Green Garden Township Tables Road District Loan Decision, Receives Solar Project Lawsuit Update

By Andrea Arens

GREEN GARDEN TOWNSHIP — Road funding, a proposed debt forgiveness plan, a major solar project lawsuit, and the long-awaited town hall renovation project were among the topics discussed during the Green Garden Township Board meeting on June 8.

Road District Budget Highlights Bridge Project, Road Priorities

Road Commissioner Jim Hilliard presented the Road District’s proposed budget, which included several adjustments from the previous year.

Legal expenses were reduced from $10,000 to $5,000 after completion of bridge easement and lease-related work. Gravel expenditures were increased by $15,000 to a total of $50,000 after supplies were exhausted during the previous year, while fuel costs were increased by $5,000 due to uncertainty in commodity pricing.

The budget also includes $635,016 earmarked for bridge construction. Hilliard said the bridge project is expected to cost approximately $1.8 million overall, with county and state matching funds covering a substantial portion of the expense.

During the public hearing, resident Tim Stoub questioned why repairs to Offner Road were not receiving greater priority. He argued that previous resurfacing efforts failed prematurely because roadway shoulders were not addressed at the same time.

Hilliard acknowledged the concern but said the road district must focus first on immediate safety hazards.

“That falling road section of it, it was so bad when it fell apart. If a Honda Civic would have went over it, it would have broke the whip,” Hillyard said. “Immediate safety takes precedence over the upgrade of some trucks.”

Township Budget Includes Levy Increase and Grant Reimbursement

Supervisor Dean Christofilos presented the township’s proposed budget, which includes a 5% levy increase. The increase will raise the township levy by approximately $14,000, bringing the total levy to about $301,400.

The township anticipates total revenue of $883,792, including a projected $530,217 Illinois grant reimbursement associated with the town hall renovation project.

Christofilos also addressed a significant increase within the assessor’s budget, which rose from approximately $36,000 to $50,900. He explained that the increase reflects a reallocation of expenses rather than new spending.

According to Christofilos, technology-related costs such as software licenses, hardware, and telecommunications expenses that were previously paid through general township accounts are being shifted into the assessor’s budget to provide clearer accounting and greater operational independence.

Board Tables Decision on Road District Loan Forgiveness

One of the more detailed discussions centered around a long-standing loan between the township and road district.

Years ago, the township loaned the road district $220,000 for the purchase of three International dump trucks. Only one payment remains on the agreement, with approximately $40,000 scheduled to be repaid this year.

Several board members expressed support for forgiving the final payment, allowing the road district to retain the money for road improvements and future equipment purchases.

“We are very empathetic to the road district,” Christofilos said. “We want to see what’s best for our township as a whole, even though technically it’s owed to the township, who needs it more at this point? Many of us believe that the road district does.”

However, resident Tim Stoub questioned whether forgiving the debt would comply with Illinois law. Following discussion, the board voted to table the matter until legal guidance can be obtained from the township attorney.

Residents Prepare Lawsuit Over Earthrise Solar Project

Resident Jeff Becker provided an update on the proposed Earthrise solar facility, a project that would encompass approximately 6,000 acres in the area.

Becker said the Will County Board approved the project’s special use permit by a narrow 12-11 vote and criticized both the approval process and the information presented to elected officials before the vote.

“What’s wrong with that is that in order to get a special use permit, your elected officials need to have that information before they vote on it,” Becker said. “So what they did was they kicked it down the road. We didn’t have a finished application to vote on, but we were required to vote on it anyway.”

Becker said residents are moving forward with litigation challenging the approval on both statutory and constitutional grounds. Among the concerns raised is the county’s interpretation of rules regarding non-contiguous parcels included within the project footprint.

He warned that future permitting decisions could ultimately be made outside the public eye.

“And then what’ll happen is people that you did not elect will make those decisions and you’ll never know who they are when those decisions are made or what was taken into consideration when that permit was issued,” Becker said. “That is a big deal.”

Becker also announced that supporters are establishing a fundraising effort to help offset legal expenses associated with the lawsuit.

Town Hall Renovation Moving Forward

Christofilos reported progress on the township’s long-awaited town hall renovation project.

The project had been awaiting approval of a septic system permit through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, a process that typically takes several months. Christofilos said assistance from Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant and Chief of Staff Mike Mahoney helped expedite the review.

The EPA issued a 14-day approval letter, and the permit has since been forwarded to the Will County Health Department for final processing.

Construction is expected to begin in July.

Because of the renovation work, the township will no longer be able to hold meetings at its current location. Beginning next month, township meetings will be temporarily relocated to the German Heritage Center until construction is completed.

Supervisor Explains Financial Report Delay

Christofilos also addressed questions regarding the township’s Annual Financial Report, which was filed several months after its September 30 deadline.

According to Christofilos, the delay stemmed from a catastrophic failure of the township’s former computer system, which housed a custom financial software program originally developed by a former trustee.

The system crash forced township officials and their accountant to reconstruct financial records from paper files and historical documentation in order to satisfy auditors.

The report was ultimately completed on January 30 and accepted by the Illinois Comptroller’s Office. Christofilos said the township does not anticipate significant penalties as a result of the delayed filing.