New Lenox Township Prepares to Defend Marshall Cemetery Boundaries Amid Mokena Annexation Proposal

New Lenox Township Board of Trustees Meeting | January 8, 2026

Article Summary:
The New Lenox Township Board of Trustees is preparing to present formal concerns to the Village of Mokena regarding a proposed property annexation neighboring the historic Marshall Cemetery. In conjunction with local land use concerns, the Board also unanimously approved the 2026 schedule of rate increases for Township cemetery fees while reviewing future land acquisition and preservation efforts.

New Lenox Township Cemetery and Land Use Key Points:

• Mokena Annexation: A proposed subdivision north of Regan Road is seeking annexation into Mokena, prompting Township officials to draft demands protecting the adjacent Marshall Cemetery’s boundaries and parking.

• Rate Increases: The Board unanimously approved a new schedule of increased cemetery fees for 2026.

• Plot Inventory & Financials: Township cemeteries operated at a net loss of $5,279.35 in December 2025, with an estimated 18 years of saleable plot inventory remaining.

• Property Acquisition: The Township is actively exploring the purchase of Methodist church property at Maplewood to expand capacity, securing retaining wall quotes from Allied Landscape.

The New Lenox Township Board of Trustees on Thursday, January 8, 2026, laid the groundwork to defend the boundaries and operational integrity of Marshall Cemetery ahead of a neighboring municipal annexation hearing.

Township Supervisor Cass Wennlund informed the Board that he received an email from the Village of Mokena’s planning commission regarding a hearing date for the annexation of property north of Regan Road. The parcel directly neighbors the New Lenox Township Marshall Cemetery, prompting immediate concern from Township officials regarding traffic, parking, and boundary encroachment.

Wennlund announced he will personally attend the Mokena planning commission hearing, scheduled for January 15, to present the Township’s formal concerns. During the meeting, Wennlund outlined his primary objectives to the Board, stressing the need to protect the parallel parking situated on Regan Road in front of the east half of Marshall Cemetery.

Furthermore, Wennlund proposed demanding that the entrance to the newly developed subdivision be placed strictly west of the west line of Marshall Cemetery to prevent traffic bottlenecks and preserve the sanctity of the burial grounds. He also aims to require the developer to connect all existing sidewalks and pedways to any new pedestrian infrastructure built for the subdivision.

Wennlund requested that the Trustees submit any additional points or comments to his office by Friday to meet the strict Monday deadline to respond to the Village of Mokena.

The defense of Marshall Cemetery’s borders coincided with a broader legislative focus on the Township’s cemetery operations.

As the sole action item of the evening, Supervisor Wennlund presented an updated schedule proposing an increase in 2026 cemetery fees. Following a brief presentation, Trustee Annette Vogt made a motion to approve the new 2026 cemetery rates as presented, with a second from Trustee Steve Friant. The Board passed the rate adjustments in a unanimous roll call vote.

Following the vote, Trustee Vogt, who oversees the cemetery portfolio, delivered a stark financial and operational report detailing the ongoing challenges of maintaining the Township’s burial grounds.

Vogt reported that during the month of December 2025, the cemeteries generated a revenue of $4,001.52 against operating expenses of $9,280.87, resulting in a net loss of $5,279.35 for the month.

Perhaps more pressing than the monthly operational deficit is the Township’s dwindling physical inventory. Based on preliminary estimates, Vogt reported that the Township currently has approximately 18 years’ worth of saleable plots remaining across its cemetery properties.

To address the impending spatial shortage, the Board engaged in a brief discussion regarding the best use of property potentially being acquired from the Methodist church at Maplewood. To advance that potential acquisition, Vogt announced she is obtaining a quote from Allied Landscape for the construction of a retaining wall on the site.

In addition to expansion, the Township is prioritizing the preservation of its existing historical sites. Vogt noted she is currently securing an estimate from a contractor, identified as Paul, to preserve aging grave markers, primarily focusing on cleaning and uprighting leaning headstones.