Will County ordinance review committee moves multiple chapters to executive committee, adjusts language and penalties

The Will County Ad Hoc Ordinance Review Committee on Sept. 9 voted to forward several revised ordinance chapters to the county Executive Committee, approved a wording change in Chapter 51 of the Code of Ordinances, and amended maximum penalties in the vehicle/parking sections of the code.

The committee approved an amendment to Chapter 51 replacing the word “notwithstanding” with the plainer phrasing “regardless of,” and voted to send chapters 56 (public works permit and access control) and multiple traffic- and parking-related chapters (70 through 78) to the Executive Committee for final consideration. Committee members also approved raising the maximum fine allowed in the local vehicle/traffic provisions from $1,000 to $2,500 for offenses adjudicated under county administrative procedures.

Why it matters: the forwarded chapters update how the county governs public-works permitting, highway and right-of-way rules, parking and traffic enforcement, and incorporate several policy changes enacted since the ordinances were last reviewed. Raising the maximum penalty and forwarding updates to executive committee are procedural steps required before any final enactment by the County Board.

Committee actions and outcomes - Amendment to Chapter 51 (purpose language): committee amended the draft to replace “notwithstanding” with “regardless of” to make the provision clearer for readers. The committee then approved sending the amended chapter onward. - Motion to send Chapter 56 (public works permit and access control) to the Executive Committee: approved. - Motion to send Chapter 55 (stormwater management) to the Executive Committee (see related story on stormwater discussion): approved. - Motion to send Chapters 70–74 and 76–78 (traffic, parking and vehicle provisions) to the Executive Committee; included updates to load limits, right-of-way rules, prohibited parking lists and penalty schedules: approved. - Amendment to Chapter 76 (adoption of portions of Illinois Vehicle Code for local enforcement): committee approved raising the maximum fine ceiling to $2,500 and forwarded the chapter to Executive Committee. - Chapter 77 (towing-related provisions) was formally repealed and forwarded to Executive Committee for formal ratification because towing procedures are now handled elsewhere in the code. - Chapter 75 (motorized pedal cycles / low-speed vehicles / e-bikes): committee postponed consideration to the November meeting to allow the sheriff’s office and land-use staff to draft targeted language.

The committee’s roll-call votes occurred throughout the meeting for each motion; motions passed by majority where recorded. Several votes and motions were recorded by roll call before the committee recessed business to later items and eventually took final votes to forward the chapters to executive committee.

What the committee said Phil Mach, the committee’s legal representative, explained the intent behind the Chapter 51 wording change, noting an enforcement principle: “there is a principle in the law called collateral estoppel,” and that the county cannot rely on an individual government agent to alter municipal law enforcement. Committee members said the simpler “regardless of” phrasing would be easier for residents to understand.

Next steps Chapters forwarded to the Executive Committee may be amended further at that committee stage. Chapter 75 will return to the ad hoc committee after staff and the sheriff’s office propose language addressing low-speed vehicles and similar devices.

Ending note Committee members repeatedly emphasized the drafts reflect a mix of long-standing practice and recent statutory changes; several sections were updated only to reflect current departmental standards or to incorporate ordinance language the board previously passed but not yet folded into the code.