Council approves three-year lease for Old Joliet Prison after residents press for transfer of adjacent open land

The Joliet City Council voted Tuesday to authorize a three-year intergovernmental agreement with the State of Illinois allowing the city to continue operating and accessing the Old Joliet Prison property while discussions about the larger adjacent acreage continue. The motion passed after public comment from neighbors who urged the council to seek transfer of 135 acres east of Collins Street to the Will County Forest Preserve.

Residents including Alicia Morales told the council the open lands beside the prison have suffered "significant damage" from unauthorized uses and illegal dumping, and that politically connected groups had used the property for disc-golf activities and alcohol sales. "We need responsible stewardship of public land," Morales said, asking the council to amend the cityresolution to pursue an IGA with the state for the built parcels while supporting transfer of the open lands to the forest preserve.

City Manager Beth Beatty told the council the lease under consideration does not permit a golf course and that the city previously sent a cease-and-desist to people using the property. Beatty said she opposed an earlier bill on behalf of the city only because city negotiators had not been briefed and last-minute legislative action could have jeopardized an ongoing negotiation with the state. "This agreement simply ensures the city can continue accessing and operating the property," Beatty said, and she noted the state has provided roughly $7,000,000 in state and federal funding for the property, which city officials said supports continued remediation and stabilization.

Representatives of the Joliet Area Historical Museum urged approval of the lease so the museum can continue operations and pursue additional state funding. Keith O'Hara, speaking for the museum board, said about $7,100,000 has been spent on stabilization efforts and argued keeping the property together helps secure further state funding and protects Joliet taxpayers from absorbing full remediation costs.

Council members debated whether the city should approve a shorter, one-year lease, but the motion for the three-year agreement was seconded and carried on a roll call vote. The resolution authorizes execution of the intergovernmental agreement with the State of Illinois to govern the city's continued use of the Joliet Correctional Center.

Next steps: the city will finalize the lease with the State of Illinois and continue coordinated discussions with the Will County Forest Preserve and residents about the long-term management and potential transfer of open lands.