[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",5979781,"mediaKeyId","5810740-9fc3bab7f71504ab3a5df3aca53b56ea","parentId",5810740,"title","Board member urges Will County to support federal education donation tax-credit program","audioSeconds",235,"startMs",838000,"endMs",1073000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810740-9fc3bab7f71504ab3a5df3aca53b56ea&start=838&end=1073","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810740-9fc3bab7f71504ab3a5df3aca53b56ea/thumbnail_838000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5979781/Will-County/Illinois/Board-member-urges-Will-County-to-support-federal-education-donation-tax-credit-program","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979781-99a9e29e419c975deffee309dfabd81c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773556812&Signature=alRjlx9mVawJ98V979xu8Z4kQ6ERp7pb9qlW1jBvwtT2yBXKjZZwGiVhSEEj0xT~hGVyXui8oYudAtX9PQq0JPHxKP1vclmv2gyZZlJXbRy1I0XR-beNDV97gT9Y7ZL1SeZxAjFcW1-bDR-fIG43odM1pBpYMJGAL84m1GwxA-NmKlu7Qytb6BmDS0Wlihs9r8YIkpgWMnmSmRieCqfFJs5Vigsmz3H0~TWYopY9wTwo9JOdtWsI4oqW~rJZ8TUOhE4h~TCMk8pFATiV2dQROCh9I1U6EAf-jymuhRE8-RwBNnJIow0dAXa3r0LCV9tD4Q~10PW2JMxfov7lcbgPYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Will County, IL","date","2025-09-18T00:00:00Z","article","Member Balich told colleagues he had placed materials on the members' desks about a federal program that he said would provide a $1,700 tax credit to donors who give to nonprofit scholarship or education programs. \"The federal government is giving, $1,700 tax credits to anybody that donates money into a nonprofit for these children's programs,\" Balich said, and described a range of potential uses, including tutors, special classes, partial private-school tuition and test preparation.

Balich said the program, as he described it, would be available to families at every income level and would not cost the state or local government directly. He said the county should work to get the state of Illinois to \"opt into the program\" and proposed seeking a referendum asking whether the county approves the approach in hopes of persuading the governor to participate. \"So I'm asking everybody that when we bring this forward ... we got to work toward getting this on a referendum question saying whether our county approves it or not so that the state has at least us on record saying we think it's a good idea,\" Balich said.

He asked that the board refer the matter to the appropriate committee for study. \"When this goes to the committee, whichever Joe decides, we'll be talking about it,\" Balich said.

Why it matters: if a state opts into a federal donation tax-credit program, advocates say it can expand private funding for educational services; Balich urged the county to record support formally so state officials can note local backing. The board did not vote on a referral or take formal action at this meeting; Balich said he would work with staff to identify the proper committee.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Will County Board Meeting September 18, 2025 Pt. 2","oneSentenceSummary","Member Balich asked the county board to pursue state opt-in for a federal program that provides $1,700 tax credits for donors to nonprofits funding educational services; he suggested placing a referendum to urge the governor to participate.","taxTitle","Will County, Illinois","taxId",2549,"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},5979786,"Board debate over ICE actions in Joliet prompts heated exchange and calls for decorum",615,1289000,1904000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810740-9fc3bab7f71504ab3a5df3aca53b56ea&start=1289&end=1904","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810740-9fc3bab7f71504ab3a5df3aca53b56ea/thumbnail_1289000.jpg","/articles/5979786/Will-County/Illinois/Board-debate-over-ICE-actions-in-Joliet-prompts-heated-exchange-and-calls-for-decorum","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979786-799e4d98470cf0de59bcadd1c4bb3bfc/orig.mp4?Expires=1773556812&Signature=LwqN0zzRC-Uj3szGgZ-wmv~BNiU3ooTk8aoEzfRgyLab7ilfT2jJUhwaw-u2tBRBxLygilBqkHboPGJnBMtuK2xk0P78X52naIomBjovwXV5NfEYJWsvWJzpTzhydpj-1l3B9FGcXbx3Orj3r3Nfbq4gADqOHvT5EsnOnghotl0iuHLYwpiRmQvPLKK8AjJSMDykCIDWvBZ4JlLLUoNLQ1pDV3dKzVmKhgdpj6cVKS~JQnsYBDFKSvWnvaBWgNPRLkKagD6gOmaBB82eGcjWK0y7UL~1xcIRyVuxVUxqfo-6caaBhiKAA1oX5-wHtjzcZYYHk1ZY2uIHpHsDBfOUpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Member Ana Ortiz told the Will County Board she was unable to limit herself to celebratory remarks during Hispanic Heritage Month because of what she described as aggressive immigration enforcement in the county. \"In Joliet, ICE agents rammed into a car and dragged people out, leaving terror behind,\" Ortiz said, and later added that agents \"smashed through a car window in broad daylight\" and that parents were taken at school drop-off.

Ortiz urged colleagues to \"stand with our Latino community\" and criticized the lack of transparency about who had been detained, where they were taken, and why. \"Silence is not neutrality. Silence is complicity,\" Ortiz said, calling for county action to demand transparency in courthouse procedures and to support affected families.

Member Berkowitz responded at length, describing his view that the county should emphasize \"law and order\" and observe the legal immigration process. \"We are a country founded on law and order,\" Berkowitz said, adding that his family's history involved following immigration procedures. His remarks framed the issue as a matter of legal process rather than racial targeting.

The exchange contributed to a tense meeting atmosphere. Chair Trenier repeatedly interrupted to enforce board rules forbidding members from discussing or characterizing other members during public remarks. The chair read from the board's parliamentary guidance and warned that members must \"avoid characterizing another member's personal intents or motives and avoid discussing personalities.\" Trenier said she would intervene if the debate became personal and urged members to focus on county business.

Other board members spoke in favor of civility and a strategic-plan process. Member Reavis said the board needed to return to principles of compromise and respectful accountability; leader Sherry Williams and Member Van Dine urged respect and asked members to avoid name-calling. Van Dine said the planned strategic plan for the board should help members \"come together\".

Why it matters: Ortiz's description of enforcement activity in Joliet, Romeoville and other municipalities raised civil-rights and community-safety concerns for local residents and prompted a public exchange about enforcement policy and county-level responses. The board did not take a formal vote on policy or directives related to immigration during the meeting.

","Member Ortiz described recent immigration enforcement actions in Joliet and nearby towns and urged the board to support Latino families; other members defended law enforcement and rule-of-law principles, prompting the chair to repeatedly enforce rules of decorum and to urge a strategic-planning process to improve board cohesion.",{"_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},5979791,"Will County Board approves consent agenda, amends chapter 54 language to 'annual'",154,555795,710680,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810740-9fc3bab7f71504ab3a5df3aca53b56ea&start=555&end=710","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810740-9fc3bab7f71504ab3a5df3aca53b56ea/thumbnail_555795.jpg","/articles/5979791/Will-County/Illinois/Will-County-Board-approves-consent-agenda-amends-chapter-54-language-to-annual","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979791-5eb6333c88e717cc642568735f24ce93/orig.mp4?Expires=1773556812&Signature=GSBwP4kWTBOspB7PEJH5Jf0sI5LpfWsc1WHWuux4rlQpjCZ9Y0FJV3jFupaJMSiqprXwZz5DdgB54jmCury1gN5BieVzdeyhiK-qQxS7ERCe7h~HqIebsfqxVawRfA5fFYt3l8wGCKt6kQvWRJz8brC9bLc5EZYfM~2Czluyv4ARwfDWSOh~NfcJwJ3hFvoSaOpyzR4i3E9obQdDBsKldwi0RrfKOsyjzMQjwwXs0yYyCTACurTgoDCwClPsgrvAba0e6Vh663weFr7TTglWqlCbu7r2-2b6QCYMl6dIQtDJHx~P9emMAeh3YWnEdUShM-BfKOilDI3kitVbI3qPeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Will County Board approved an Executive Committee consent agenda that authorizes development of a strategic plan for the county and forwards a set of ordinance amendments to chapters 41, 50, 52, 53 and 54. \"The Executive Committee is presenting, a consent agenda which authorizes the development of a strategic plan for the Will County Board and a number of ordinances amending chapter 41, 50, 52, 53, and 54,\" said Member Van Dine.

During roll call on the consent agenda, a staff or legal request led the board to remove one item related to chapter 54 from the package and then to vote on a revised consent list. \"I'm just being told by the state's attorney that chapter 54, we would like to remove to be amended,\" Van Dine said; the board subsequently approved the remaining items.

After the consent vote, the state's attorney explained that a review of chapter 54 had identified multiple references to the term \"semiannual\" that should be changed to \"annual\" to match operational practice. Van Dine moved to replace all references to \"semiannual\" with \"annual\" in chapter 54; the motion passed. \"So I would just ask that a motion be made to, replace any references to semi annual in chapter 54 and replace it with annual,\" the Will County State's Attorney said during discussion.

Also on the consent calendar, the board approved several executive appointments, including members to the Godley Public Water District (Resolution 25-272), the Workforce Investment Board of Will County (Resolution 25-273), and the Bonnie Bridal Manor Sanitary District (Resolution 25-274). Each appointment was approved by roll call.

Why it matters: the changes to chapter 54 standardize timing language across that chapter and bring ordinance text into alignment with how the referenced land-use processes operate. The consent agenda also directs staff to begin development of a county strategic plan, a topic members said they hoped would improve board cohesion.

","The board approved an Executive Committee consent agenda that includes developing a strategic plan and several ordinance amendments; members later approved replacing references to 'semiannual' with 'annual' throughout chapter 54.",{"_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},5979797,"Will County Board authorizes state's attorney to pursue condemnation for 140 Third Street improvements",2150,5804,2156000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810740-9fc3bab7f71504ab3a5df3aca53b56ea&start=5&end=2156","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810740-9fc3bab7f71504ab3a5df3aca53b56ea/thumbnail_5804.jpg","/articles/5979797/Will-County/Illinois/Will-County-Board-authorizes-states-attorney-to-pursue-condemnation-for-140-Third-Street-improvements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979797-8a647067c6ea699961602495bdfda414/orig.mp4?Expires=1773556812&Signature=mwQi1HQpIKCoFIIWXawVJb9fYgZNl3ptM4ntX7cN0skPFu6LNzyLqKvGFxFMWtTRtBQY1aBoVm0N2NZvcbHYt7ePmCfnNzEsYKuUsbHaxZD0B6OuiOnw~lviNK03P1PpXXlXDng3sE9aJNk0y0zXnx8jwfJNw3yvMCYBQcpU~eeMddz98qP9291YXtlsKnevVgRECQmvDhQywcg06IEEfC-vppn9TLgxZ0tFEHSdLqAHW4H8XLG0j6uitnuDmVoSuAmr6Al0saAOiAlVwXCSIEU0qzerf0EnqnL67GPZROODL-C0WFhxvXWKllLh03Db7tyNznJWwaxKvPIHxbnnKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Will County Board voted to approve Resolution 25-265, authorizing the Will County State's Attorney\u0000to proceed with condemnation cases tied to county improvements at 140 Third Street. The motion passed with 12 votes in the affirmative. \"12 in the affirmative. The motion carries,\" the clerk announced.

Board members debated whether discussion on the resolution had formally closed before the roll call. Several members asked the state's attorney to read and explain the \"now, therefore, be it resolved\" language; the state's attorney said the clause gives his office authority to begin condemnation proceedings. \"Your question is, what is the legal effect of the now fair for be excuse me, be resolved. It's that the state's attorney's office can move forward with the condemnation,\" the Will County State's Attorney said.

Why it matters: the resolution grants legal authority to begin condemnation steps tied to the county's road improvement project referenced in the meeting as the Republic Road project. Board members pressed for clarity on the motion's legal impact before voting.

What was discussed: some board members raised procedural concerns about whether the discussion had been officially closed and about a temporary recording outage. A board member asked whether a technology failure affected the vote; a county official responded that the recording is a public courtesy and \"is not required by law.\" The state's attorney framed the resolution as limited to authority for condemnation under the U.S. and state constitutions and tied to completing the Republic Road project.

Formal action: Resolution 25-265, as amended, was approved. The clerk recorded 12 affirmative votes and declared the motion carried.

Context and next steps: The state's attorney said the resolution is one piece of the larger Republic Road work; other project steps will proceed separately. The board did not adopt additional policy language in this vote beyond authorizing the state's attorney to pursue condemnation as described.

","The Will County Board approved Resolution 25-265, authorizing the Will County State's Attorney\u0000to proceed with condemnation cases related to improvements at 140 Third Street; the vote passed 12-0 after questions about whether discussion had formally closed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board member urges Will County to support federal education donation tax-credit program

Board debate over ICE actions in Joliet prompts heated exchange and calls for decorum

Will County Board approves consent agenda, amends chapter 54 language to 'annual'

Will County Board authorizes state's attorney to pursue condemnation for 140 Third Street improvements