[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6216798,"mediaKeyId","3650540-5960be41f4e4ce7d629b3fb207589bff","parentId",3650540,"title","Residents urge term limits, oppose tax abatement for proposed truck stop and press for answers on Brandon Road bridge","audioSeconds",1006,"startMs",2909000,"endMs",3915000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3650540-5960be41f4e4ce7d629b3fb207589bff&start=2909&end=3915","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3650540-5960be41f4e4ce7d629b3fb207589bff/thumbnail_2909000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6216798/Joliet/Will-County/Illinois/Residents-urge-term-limits-oppose-tax-abatement-for-proposed-truck-stop-and-press-for-answers-on-Brandon-Road-bridge","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6216798-809b006f2955d003c195eb752f0fd55b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153577&Signature=YLSJjZ5naWbT6KFuu-9El2-w1qSFuac2-XPb~XfV6eX~yoIjyI3aCzCRMHkmxB08EBKvpDRVBZMvX6OGpinzAhW1xXDb3zJfOzLTBdZ~HfBYeRaN5yHLPYYebRibGuj6n5oWn1Fl1nKxMW8pAwxM1pGLy~dxc7fJUftN3ekNbyMuvovEOggKdnqcqVtjiTp4MzHxyh~ihnTA~fWx9OilWkQY8mlzp8WWe8R6Q8ompBCODaBM9pnlY1361ECmA8thm0H-5CIXc6IBnUfs49vsclVdi6V~jdgLAF-U4XyxnuYvRtmA294GitTdsSUYtxKfvnhOav1EGDW26bnQsFPuKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Joliet, IL","date","2025-06-03T22:47:59Z","article","Several residents addressed the Joliet City Council during public comment Tuesday on a range of issues including term limits, a proposed truck stop and a months‑long bridge closure.

A resident who identified themselves during the meeting said term limits are the “number one issue” in the country and urged the council to consider an ordinance limiting mayors and council members to three consecutive four‑year terms or to place a referendum on the ballot. The speaker said their polling of local candidates and a survey of more than 300 residents showed strong support for term limits and urged the council to meet with the legislative committee to draft an ordinance.

Brandon Perez, who gave his name and addressed the council, urged officials to consider converting a privately proposed site for a Sri Ayyappa Swamy temple into a community park serving Joliet and neighboring Plainfield. Perez presented a sketch and argued a park would serve a broader population; he cited demographic data during his remarks. He asked council members to meet with him to discuss the proposal further.

Resident Diane Madder spoke about a planned Love’s Truck Stop in a residential area and criticized a proposed tax abatement for the project as “corporate welfare,” saying abatements shift the tax burden to residents and small businesses and questioned transparency around permits and exemptions. Madder asked the council to investigate the project and ensure community interests are protected.

Another resident pressed the council and state agencies for clearer information about the Brandon Road bridge repair and criticized delays, saying that intermittent work and shifting schedules have left the crossing closed for months. The speaker said they observed limited visible work on site and questioned whether related projects — including an Asian carp mitigation effort mentioned by the resident — were the real reason for the continued closure. City officials acknowledged frustration and said they are coordinating with the Illinois Department of Transportation and other agencies but that multiple overlapping projects have complicated the schedule.

A separate speaker described a bullying incident at a local school and asked the council to consider meeting with school leaders about bullying policies and potential local ordinances to protect victims; that speaker requested a meeting before the next school year.

Councilors did not take action on any of the matters raised during public comment. Several council members and staff responded to questions about construction coordination, bridge scheduling and whom residents should contact for follow‑up.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Joliet Council Meeting June 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents used the public‑comment period to press the council on term limits, propose a community park instead of a temple, criticize a proposed Love's truck stop tax abatement as corporate welfare, and demand clearer timelines for the Brandon Road bridge repair.","taxTitle","Joliet, Will County, Illinois","taxId",2650,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6216803,"Joliet approves $1.242 million 9‑1‑1 grant and mutual‑aid agreement with neighboring village",970,1303000,2273000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3650540-5960be41f4e4ce7d629b3fb207589bff&start=1303&end=2273","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3650540-5960be41f4e4ce7d629b3fb207589bff/thumbnail_1303000.jpg","/articles/6216803/Joliet/Will-County/Illinois/Joliet-approves-1242-million-911-grant-and-mutualaid-agreement-with-neighboring-village","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6216803-2c215d5f1b9e5c64cdb229e37a96facc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153577&Signature=JztR1X4zeBS5ATsSy33XAj79SDwiGLt9RYgtFB8AoFLKnBqM40Zsr1aviPj61FaBkFfyNRpzYDQtTwcGOqUEYvHFwEsPHNsnEWO1cToFY55ji05x~zMig0x1RiuCWQ1w8jEopVJfX3cW1H4Q8Uc0tOCTDiqIOQPwdmfSzNLYGl19wvM0Le3liTeTSgNj9uJWGLdEgex9lyRqQmTKDBIUSucls-qPfR43VA221pofE9fOQms5n-qAVZ9lBa8-Pyubnn9sb0AaNhuPtuJVtb9rX6SJZpzxCrzRHLqge~96ZQ6e72Utjd5LNbgTqI55P3FlFOd0zlZidJgQOjes7Obv6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Joliet City Council on Tuesday adopted two measures intended to support public‑safety operations: acceptance of $1,242,000 in grant funds from the Will County 9‑1‑1 Emergency Telephone System Board and a mutual‑aid law‑enforcement agreement with the Village of Shanahan.

The resolution to accept 9‑1‑1 surcharge grant program funds (SGP) authorizes the city to receive available grant dollars from the county ETSB to support emergency‑communications needs; committee presenters said the city participates in the annual program routinely. Separately, the council adopted a resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Shanahan to provide reciprocal law‑enforcement mutual aid when requested.

Both measures were recommended by the city’s Public Safety Committee and passed the council on unanimous voice and roll‑call votes. Council members said publicly that the measures are routine and intended to improve communications interoperability and cooperation with neighboring jurisdictions.

The resolutions do not appropriate specific line‑item spending in the council record provided; staff indicated the grant acceptance is a prerequisite to later appropriation of funds for eligible equipment and services under the ETSB program.","Council adopted resolutions to accept $1,242,000 in Will County 9‑1‑1 surcharge grant funds for equipment and services and approved a municipal mutual‑aid law‑enforcement agreement with the Village of Shanahan.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6216808,"Council approves traffic‑management, sewer inspection and multiple engineering contracts",369,1407000,1776000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3650540-5960be41f4e4ce7d629b3fb207589bff&start=1407&end=1776","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3650540-5960be41f4e4ce7d629b3fb207589bff/thumbnail_1407000.jpg","/articles/6216808/Joliet/Will-County/Illinois/Council-approves-trafficmanagement-sewer-inspection-and-multiple-engineering-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6216808-e45101dfc079efdf20d39efabae6c8ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153577&Signature=I9h1z-MPxUgXB6lUZke-9495rO2TvzFyvWH9aE-g6xWY4m6RixxdF96bya-JYDSkLnRM8CF9STJSOUm2gcHXs5DXoaTct93guPfrFtmt6LfxmWBwzRDJq2JcJsDfAXDpkBrJMqgIX2SouNRN5eIcZsFgWq6DFdS575HcPzbzicalFzAEp~0BffUJYV4jN~4YKVTfgQo~r~3UNkVRrMTHApcvcOzLbQOKqYu-E~rPQP63eMfiR5gbXHdh8Xt~Ax2HooPFY4xlu~qrK8GQGoj7YF2H3t-OuS6Xau0xUGhdggpB95vXdTJ9-iHaTMRPWl-xVL6ZaEu~gbjA0NS8LSnhJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Joliet City Council approved a package of infrastructure contracts and professional services Monday as part of the consent agenda, city staff said.

Key approvals included an award to H & H Electric Company for the Advanced Traffic Management System Phase B project in the amount of $648,969.63 and a contract to Pipe View America for the 2025 Sewer Cleaning and Inspection Program in the amount of $528,650. The council also approved professional engineering and inspection services to RJN Group, Inc. and other consulting agreements tied to water main and roadway projects.

Council committee reports that preceded the consent vote summarized committee review of the items: the public service committee recommended the traffic‑management and sewer contracts, noting the traffic project will modernize and connect the city’s traffic signals, and the sewer inspection contract completes a 12‑year, city‑wide inspection cycle, staff said. Several change orders and final payments were also approved; committee reports noted two projects closed under budget, including a Fairmont water and sewer extension with a decreased final amount of $745,046.58.

“All items under ordinance and resolutions as well as change orders, pay estimates, and final payments, we did find to be in order and were unanimously approved to be sent forward to the full council with committee recommendation for council approval,” a committee presenter said during the meeting.

The consent agenda vote was unanimous. Councilors approved related resolutions appropriating Rebuild Illinois bond funds for the traffic system project and motor fuel tax funds for selected roadway engineering work.

No public debate occurred on the council floor before the vote on these consent items.","Council unanimously approved consent items including an advanced traffic management system contract ($648,969.63), a 2025 sewer cleaning/inspection contract ($528,650) and related engineering agreements and change orders.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6216812,"Joliet council adopts ordinance authorizing up to $145 million in waterworks and sewerage revenue bonds",211,1973000,2184000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3650540-5960be41f4e4ce7d629b3fb207589bff&start=1973&end=2184","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3650540-5960be41f4e4ce7d629b3fb207589bff/thumbnail_1973000.jpg","/articles/6216812/Joliet/Will-County/Illinois/Joliet-council-adopts-ordinance-authorizing-up-to-145-million-in-waterworks-and-sewerage-revenue-bonds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6216812-71d5028e0dce495be6a4c1d4b4b980bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153577&Signature=la1su7g6OAhq~A5iuE9VWrly0RcYnsVapTgWuU0kgSdSkRmhOqvQivjJ2R8B8sgl1LC~rpXEiblnGwVUjoMZiYQ6F8vmgkAjR7zZ2trU3J-U6hlIdYGxGwjhscUU3ArB2HcCGUBvWzlKb8duh3fTxDLxqw59QyQuTsUDDxWX8RxueaCqy0qnnNAj~tQkWSLv5muqs3uWIvIN5YCyla~I8dRWMY6Rq24psFK2-LeczQJK9dXg1ImzaHBfeN8kBbtqyJqIgF-1Sk89Dl3jTSO4QUgOO-Msi6vrC22ppbXuJszERyMgaYEXH4TRrLO9hZ0lnhdP0GLhjtZYkPfMExEXXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Joliet City Council voted Tuesday to adopt an ordinance authorizing the issuance of up to $145,000,000 in Waterworks and Sewerage senior‑lien revenue bonds to finance major water and sewer system improvements, officials said.

City finance staff told the council the borrowing would fund roughly $87 million in work to accept Lake Michigan water, about $36 million in costs tied to the Grand Prairie Water Commission project, and roughly $11 million for required debt‑service reserves. The bonds will be repaid from sewer and water rates, and the city expects interest rates to be below 6 percent under the planned structure.

“The $145,000,000 is designed to fund about $87,000,000 of our improvements to accept Lake Michigan water for sewer and water,” a city staff member identified in the meeting as Kevin said during the finance briefing. He described a monthly finance team that reviews project status and financing options and said the city would consider other tools — including revenue bonds, letters of credit and state SRF or EPA loans — to try to minimize rate impacts.

Councilors approved the ordinance in a roll‑call vote. The ordinance authorizes issuance of the bonds with terms up to 30 years; no specific bond issue date or series number was provided at the meeting. Finance staff said the issuance is part of a multiyear financing plan the city has been discussing and that the city has programmed the borrowing into its rate studies.

Councilors did not set new rates at the meeting; staff said repayment will come from existing and planned sewer and water rate structures already factored into recent rate studies.

The ordinance vote was recorded as unanimous. The council did not discuss an ordinance number during the meeting record provided.","Council adopted an ordinance allowing issuance of up to $145 million in senior‑lien waterworks and sewerage revenue bonds to fund Lake Michigan water acceptance work, Grand Prairie Water Commission costs and reserves; bonds will be repaid from sewer and water rates.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6216817,"Joliet Fire Department honored for community mental‑health EMS program",351,441000,792000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3650540-5960be41f4e4ce7d629b3fb207589bff&start=441&end=792","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3650540-5960be41f4e4ce7d629b3fb207589bff/thumbnail_441000.jpg","/articles/6216817/Joliet/Will-County/Illinois/Joliet-Fire-Department-honored-for-community-mentalhealth-EMS-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6216817-e2489ed288a95d2113bbdb22553dc8c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153577&Signature=ETEVrXujrZnYuBVGPdn5cABRsqZ9d0XVpC-QoJRQVQQnZsMkpmvTZgQJupHODGP1IQ1NEmFWJDWgS6MGRJaPXdf112D25-rrSz73buyZ2nUkbOi7eLQ2a9UdIyoUaK6jdRHKDTaoo-p4C~GES1aWN~sEl5xhdnPakW2cO-B8TLfPyE3zobmZy2teV5dIWN-oqtDHhCIVegOf~rfbe-nsj3FPyHpjCjgvs6NT19bFpMLPaa9BELTDFlQiFfUuJatkduQzoJLM6DEdAlmI~B6WW8HPdvl6Rj5B0lTA7Aoj9vmdMIL8TCbd8-wtFqO5SxsAR8osr4LKlkh02quEvPdncQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Joliet City Council heard a presentation Tuesday recognizing the Joliet Fire Department with the 2025 Congressional Fire Services Institute and MASIMO Excellence in Fire Service‑Based EMS Award for its community mental‑health program.

The award, presented by Bill Webb of the Congressional Fire Services Institute and David Gelfin of MASIMO, honors fire departments that develop innovations in emergency medical services. The program, launched in 2022, trains paramedics and firefighters in crisis first aid, connects callers to rapid follow‑up care through partnerships with a local hospital and a counseling service, and uses a city fund to pay for services not covered by insurance, presenters said.

“This program … demonstrates a forward thinking fire department in addressing the mental health of its personnel and the citizens they have sworn to protect,” Bill Webb, executive director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute, said during the presentation. Webb told the council the selection committee included representatives of major national fire‑service organizations.

Fire Chief Jeff Carey described the program’s origins and on‑the‑street benefits, saying firefighters and paramedics are “not psychiatrists. They’re not mental health professionals. They’re just looking for the tools and resources to be able to help.” He said the program provides same‑day or next‑day connections to mental‑health providers in many cases and is expanding countywide.

The council and presenters credited the council’s financial support as a factor in the department’s selection for the national award. The presentation was made publicly and no formal council action was required.

The award will be formally presented in Washington, D.C., at CFSI’s national dinner; department leaders accepted the honor there in February and brought the recognition to the council meeting for local acknowledgement.

The council did not take action related to the award during the meeting, but city officials said the program will continue to expand partnerships and services for Joliet residents.","The City of Joliet received a national award recognizing its fire‑department‑led community mental‑health program, which trains first responders, links patients to rapid follow‑up care and uses city funds to cover services insurance won’t.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge term limits, oppose tax abatement for proposed truck stop and press for answers on Brandon Road bridge

Joliet approves $1.242 million 9‑1‑1 grant and mutual‑aid agreement with neighboring village

Council approves traffic‑management, sewer inspection and multiple engineering contracts

Joliet council adopts ordinance authorizing up to $145 million in waterworks and sewerage revenue bonds

Joliet Fire Department honored for community mental‑health EMS program