The future of several key county facilities dominated the Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee meeting on Tuesday. A major topic of discussion was the ongoing buildout of the new Veteran’s Assistance & Support Center at 1300 Copperfield in Joliet. Officials revealed the facility will also house the county’s Workforce Services department, a move that will save $250,000 in annual rent but prompted questions from board members about preserving future expansion space for veteran services. Staff assured the committee that the project more than doubles the VAC’s current space and that long-term plans for the building’s fourth floor are being developed. For more details, see our full story.

The committee also confronted an ongoing animal housing crisis that has strained the Animal Protective Services facility since the pandemic. Members debated the history of past expansion approvals and explored potential future solutions, including building a new facility or repurposing another county-owned building. Staff will report back with a historical summary of the issue. You can read more in our comprehensive article. Other topics included the successful rollout of new public meeting software and the cost-saving, in-house renovations at the Adult Detention Facility.

Courthouse Water System Saves Over $97,000
A modern water management program at the Will County Courthouse has saved over $97,000 in water and sewer costs since the building opened. By using meters to track water used in the building’s large-scale cooling towers versus what is lost to evaporation, the county receives monthly “evaporation credits” from the City of Joliet. Ken Rogalski of the facilities department reported the savings are achieved by closely controlling water chemistry and automation to use less water.

Court Annex Renovations Underway
Construction began this week on interior renovations at the Court Annex building at 57 N. Ottawa in Joliet. The project, contracted to Arlington Construction, will convert unused courtrooms on the second floor into modern office space. The county’s Civil Process division is expected to occupy the newly renovated floor. Work is anticipated to be completed in November 2025.

Land Use, Public Defender Move Completed
Renovations at the county building at 58 E. Clinton Street are complete, and the facility is now fully occupied. The Will County Public Defender’s office has moved into the third floor, while the Land Use department is now operating on the fourth floor. The building was fully occupied as of August, according to the facilities department’s status update.

County Completes Smaller Campus Upgrades
The county’s facilities team recently completed several smaller projects across its campuses. At the Sunny Hill Nursing Home, a new landscape project featuring boulders and river rock was installed to protect a fire hydrant and improve aesthetics near the delivery entrance. At the Community Health Center, new parking lot signage was installed by the county’s highway department to designate spaces for authorized vehicles.

Facilities Employee Donald Rose Honored
The Will County Facilities Department highlighted team member Donald Rose for his outstanding contributions. Rose was recognized for his “can-do attitude” and for consistently going “above and beyond” to support projects, including the recent move into the new Community Health Center building in Bolingbrook. According to a memo from a fellow director, Rose’s dedication and hard work were critical to the project’s success.