Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | November 13, 2025

The Will County Board’s Executive Committee met on Thursday, November 13, 2025, with its agenda dominated by a lengthy series of ordinance amendments and a spirited discussion on a proposed school choice referendum. The committee ultimately delayed a vote on placing a non-binding question on the March 2026 ballot regarding a federal scholarship tax credit program, choosing to revisit the issue next month. More details on the debate can be found in the full standalone article.

Committee reports also sparked a debate over the county’s upcoming budget, with leaders confirming cuts will be necessary after the Finance Committee recommended a property tax levy increase of 1.75%, below the 2% requested in the executive’s initial proposal. Speaker Joe VanDuyne said he would work with the executive’s office to identify the required reductions. The committee also forwarded several intergovernmental agreements, including a partnership with the Village of Frankfort for wildlife rabies control and agreements to provide three out-of-county emergency departments access to the countywide radio system. Key appointments to the Washington Township Drainage District #3 and the Emergency Telephone System Board were also approved.

News Briefs

New Lenox Township Solar Farm Advanced: The committee recommended for approval a special use permit and two variances for a 62.7-acre commercial solar energy facility in New Lenox Township. The project, proposed by Nexamp Solar LLC on vacant property on South Spencer Road, required variances to reduce the number of required mowings from five times to one time per year and to increase the maximum ground cover plant height from 13 inches to 36 inches.

County Expands Radio System Access: The committee approved intergovernmental agreements to allow three out-of-county public safety agencies to access Will County’s countywide radio system for interoperable communications. The agreements grant access to the Town of Cedar Lake, Indiana, as well as the Lake Hills Fire Department and the Lake Dalecarlia Volunteer Fire Department, both also located in Indiana. The agencies will be responsible for purchasing and maintaining their own compatible radio equipment.

Radiological Preparedness Grant Accepted: Will County will accept a grant of $35,390 from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security. The funds are allocated for the county’s participation in the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program for fiscal year 2026. The program supports local government costs associated with maintaining plans for radiological incidents. The grant will cover expenses for personnel, planning, training, and equipment maintenance.

Board of Review Work Deadline Extended: The committee approved a routine resolution to extend the work deadline for the Will County Board of Review to January 31, 2026. Supervisor of Assessments Dale Butalla explained that state law requires the board’s work on the 2025 assessment books to conclude by December 31, 2025, but other statutes allow some applications to be filed until that same day, creating a conflict. The one-month extension provides the necessary time to process all filings.

Federal Lobbying Contract Renewed: The county’s federal lobbying contract with Smith Garson was approved for renewal. The firm will continue to represent the County Board’s interests before Congress and federal agencies for another year, from December 1, 2025, to November 30, 2026. The contract is for a monthly rate of $10,000.

County Updates Traffic and Public Works Codes: The committee approved a comprehensive package of resolutions to amend and update multiple chapters of the Will County Code of Ordinances. The changes affect Title V: Public Works (Chapters 51, 55, 56) and Title VII: Traffic Code (Chapters 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76, and 78). The updates also included the formal repeal of Chapter 77, as its procedures for adjudicating vehicular violations have been superseded by the county’s administrative adjudication process.