Will County facilities team sets VAC center move-in for Feb. 25; reports savings and ongoing upgrades

Steve Young, assistant director of facilities, told the committee that the Veterans Assistance Center (VAC) center roof replacement and exterior glass work are complete and that interior build-out remains underway with a target move-in date of Feb. 25, 2026. "The roof replacement is complete... interior spaces are still underway. Move-in date, February 2026," Young said, later confirming Feb. 25 as the operational target.

Young outlined recent facilities accomplishments at the courthouse and county buildings, saying facility maintenance staff and sheriff’s maintenance craftsmen completed in‑house framing and installation of judicial displays and performed other in‑house work to reduce contractor costs. He reported the facilities group has completed more than 750 work orders and said that the county has saved about $118,000 to date from evaporation-credit improvements on cooling towers. "The courthouse, we saved to date over a $118,000 in evaporation credits on our cooling towers," Young said.

Committee members asked logistics questions about the VAC move and the county’s previous leased space on Glenwood. Members confirmed the Glenwood location was leased and that a Feb. 25 move would avoid another March 1 lease payment. The committee also discussed coordinating a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Business Assistance Center (BAC) and workforce partners after the VAC is operating.

Young also described ongoing projects including completed lighting work at the records archives, upgrades to county water-softening systems, and a new life‑safety specialist, Aaron Kozlowski, who will lead trainings, fire drills and first-aid classes.

The committee did not take formal action on facilities items at the meeting; members thanked staff and moved on to the AI policy discussion. The committee asked staff to return on next month’s agenda with updates as needed.