JOLIET, IL – The Will County Board will move its meetings to a videoconference platform beginning Thursday. The move is intended to maintain proper social distancing and shelter-in-place compliance with directives and recommendations from Gov. JB Pritzker and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
​
“I want to assure the public that their county government is available and working while we combat this pandemic,” said Denise Winfrey, Speaker of the Will County Board. “As Illinois continues to battle the coronavirus, we must all do our part to help contain it and holding virtual meetings is one of the best ways we can contribute.”

JOLIET - Will County officials held a press conference today to discuss steps that the county is taking to address concerns around COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Officials stressed that the general public is safe and that there has not been an outbreak or any reports of coronavirus in Will County to date.
​
“One of the main things that individuals can do right now is help us prevent the spread of the virus,” said County Health Department Executive Director Susan Olenek. “If you feel sick, stay home. Call your doctor and make an appointment, but stay home as much as possible.”

JOLIET – Margie Woods was the second black woman elected to the Will County Board and the first black woman to serve in a leadership role on the board, leading the way for other women and people of color to become involved in Will County government. She died on January 29, 2020 in Joliet where she had lived her entire life.
​
“Margie was a tremendous example for how to be involved in your community and make a difference.” said Will County Board Speaker Denise Winfrey (D-Joliet). “I wouldn’t be Speaker of the Will County Board today if Margie Woods hadn’t first blazed the trail.”

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.
​
“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%.
​
“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.
​
“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.”