JOLIET—The Will County Board voted at their December meeting to move forward with a motor fuel tax  to improve safety for motorists with repairs to aging roads, many of which are over 50 years old and built to support a county population that was less than half of what it is today.
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“We are excited to improve safety on our roads,” said Will County Board Speaker Denise Winfrey (D-Joliet). “Our residents want and deserve improved shoulders and turn lanes, better traffic signals, and much needed road resurfacing.”

JOLIET—The Will County Board created a special fund to address the impact of legalization of Cannabis from cultivation to consumption at their December board meeting just before statewide legalization goes into effect in January. In 2018, the state of Illinois passed a law that legalizes the use of recreational marijuana.

​“Starting January 1, 2020 cannabis use is legal in Illinois and we wanted to be ready for the impact that it will have on our communities,” said Will County Board Speaker Denise Winfrey (D-Joliet). “The board will take a hard look at what the needs in our communities are after legalization occurs and we’ll make sure that dollars are directed to those agencies.” 

​JOLIET--  At today's Will County Board Meeting, members approved the appointment of Sherry Newquist to the board's vacant position in District 1. The appointment comes after the previous representative of District 1, Laurie Summers of Crete, left her position earlier this year on the Board to take a new job.
 
Newquist was selected by the Will County Democratic Central Committee to serve the remainder of Summers’ term, as the party of the departing board member gets to select the replacement.
 
"We’re excited for Sherry to join us in our work on the County Board," said Board Speaker Denise Winfrey (D-Joliet). "I look forward to working with a full board to accomplish all of the important things that are expected of us by the residents of Will County." 

JOLIET – The Will County Board has approved a balanced budget of $624 million for the upcoming fiscal year that contains no new taxes and continues to provide essential services to taxpayers. For the fifth year in a row, the board has lowered the tax rate. The 2019 tax rate will be 0.5795% which is lower than the 2018 tax rate of 0.5927%.
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“I’m proud of the hard work that everyone at the county has done to put this budget together,” said County Board Member and Finance Chair Kenneth Harris (D-Bolingbrook). “Our budget for fiscal year 2020 meets all of our debt obligations, includes a five year road and capital plan, and includes $108 million in funding to complete the new courthouse and a new state of the art Health Department.”

"We oppose the proposed casino in the village of Matteson since its impact has not yet been carefully considered and studied. The current proposed site at the corner of US 30 and Harlem Avenue is 1500 feet from a school and only 400 feet from a residential neighborhood. While Will County has no direct say in where a Matteson casino would be built, our residents will be impacted. We urge the village of Matteson to consider their neighbors in Will County and the quality of life for our region as a whole when deciding the location of this casino."

JOLIET-The Will County Board today reminded home owners who sustained damage during the storms of late June that they may be eligible for low interest loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA). The action follows Gov. JB Pritzker’s request of a disaster declaration from the SBA. Businesses and Not-for-Profits, including churches are also eligible for the assistance.
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“Many people in Will County suffered catastrophic loss during the heavy rains and storms of this past June and now they have an opportunity to get help in the form of low interest loans,” said Denise Winfrey, Speaker of the Will County Board. “I truly hope they avail themselves of this one time opportunity.”

JOLIET – The Will County Board has created an ad-hoc census committee which will help ensure that all Will County residents are counted during the federally mandated census which occurs every ten years. The committee will work closely with other community groups and the Will County Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
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“We need to have an accurate count of the number of residents in Will County so that we can receive the appropriate resources for our constituents,” said Will County Board Speaker Denise Winfrey (D-Joliet). “This committee will help facilitate an accurate count by coordinating efforts between local leaders and the County Executive’s GIS department.”

JOLIET - Members of the Will County Board today lauded Will County Executive Larry Walsh Sr. for many decades of public service. Walsh announced that he will not seek re-election at a press conference following Thursday’s Will County Board Meeting.
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“I’ve been proud to serve with Larry for these many years. He has been a shining example of a public servant,” said Will County Board Speaker Denise Winfrey (D-Joliet). “Not only has he dedicated so much of his time to serving the people of Will County, but he has always listened to his constituents and put their needs above anything else. Larry has always stood by his constituents.”

​JOLIET--  Will County Board members returned from the National Association of Counties (NACo) conference held in Clark County, Nevada with several new board members participating for the first time.
 
“There are some issues that are bigger than one county and it’s important for our elected officials to interface with each other and learn from each other,” said Will County Board Speaker Denise Winfrey (D-Joliet). “NACo conferences are always good learning experiences and that’s especially true for our newest board members.”