completion of the Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) building renovations and the installation of a new full-body scanner at the River Valley Justice Center.

Facilities Update Key Points:

  • The VAC buildout at 1300 Copperfield is officially complete, and staff have moved in.

  • A new full-body scanner was successfully installed in the visitation area of the River Valley Justice Center.

  • The Facilities Department completed over 550 work orders in March, averaging $15 per order with a 98% on-time completion rate.

  • Will County met its 100% Demand Response energy reduction goal for peak shaving.

The Will County Board Capital Improvements & IT Committee on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, received an extensive operations update from the Facilities Department, highlighting the completion of a major renovation and significant security upgrades.

Director of Facilities William Fern and Ken Rogalski presented the April 2026 Facilities Update, announcing that the Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) buildout at 1300 Copperfield is fully complete. The project included a total roof replacement, glass replacement, and interior space renovations. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held recently, and staff have officially moved into the owned facility, successfully eliminating another county lease.

Security and safety upgrades were also a major focus for the month. Rogalski reported the successful installation of a new full-body scanner in the visitation area of the River Valley Justice Center (3200 W McDonough St).

“It was like a two-day project. It turned out really good,” Rogalski noted.

Additionally, Life Safety Specialist Aaron Kozlowski has been touring county buildings to update emergency evacuation plans and conduct CPR and AED training. The county’s Finance Department recently completed the life-saving training, and “Stop the Bleed” classes are scheduled to begin soon.

In general maintenance news, the Facilities Department completed over 550 work orders in March, representing over 300 hours of labor. The department maintained a highly efficient average cost of $15.00 per work order and achieved a 98% on-time completion rate. Rogalski also highlighted that the county successfully hit its 100% Demand Response energy reduction goal for summer peak shaving electrical curtailment.

The committee also took a moment to honor Facilities Team member Dan Shields, who recently celebrated his 35th anniversary working for Will County.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Illinois quick hits: John Deere to build in North Carolina

Illinois quick hits: John Deere to build in North Carolina

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square John Deere to build in North Carolina Illinois-based John Deere has announced that it will open new facilities in North Carolina...
State rep questions Pritzker move to 'expand and expand and expand' on abortion

State rep questions Pritzker move to ‘expand and expand and expand’ on abortion

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A member of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration says Medicaid plays a critical role for reproductive health services...
$1,000 Trump accounts to start July 4

$1,000 Trump accounts to start July 4

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square "Trump accounts" will launch beginning July 4, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday. The "Trump account" initiative was included in the "Big Beautiful Bill" signed into...
Rubio explains reasoning behind Trump's Venezuela strikes in Senate hearing

Rubio explains reasoning behind Trump’s Venezuela strikes in Senate hearing

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Amid congressional outcry over the Trump administration’s military actions in Venezuela, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the moves Wednesday and outlined future plans to...
WATCH: Kelly to vote against funding Homeland Security

WATCH: Kelly to vote against funding Homeland Security

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly has announced he will vote "no" for the Department of Homeland Security budget this week following the fatal shootings in Minneapolis....
Census projections show red states to see gains in U.S. House seats, electoral college

Census projections show red states to see gains in U.S. House seats, electoral college

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Several blue states appear set to lose electoral college votes while red states will make sweeping gains, new data from the U.S. Census Bureau suggests....
Chicago mayor visits D.C., considers order to prosecute federal agents

Chicago mayor visits D.C., considers order to prosecute federal agents

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says he is considering an executive order that would allow for prosecution of...
DHS: Agents linked to death of Pretti placed on leave

DHS: Agents linked to death of Pretti placed on leave

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Two federal agents accused of firing the shots in Saturday’s death of Alex Pretti in Minnesota are on administrative leave. The Department of Homeland Security...
FBI raids Fulton County election office in 2020 election fraud probe

FBI raids Fulton County election office in 2020 election fraud probe

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch and Johnny EdwardsThe Center Square The FBI on Wednesday executed a search warrant on the Fulton County, Ga., election headquarters to obtain voting records related to the...
Fed keeps interest rates steady in first meeting of 2026

Fed keeps interest rates steady in first meeting of 2026

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady in its first meeting of 2026, as economists expected. Federal Reserve officials kept lending rates between 3.5-3.75% after...
Report: Minnesota student walkouts received training from progressive activists

Report: Minnesota student walkouts received training from progressive activists

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Student school walkouts in Minnesota protesting the presence of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents are not entirely planned by teenagers and have connections to broader...
Trump floats 10% bonus for California rebuilders

Trump floats 10% bonus for California rebuilders

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square President Donald Trump on Wednesday proposed a 10% bonus for residents in Los Angeles County who are rebuilding after deadly wildfires. The president suggested several...
‘GO ICE’ social media post sparks GOP-Dem clash in Illinois

‘GO ICE’ social media post sparks GOP-Dem clash in Illinois

By Cat Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Democratic and Republican lawmakers clashed this week after a West Chicago teacher was placed on administrative...
Police Crime

Pursuit following railroad theft ends in New Lenox; one suspect at large

NEW LENOX, Ill. – A reported cargo theft in Wilmington Township sparked a multi-jurisdictional pursuit Saturday morning that ended with a crash and a manhunt in a New Lenox neighborhood. The...
Amazon to cut 16,000 jobs in latest round of layoffs

Amazon to cut 16,000 jobs in latest round of layoffs

By Brett DavisThe Center Square Seattle-based Amazon announced on Wednesday morning that it’s laying off approximately 16,000 corporate employees globally as part of the multinational technology company’s restructuring efforts to...