Will County Executive Committee approves series of IGAs and code amendments, continues levy debate

The Will County Board Executive Committee approved a package of intergovernmental agreements, appropriations and ordinance changes during its session, while deferring some budget decisions for further work with county staff.

Resolutions and IGAs approved included an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Office of Homeland Security (Resolution 25-30-75), agreements to provide countywide radio-system access to the town of Cedar Lake, Indiana (25-31-88) and multiple volunteer fire departments (including Lake Hills Fire Department, 25-31-92, and Lake Dale Carlea Volunteer Fire Department, 25-25-3233). The committee also approved an appropriation to cover the county engineer salary (Resolution 25-32-34), an IGA for wildlife rabies control with the Village of Frankfort (25-33-979), and authorized contracting for federal lobbying services (25-25-3329). Each was approved by voice vote.

Chair asked for and received approval of an omnibus set of ordinance amendments to the Will County Code (multiple Title 7 traffic-code chapters and related sections listed on the agenda), which passed as a slate. The committee also designated American Commercial Bank & Trust, Inc. as the county depository and approved several county-executive appointments, including to the Washington Township Drainage District No. 3 and the Emergency Telephone System Board.

Finance Chair Amber Newquist reported the levy passed out of committee and that the county budget will need amendment to match that levy; she said she will work with the county executive to identify cuts and produce a balanced budget. Members then engaged in an extended discussion over whether the adopted figure constituted a genuine compromise, with concerns raised about increasing tax burdens on long-term homeowners and seniors. One member proposed reducing proposed increases; the speaker said they would present a 1.75% new-construction figure as their proposal for further discussion.

What happens next: Staff will work with the county executive to align the budget to the levy and return further detail to the board. The Executive Committee moved to amend the County Board draft agenda to add the items approved today and a Merit Commission appointment; the amended county board agenda was approved and the committee adjourned.