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Homer Glen residents press village as Will County lawsuit and Sept. 12 hearing loom over 143rd Street widening
Summary
Residents and trustees clashed over the proposed widening of 143rd Street during a packed Homer Glen board meeting; the village attorney said a motion to dismiss is set for Sept. 12 in a suit filed by county commissioners challenging the county executive's veto, and trustees pledged to keep pressing for resident protections and better communications.
Homer Glen
At a village board meeting dominated by public comment, residents urged the Village of Homer Glen to take stronger, clearer action to stop Will County's proposed widening of 143rd Street, saying the project would displace homes, strip mature trees and change the village's rural character.
The mayor and trustees said they are working on legal and political options while monitoring a lawsuit filed by county commissioners challenging a veto by the county executive. Village attorneys told residents that a motion to dismiss in the case is scheduled for a Sept. 12 hearing before Judge Brian Barrett, and said the litigation currently functions as an injunction-like constraint on county action.
Why it matters
The dispute centers on whether Will County moves forward with a plan that residents say would widen large stretches of 143rd Street between Lamont Road and Bell Road and could require property takings or easements. Residents said the process has been opaque: "There are 64 homes with children in this neighborhood," said Mary Lou Soldado, who urged the board to stop what she called an unsafe expansion. Several speakers described tapes on trees and posted survey markers as evidence work is already advancing.
What officials said
The village attorney advised that the county commissioners'suit, if successful, could reverse the veto and reopen options for the county, but that standing and procedural issues remain central. "We have been providing updates," the attorney said, and cited the pending motion to dismiss as the next major court event.
Mayor Natsuki Troiki and trustees repeatedly told residents they are "with you" on the issue and are pursuing multiple contingency paths, including negotiating to take jurisdiction of (and maintain) portions of the road themselves if that emerges as the best option. Trustees said they have reviewed past plans and flagged inconsistencies in county reports about truck routes and long-term traffic forecasts.
Resident concerns and technical questions
Residents asked for environmental and traffic studies, clarifications on quick-take procedures and the status of any easement notices. Trustee and staff speakers acknowledged that some documents were difficult to find on the village website and pledged to improve public postings, to build an email contact list for 143rd updates and to share FOIAed material already obtained by residents.
Court schedule and next steps
The village attorney said the court will address a motion to dismiss on Sept. 12; if the judge allows the case to proceed, additional briefing or temporary restraining orders could follow. If the motion is granted and the veto stands, trustees said they would pursue alternative legal or negotiation strategies and continue to press the county to preserve neighborhood quality-of-life concerns.
The board asked residents to sign up for the village's Civic Ready alerts and to leave contact information so staff can share court dates and study results. The board did not take a new formal vote on the project at the meeting but moved to continue monitoring and to pursue contingency planning.
What to watch next
The court hearing on Sept. 12 and any public filings that follow. The village plans to publish a clearer timeline and to solicit resident emails for direct updates.
