JOLIET— The Will County Board recently voted unanimously to increase funding for the Children’s Advocacy Center. The funding comes from a grant the center received from the Department of Justice, called the The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant. The grant will go into effect for the FY2017 budget.
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“The Children’s Advocacy Center’s work is essential, and we were more than happy to approve further funds for its good work,” said Will County Board minority leader Herb Brooks (D-Joliet). “As a member on the Children’s Advocacy Center’s board, I know that every penny is well spent on programs for children that need help.”
 
The Children’s Advocacy Center was awarded $151,204 through the VOCA Grant. Both Brooks and Will County Board Member Mike Fricilone (R-Homer Glen) sit on the Children’s Advocacy Center’s board.
 
“Children, especially those that have experienced some sort of trauma, sometimes don’t know how to express what they need and seek help,” said Fricilone. “That’s why the Center’s work is so important. It gives a voice to those who need it most.”
 
The Children’s Advocacy Center is a nonprofit that works with children who have been sexually or physically abused, or who have witnessed a violent crime. Each year, the Center serves more than 450 new children. It was first opened in 1995.
 
“These additional funds will allow the Children's Advocacy Center to expand critical  services for sexually abused children throughout Will County who turn to us for hope, healing, justice,” said State's Attorney Jim Glasgow, who founded the Center in 1995 and chairs its Board of Directors. “I would like to thank the Board for its approval and continuous support of our mission.”

​JOLIET— After hearing safety concerns from residents about traffic flow on Weber Road, the Will County Board has voted to support a temporary traffic signal at the intersection of Weber Road and South Carillon Drive.  Weber Road is one of the busiest highways in the County and is slated for construction projects in 2018.  

JOLIET— Will County Board Speaker Jim Moustis (R-Frankfort) and Minority Leader Herb Brooks (D-Joliet) congratulated the Will County Veteran's Assistance Commission (VAC) on its role in helping to eliminate homelessness among veterans in the county.
 
"There are a number of resources out there for veterans, but the VAC is where most veterans go for help first," said Moustis. "The VAC has made it possible for Will County to make sure each and every veteran has a place to stay. They're the real boots on the ground."
 
Earlier this summer, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Veterans Affairs confirmed that the Will County Continuum of Care had effectively eliminated veteran homelessness in the county.
 
The VAC, which was first established by the Will County Board in 1991, works closely with the Continuum of Care, as well as a number of other organizations, to assist veterans. The VAC is a separate County Governmental Agency operated by and for veterans. The Will County Board allocates a portion of its budget each year to fund the VAC.
 
"Veterans deserve the utmost respect for their service to our county," said Brooks. "I'm extremely proud of the VAC's work and know they will keep up the hard work."

JOLIET— Members of the Will County Board toured the new Public Safety Complex today as the building enters its final phases of construction. Construction is slated for completion in December, and some offices will move into the building as soon as September 1, 2017.
 
“It’s exciting to see the building take shape after so many months of planning and deliberation,” said Ray Tuminello (R-New Lenox), Chair of the Capital Improvements Committee. “Everyone has been working hard and is eager to see the Complex open in December.”

JOLIET— Will County Board members from District 7 will host an informational session on Opium Awareness and Suicide Prevention on Thursday, August 31. Dr. Kathleen Burke, Will County's director of Substance Use Initiatives, will lead the session at Homer Township Public Library, starting at 6:30 p.m. The session is open to the public.
 
"Opioid abuse is a national crisis affecting people across the country, including here in Will County," said District 7 representative Steve Balich (R-Homer Glen). "Hopefully through discussions like this one people will learn how to spot addiction and learn what to do if they need help."
 
The Will County Board recently approved the second year of funding from a grant from a five-year grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) to fight opioid addiction. Will County hired Dr. Kathleen Burke earlier this year as the director of Substance Use Initiatives to assist with coordinating programs associated with the grant.
 
"Dr. Burke is extremely knowledgeable and a great resource for the County," said Mike Fricilone (R-Homer Glen), also of District 7. "I encourage anyone with questions or concerns about opioid addiction or suicide prevention to come on out. Help us by attending our event. Every life matters."

JOLIET— The Will County Board is not ceding any ground in its fight against the opioid crisis, an epidemic that has now spread across the country. At its most recent meeting, the Board voted to approve a second year of funding from a five-year grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) to fight opioid addiction.
 
“We’re fortunate in Will County that we caught on to the opioid crisis early,” said Judy Ogalla (R-Monee), chair of the Public Health Committee. “This grant from the Department of Human Services bolsters our fight, but we still have a ways to go. We will continue to battle this epidemic with all of the tools available.” 

JOLIET-- The Will County Board has unanimously approved the appointment of board member Gloria Dollinger (R-Joliet) to the Will County Workforce Investment Board, a business-led policy and decision making organization that aims to create programs and support for the local workforce.
 
"I’m honored to represent the Will County Board as a member of the Workforce Investment team," said Dollinger. "I look forward to working and strategizing with the rest of the members to create more jobs and to continue to develop a strong workforce in Will County."
 
The Workforce Investment Board consists of a mix of public and private sector members, and required to have members from the private sector, public sector, education, and labor.  The Board is responsible for putting together a number of employment, training, and educational services. Dollinger will replace Will County Board Speaker Jim Moustis (R-Frankfort) on the Board.
 
“We need to make sure we have a world class workforce system in Will County, for both employers and job seekers, now and in the future,” said Workforce Investment Board Director Pat Fera. “Gloria will add an important perspective to the board with her experience in both government and healthcare.”
 
Dollinger was first elected to the Will County Board in 2016, and has lived in Will County for more than 30 years. Dollinger graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana, followed by a degree in Nutrition and Medical Dietetics from the University of Illinois. She is a registered dietitian certified in obesity and adult weight management.
 
Dollinger will attend her first meeting with the Workforce Investment Board in August. Her term runs until September 2019.

​JOLIET-- Along with a group of local legislators from around the country, Will County board member and Chairman of the Finance Committee, Mike Fricilone (R-Homer Glen), testified on Capitol Hill this week in defense of the state and local tax (SALT) deduction.  Over 125,000 middle class families in Will County save an average of $2,000 per year through the SALT deduction.
 
"This deduction keeps taxes low for our middle class residents," Fricilone said. "The SALT deduction is not only for the wealthy or residents of high-tax states, as it is often portrayed."
 
Taxpayers who itemize deductions on their federal income tax are eligible for SALT deductions. Through it, taxpayers can deduct their state and local property taxes, and either state income taxes or general sales taxes. The Trump administration's proposed tax reform plan would eliminate the SALT deduction.
 
"Eliminating the SALT deduction would essentially double tax our residents on income," Fricilone said. "Ultimately, eliminating this deduction will only shift the cost to the local level, and put pressure on state and local revenue systems."
 
About one-third of people who file taxes itemize deductions on their federal income tax returns, virtually all of which claim SALT deductions. Nationwide, more than half of the total amount of SALT deductions goes to people with incomes of less than $200,000 annually. In Will County, 90 percent of taxpayers filing SALT deductions earn less than $200,000 annually. SALT deductions have been in place since 1913 and the inception of the federal income tax.
 
Other state and local organizations have lobbied against the elimination of the SALT deduction as well, such as National Governors Association, the United States Conference of Mayors, and the National Conference of State Legislatures, among others. Fricilone spoke in Washington on July 11 on behalf of the National Association of Counties (NACo). 

JOLIET--  Will County Board Members whose districts were affected by a Canadian National Railway freight train derailment last night are calling for a swift and thorough investigation of the incident.
 
“I am extremely grateful that there have been no injuries reported from this accident so far, but we are facing a dangerous situation that requires a massive cleanup effort,” said Will County Board Member Gretchen Fritz (R-Plainfield). “I’m looking forward to a full and thorough investigation. We can’t afford to have something happen like this and put our residents at risk.”
 
A southbound freight train carrying crude oil derailed around 6:30 p.m. Friday near downtown Plainfield and the DuPage River. Some cars were reported leaking, and hazmat and environmental teams were at the scene to prevent fires and crude oil from reaching the DuPage River. Police ordered a half-mile radius evacuation around the scene of the evacuation.
 
“Canadian National as well as all other railroads must be extra diligent to ensure this type of accident never happens again,” said Darren Bennefield (R-Aurora). “The stakes are simply too high to compromise safety in any way, shape or form. This underscores the need for us as a nation to pay more attention to rail safety as more hazardous freight is hauled across the country, especially through Chicago and our backyards.”

JOLIET--  Will County has struck another agreement on electronics recycling, this time with Channahon Township. Through an intergovernmental agreement between the county and Channahon, residents will now have the ability to recycle old computers, televisions, and other residential electronic products at Channahon events.
 
"Ensuring residents have the proper facilities to recycle electronics is critical," said Board Member Debbie Militello (R-Channahon). "I'm glad we could come to this agreement with Channahon. It also dovetails nicely with the electronics recycling agreement we finalized with Wilmington earlier this month."
 
As of 2012, electronic products were banned from landfills under the state's Electronic Products Recycling & Reuse Act. This includes items such as computers, monitors, televisions, keyboards, printers, fax machines, video game consoles, scanners, satellite receivers, electronic mice, and more. Instead, electronic products are required to be disposed of in specified sites.
 
"Increasing access to proper electronics recycling ensures residents can dispose of these items in an environmentally friendly and safe way," said Board Member Don Gould (R-Shorewood).
 
Channahon residents will be able to drop off electronics every first and third Thursday of the month from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Families of Faith Ministries. The recycling center will accept residential electronics and take up to two televisions per household. Residents must show and ID.