Meeting Summary and Briefs: New Lenox Township Board of Trustees for January 8, 2026

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

The New Lenox Township Board of Trustees kicked off its first meeting of the new year on Thursday, January 8, 2026, by tackling a mix of administrative updates, intergovernmental boundary disputes, and facility maintenance issues. In addition to passing a 2026 cemetery rate increase and reviewing soaring food pantry usage, the Board welcomed a new Assessor, navigated emergency equipment failures, and outlined upcoming digital and environmental initiatives.

Emergency Sirens Malfunction: Trustee Martin Boban reported a significant failure within the Township’s emergency alert infrastructure. During initial testing earlier in the month, 10 of the Township’s 12 emergency sirens experienced an issue. The vendor utilized to maintain the sirens was immediately contacted to identify and correct the malfunctions. Boban noted that a possible system upgrade may be necessary, and he will provide more information as it becomes available.

Electronics Recycling and Paint Collection: Trustee Boban reported that the Township’s used electronics collection, held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., continues to average 50 to 60 cars per event, with the most recent collection drawing 60 vehicles. Boban also shared information regarding a new paint collection program available to Township residents through Will County Green. The local Sherwin Williams paint store will now accept up to five gallons of paint per visit. Additionally, previous vendors have been confirmed for the Annual Recycle Day, scheduled for May 2, 2026, offering both shredding and electronics recycling.

Community Solar Rebate: Residents utilizing the New Lenox Community Solar Coalition may soon see financial relief. Trustee Boban indicated that the coalition has projected a possible 10% electric rebate for New Lenox Township residents applied to the usage portion of their electric bills.

New Assessor Outlines Goals: Newly elected Assessor Mark Munizzo delivered his first report, noting he had only four business days since taking office to discuss management styles and expectations with his staff. Munizzo stated that his office staff represents a valuable, trained workforce and pledged to provide them with opportunities to take classes and improve their skill sets. He formally established his overarching goal: to make New Lenox the “best assessed Township in the State.” Supervisor Cass Wennlund also read a thank you letter from outgoing Assessor Hernandez.

Township AI Policy Drafted: As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly prevalent in municipal operations, local guidelines are being established. Trustee Boban reported that the Township Officials of Illinois (TOI) is currently finalizing an AI Usage Policy template. Once reviewed and approved, the template will be made available for individual townships to implement at their discretion.

Website Refresh: Trustee Patty Deiters announced she is actively working with a web site developer on a comprehensive 5-year refresh of the Township’s website. Supervisor Wennlund raised a specific concern regarding mobile optimization, noting that the current site does not display a full page when accessed via cell phone. Deiters requested that officials provide her with any additional suggestions, changes, or concerns.

Clerk and Highway Administration: Clerk Lynn Eckhardt reported that the 2025 Tax Levy Ordinance (2025-02) and Resolution (2025-07) were officially filed with the Will County Clerk on December 12, 2025. Eckhardt also confirmed the oath of office for newly appointed Trustee Friant was filed and that she is working on finalizing record disposal certifications with the Illinois Secretary of State (ILSOS). Highway Commissioner Mike Potocki reported that the Highway Department has submitted its own separate application for records disposal with the ILSOS.

Township Newsletter Deadline: Supervisor Wennlund reminded all Township officials that their informational submissions for the Annual Newsletter must be turned in by February 1, 2026. Submissions must be kept to a 325-word limit due to space constraints and provided in a Word document format. Wennlund recommended utilizing the same printing vendor as the previous year, noting their cost-effectiveness and timely completion.