JOLIET, IL – Will County officials today broke ground on a new state-of-the-art Courthouse, which will replace the current facility on Jefferson Street in Joliet.
 
“This new courthouse will place us squarely in the forefront of public safety and justice administration in Illinois. Enhancing public safety for residents is of utmost importance to this board," said Board Speaker Jim Moustis (R-Frankfort). "The existing space had become too small, inefficient and costly to operate. The new courthouse will create a safer and more efficient building for our workers, for jurors and for the visiting public. It will also provide enough space as the county continues to grow."
 
The new courthouse will be built on the former First Midwest Bank site, on the southwest corner of Ottawa and Jefferson streets in downtown Joliet. Demolition of the First Midwest Bank building is expected to be complete in early 2018. The county purchased that property in 2014.

JOLIET— Will County's new consolidated 911 Dispatch Center and Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) goes live this week bringing together  31 separate communities under one centralized roof to better coordinate and respond to emergencies.  The consolidation is one of the first and largest in the state.
 
"I'm very proud of the Will County Board for rising to the occasion and working with the ETSB on the mandate they received by the state to consolidate," said Board Speaker Jim Moustis (R-Frankfort). "With the Board's help, 31 communities will now be better served by this one single state-of-the-art facility."

JOLIET  – The Will County Executive Committee moved forward this week with a request for the Illinois State Tollway Highway Authority to conduct a feasibility study for the purposes of widening I-80 through Will County by creating an additional new dedicated toll lane.
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“The portion of I-80 that runs through Will County is often congested and many times greatly exceeds the capacity it was designed for,” said Will County Board Speaker Jim Moustis (R-Frankfort). “With the limited road construction resources that the state has, we need to look at all options including adding toll lanes.”

JOLIET  – The Will County Board Legislative Committee passed their 2018 state legislative agenda this week, outlining priorities and concerns that they hope the 100th General Assembly will address in the coming year. The full board is expected to accept the agenda at their board meeting on December 21.

“The issues that we’re concerned about range from consumer and animal welfare to transportation to environmental issues,” said legislative and policy committee chair Suzanne Hart (R-Naperville). “We keep apprised of the issues and make sure that we are working closely with our state legislators to best serve our constituents.”

Among the items that the County Board is looking for Springfield legislators to adopt in the New Year is a bill regulating the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits; and another bill allowing individuals to rescue animals from motor vehicles without civil and criminal liability. Hart thanked State Senator Mike Connlley (R-District 21) for sponsoring both pieces of legislation.