Committee votes to keep facility operational, moves forward with compliance modifications

Will County Finance Committee members voted unanimously Monday to recommend keeping the River Valley Detention Center operational and making necessary upgrades to bring the facility into compliance with state requirements.

The committee’s decision came after extensive discussion about the facility’s cost structure and revenue projections, with members ultimately agreeing that maintaining the juvenile detention center represents the most cost-effective option for the county.

“Our county is big enough, takes an hour to drive from one side to the other,” said Committee Chairwoman Sherry Newquist. “I don’t want to send our kids somewhere else and I think our taxpayers should absorb that cost.”

Cost Analysis Sparks Debate

The committee spent considerable time examining cost-per-day figures presented by River Valley Detention Center staff. The facility currently costs approximately $365 per day per resident when operating at an average of 21 residents, as it did in fiscal year 2024.

The presentation showed how adding residents from other counties could reduce Will County’s per-resident costs. With three additional out-of-county residents paying $225 per day, the cost per resident would drop to approximately $329. Adding six additional residents would bring the cost down to about $309 per day per resident.

Several committee members questioned why the county charges other counties $225 per day when Will County’s actual cost is $365 per resident.

“If we know that it costs us $336 per day, why wouldn’t we just charge what it costs us?” asked Committee Member Jackie Traynere. “Our taxpayers should not be subsidizing other counties.”

Revenue Projections

The facility has generated revenue from DeKalb and Kankakee counties, with projections showing potential income of $259,140 for fiscal year 2025. Current revenue through April 2025 totaled $172,464.

Committee members discussed potentially raising the per-diem rate to $250 to increase revenue while remaining competitive with other facilities.

Compliance Requirements

The committee must address several compliance issues to keep the facility operational:

• Body scanners: Two units are needed to meet security requirements
• Kitchen upgrades: Including steamer and equipment repairs totaling $23,505
• Visitation area modifications: Currently operating with no-contact visitation that may need to be modified

River Valley Detention Center staff indicated that body scanners represent the most critical and quickest upgrade to implement.

Facility Capacity

The River Valley Detention Center has 102 beds but currently operates at about 21 residents on average. The state recognizes 83 beds as operational capacity. If the facility reached full capacity, officials said the cost per resident could drop to between $110-$150 per day.

Committee Consensus

After extensive discussion, committee members expressed general agreement on several key points:

• Keeping the juvenile detention center operational rather than closing it or moving youth to adult facilities
• Making necessary compliance upgrades to maintain operations
• Starting with a $250 per-day rate for out-of-county residents
• Reviewing the rate structure in six months to assess effectiveness

“I think we should definitely move forward,” said Committee Member Destinee Ortiz. “It’s better for us to stay competitive because if we drive ourselves outside of the market, we’re not going to be helping us at all.”

The committee voted to move the recommendation to the Executive Committee for further action, with the understanding that the county executive has the financial figures needed to proceed with the upgrades.

Next Steps

The Finance Committee’s recommendation will advance to the Executive Committee for consideration. The committee emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that the facility has been out of compliance for over a year.

“We’re already behind,” Traynere said. “We are out of compliance, we’ve been out of compliance for well over a year. We need to move along.”

The Executive Committee will review the proposal and determine the timeline for implementing the necessary upgrades to maintain the facility’s operational status.

The Will County Finance Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for July 1, 2025.