Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting October 7, 2025

Article Summary: Will County officials are formally debating a new facilities master plan to address aging buildings and dozens of scattered departments, with options including a new, consolidated county building in downtown Joliet. The Board’s Capital Improvements & IT Committee on Tuesday discussed the high cost of maintaining the current 1949-era office building and the growing need for a long-term, expandable solution to improve public access and operational efficiency.

Facilities Master Plan Key Points:

• The current County Office building, a former Sears department store, needs an estimated $10 million to $18 million in near-future mechanical upgrades.

• County government offices are spread across more than a dozen locations, creating confusion for residents and operational inefficiencies.

• The County Board’s own office space is currently 5,500 sq. ft., while a space needs study recommends 10,500 sq. ft., highlighting widespread shortages.

• The committee agreed to have financial advisors present at its next meeting to explore funding options, including bonding, for a major capital project.

JOLIET, IL — Will County is taking concrete steps toward a major overhaul of its government facilities, as leaders on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, debated how to solve the dual problems of an aging central office and dozens of departments scattered across Joliet.

During a Capital Improvements & IT Committee meeting, officials discussed a new Facilities Needs Report which highlights significant space shortages and the mounting costs of maintaining the current Will County Office Building at 302 N. Chicago St.

“This building I think was built in, if my memory serves me, 1949,” said Mike Mahoney from the County Executive’s office. He explained that the building, originally a Sears store, is “exceedingly old” and faces imminent, costly repairs. “Our estimate would be for replacing mechanicals in here that are out of date, next door to obsolete… will be probably 10 to 12, 13, with tariffs, $18 million.”

The report underscores that county departments are spread throughout Joliet, a situation that creates confusion for the public and logistical challenges for the government. “I’m in favor of like a one-stop shop situation,” said board member Dawn Bullock. “The fact that we have people walk in here daily who say, ‘I’m looking for this,’ and we go, ‘Ooh, wrong building, go there.’ We shouldn’t be called the county building then.”

The discussion centered on the need for a long-term vision, with several board members advocating for a new, consolidated building that is designed for future growth.

“If we were to go down that route to build a new building, my main thing would be it would need to be modular and something that can be added on,” said board member Mark V. Revis. “We have to make sure what we’re doing, you know, we’re looking into the future and leaving a path for us to take.”

Mahoney noted that after years of effort, the county has consolidated as much as it can within its existing properties and minimized leased space, but is now “maxed out.”

The plan also considers the county’s geographic spread. Mahoney pointed out the inconvenience for residents in distant communities who must travel to Joliet for services. “It’s not easy to get from Beecher to Joliet to do county paperwork. It’s not really convenient to get from Wheatland Township to do county paperwork either,” he said, suggesting that establishing satellite service locations is another long-term consideration.

Financing a large-scale project was a key concern. Board member Jacqueline Traynere urged the committee to identify funding sources before moving forward. “We have to figure out the financing, how much money we have. I think that will help us determine the priorities,” she said.

In response, the committee agreed to have the county’s financial advisors from Speer Financial present at its November meeting to outline what is financially possible.

Mahoney also alerted the committee to a new opportunity: a parcel of land on the same block as the current county building is now for sale, which could factor into future expansion plans in downtown Joliet. He added that consolidating county operations would free up other county-owned properties in the downtown area for commercial and residential development, potentially boosting the city’s tax base.

The committee will continue its discussion after hearing from the financial advisors next month.