JOLIET - Upcoming federal legislation, strategies to combat homelessness and the opioid crisis, and experience management were hot topics at a national conference for county officials in October. The 2017 Large Urban County Caucus Symposium (LUCC) is an annual gathering for leaders from counties with a population of 500,000 or more to share and brainstorm ideas with fellow county officials.
 
Will County Board Member and LUCC Vice-Chair Denise Winfrey (D-Joliet) attended on behalf of the Will County Board.
 
"As Vice-Chair of LUCC I had the pleasure of helping organize much of this year's symposium," said Winfrey, who helped emcee the event. "Our panels covered a number of topics and upcoming litigation that is affecting counties across the country, including Will County. In particular, the opioid crisis was a big topic of discussion for us."
 
LUCC is part of the National Association of Counties (NACo), and includes county executives, governing board members, and other senior elected officials. LUCC's mission is to address urban challenges and contribute to national policy discussions. A few topics discussed at this year's symposium include: Fiscal Forecast for Urban Counties; The Economics of Disaster: Achieving Mitigation and Ensuring Equality; and Accelerating Sustainable Social Change Through Impact Investing.
 
The symposium took place in Salt Lake County, Utah.
 
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JOLIET – The Will County Board is partnering with the Laraway Communication Center to form a consolidated 911 Dispatch Center. The new public safety dispatch center will serve 31 communities.
 
“Having one primary dispatch center will save money and allow emergency responders to work more efficiently and get help to people who need it,” said Will County Board Member Suzanne Hart, a member of the 911 Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB). “Calling a 911 dispatch center could save someone’s life. I’m proud we could provide high quality safety services to Will County residents.”
 
The consolidated dispatch center will be located in the new Public Safety Complex, slated for completion in December. A few offices have already begun moving into the building. As part of the intergovernmental agreement between Will County and Laraway Communications Center, the county will be responsible for managing employees and maintenance operations at the facility.
 
“I’m very happy we could help house these vital services in the new Public Safety Complex,” said Mark Ferry (D- Plainfield), a member of the county’s Public Health & Safety Committee. “Our emergency responders deserve a high-quality and high-tech working environment so they can perform their jobs well. They’ll get this at the new Public Safety Complex. Public safety is paramount in our focus."
 
The new Public Safety Complex will house the Sheriff's Office, 911 Dispatch Center, and Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB). The 85,000 sq. ft. facility is located in Joliet on Laraway Road and Route 52. It will replace the existing Sheriff's Office next door and provide a new administration and training building, evidence storage, and space for a consolidated 911 Dispatch Center that will serve 31 communities, as well as ETSB.  Currently, there is a need for a central location for these functions that are now spread throughout the County.  Once the new complex is complete, the old Sheriff's Office will be torn down.

JOLIET – The Will County Board voted today to lower the tax rate on the county portion of residents' tax bills for the third year in a row. The two percent reduction brings the tax rate down to .5941 percent. At the same time, the county will increase funding for the Health Department by $359,000. The board voted 14-9 along party lines to establish the tax levy.
 
“We’re holding the line on taxes,” said county board member and Finance Committee Chair Mike Fricilone (R-Homer Glen). “We’ve lowered the tax rate on the county portion of the tax bill and increased funding for the Health Department, which provides vital services to our residents.”

JOLIET - The Will County Board today approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Romeoville to create a Pharmaceutical Take-Back program for residents. The partnership will provide residents with the ability to safely dispose of prescription and nonprescription drugs. A 2002 study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that drugs flushed down the drain often ended up in local waterways.
 
"Just like with electronics, we're finding out that drugs and medications can't simply be tossed down the drain or in a landfill," said Don Moran (D-Romeoville). "This partnership with Romeoville will give residents the ability to dispose of extra medications in a safe and easy way."
 
Romeoville's police department is authorized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to take back controlled substances. They will coordinate with Will County, which has special collection containers for unwanted medications from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), to host Pharmaceutical Take-Back events.
 
"I encourage all residents to keep an eye out for these events," said Beth Rice (D-Bolingbrook). "You can bring in old inhalers, over-the-counter meds, anything collecting dust in your cabinets."
 
Residents can bring in prescription and nonprescription medications;  medicated shampoos, soaps, and creams; inhalers and aerosol medications; and mercury thermometers. The partnership will continue for three years or until IEPA ceases funding for containers.