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.
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Flooding, weather events impact farmers, taxpayers
John Deere agrees to 10-year right-to-repair settlement
Trump: Ceasefire with Iran over as talks continue
Public pushback to Flock cameras spark variety of government responses
Illinois Quick Hits: ICE asks Pritzker not to release accused kidnapper
8 indicted in planned attack on White House UFC event
Fifth Circuit upholds Texas instate tuition ban for illegal foreign national students
30 state financial officers urge an EO to return $39B in savings bonds to rightful owners
VA hits multiple milestones in claims, care delivery and administration
U.S. Supreme Court to hear Colorado-Nebraska water dispute
Taxpayers bear burden for federal student loans
Talarico raises more money than Paxton in Senate race
