Will-County-Executive-Committee-Meeting-June-12-2025

County Board Approves Major Code Updates, Discusses Employee Benefits

The Will County Board Executive Committee approved several ordinance updates Wednesday while engaging in detailed discussions about employee compensation and benefits.

The committee passed ordinances updating three chapters of the county code, including revisions to personnel regulations, emergency management agency structure, and public records procedures. The updates include changing the Emergency Services and Disaster Management Agency to the Emergency Management Agency and updating various statutory references throughout the code.

A significant discussion emerged regarding longevity pay for county employees during review of the personnel regulations chapter. Board member Jim Richmond raised concerns about the cost of longevity payments, which he calculated at approximately $340,000 annually based on the 2025 budget.

The county currently provides two types of longevity pay: a modest payment starting at $6 per month after three years of service (maxing out at $40 per month), and a $200 monthly payment for employees who reach the top of their pay scale. Richmond suggested the board should examine these costs in future budget discussions.

“We’ve gone from like four or $500,000 to three-quarters of a million dollars in just the past three or four years,” Richmond said, noting the increases have accelerated as the $200 payments expanded.

The committee also approved contracts totaling $1,725,000 for workforce development programs with Joliet Junior College, including $1,300,000 for youth occupational training and $425,000 for work readiness programs.

Other approved items included property acquisition contracts for a new highway maintenance facility in Monee totaling $545,000, and funding for River Valley Detention Center improvements including a $180,000 body scanner and $136,000 in structural modifications to comply with state juvenile justice standards.

The committee also approved appointments to the Lockport Cemetery Association and METRA Commuter Rail Board.

Events

No events

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Meeting-Briefs

L-W School Board June 26 Meeting Briefs

Special Education District Update: The fence installation around the playground at Lincoln Way Area Special Education District 843 has been completed except for one gate section that will allow equipment...
Joliet-Junior-college.-Graphic-Logo.2

JJC Embarks on New 10-15 Year Facilities Master Plan Process

Joliet Junior College is laying the groundwork for its physical future, officially launching a comprehensive process to create a new facilities master plan that will guide campus development for the...
Meeting-Briefs

Meeting Summary: Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees for June 25, 2025

The Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Key actions included the approval of the fiscal year 2026 budget after a contentious debate and hearing...
Will-County-Board-Meeting-June-18-2025

Will County Board Halts Transportation Plan After Contentious 143rd Street Debate

The Will County Board voted Wednesday to send its five-year, multi-million dollar transportation improvement plan back to committee, effectively pausing all projects after a lengthy and heated debate over the...
Will-County-Board-Meeting-June-18-2025

Will County Board Upholds Zoning Denials, Rejecting Developer Appeals

The Will County Board on Wednesday backed its Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC), denying two separate appeals from property owners who sought to overturn the commission’s recommendations against their projects....
Will-County-Board-Meeting-June-18-2025

Split Vote Halts Monee Truck Terminal Project

A proposed truck terminal on vacant land at West Monee-Manhattan Road in Monee Township was stopped in its tracks Wednesday after the Will County Board delivered a split decision on...
Will-County-Board-Meeting-June-18-2025

Future Quarry Fight Looms as Board Approves ‘Tequila Barrel’ Retreat

While the Will County Board greenlit a unique tourist destination featuring overnight stays in repurposed tequila barrels, it also received formal notice of a coming fight to shut down a...
Meeting-Briefs

News Briefs from the Will County Board June 18 Meeting

Monee Church Designated Historic LandmarkThe Will County Board unanimously voted to designate St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Monee as a historical landmark. Member Judy Ogalla, a Monee native,...
Frankfort-Village-Board-Meeting-Graphic-June-16-2025

Frankfort Approves Outdoor Patios for The Loft and Grounded Coffee Bar, Waives All Parking Requirements

Downtown Frankfort is set to expand its outdoor dining options after the Village Board on Monday approved plans for new patios at two adjacent businesses, The Loft and Grounded Coffee...
Frankfort-Village-Board-Meeting-Graphic-June-16-2025

Frankfort Police Department to Get Four New Vehicles in Fleet Upgrade

FRANKFORT, Ill. – The Frankfort Police Department will be updating its aging fleet after the Village Board approved the purchase of four new vehicles for a total cost not to...
Frankfort-Village-Board-Meeting-Graphic-June-16-2025

Indoor Pickleball Facility ‘Pickled!’ Gets Green Light in Frankfort

A new indoor pickleball facility named "Pickled!" is set to open in Frankfort after the Village Board granted a special use permit for the business at its Monday meeting. The...
Frankfort-Village-Board-Meeting-Graphic-June-16-2025

Frankfort to Install Public Wi-Fi at Breidert Green

Visitors to Breidert Green in downtown Frankfort will soon have access to free public wireless internet. The Village Board on Monday approved the purchase and installation of Wi-Fi equipment to...
Frankfort-Village-Board-Meeting-Graphic-June-16-2025

Frankfort Board Approves Indoor Recreation Facility and Setback Variance

The Frankfort Village Board gave its approval to two separate development projects Monday night, clearing the way for a new indoor pickleball facility and a residential addition. Trustees unanimously granted...
Frankfort-Village-Board-Meeting-Graphic-June-16-2025

Meeting Briefs: Frankfort Village Board for June 16, 2025

Downtown Patios Approved, Parking Waived: The Village Board approved outdoor seating for The Loft and Grounded Coffee Bar on Ash Street. To support the downtown businesses, trustees also voted to waive...
Will-County-Executive-Committee-Meeting-June-12-2025

Mental Health Board Awards $5 Million in Grants to Will County Organizations

The Will County Community Mental Health Board has distributed over $5 million in grants to 39 local organizations, marking the completion of its inaugural funding cycle since voters approved the...