The Will County Board’s Committee of the Whole dedicated its August 12 meeting to an in-depth training session on Robert’s Rules of Order, aiming to foster more efficient and orderly meetings. At the request of board members, parliamentary expert Matthew Prochaska led the informational workshop, covering the fundamentals of meeting procedure from making motions to engaging in formal debate. Members actively participated in a lengthy Q&A to clarify complex rules regarding reconsidering votes, amending motions, and the proper roles of the chair and committee members. (See our full story for more details on the training.) The committee also approved minutes from four prior meetings and granted a request for virtual participation for one member.

Virtual Attendance Approved for Board Member
The committee approved a motion allowing board member Elnalyn Costa (D-Bolingbrook) to participate in the meeting virtually from her workplace. Because the meeting was purely informational with no official votes being taken, the board granted the request. Following the vote, member Judy Ogalla (R-Monee) noted that according to county board rules, a quorum of members physically present should have been established via roll call before voting to approve the virtual attendance. Speaker Joe VanDuyne (D-Wilmington) acknowledged the procedural error, stating it was a mistake on his part.

Past Meeting Minutes Approved
The committee conducted routine business by unanimously approving the minutes from four previous meetings. The approved minutes were from the Committee of the Whole meetings held on October 29, 2024; December 10, 2024; May 9, 2025; and May 14, 2025. Each set of minutes was approved without discussion or changes.