Meeting Summary and Briefs: Washington Township Board for September 4, 2024

Washington Township Board Meeting | September 4, 2024

The Washington Township Board convened on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, making several key financial decisions and hearing updates on local issues. The board unanimously approved the purchase of a new, nearly $20,000 digital sign for the township building and heard from the township assessor about a new state law benefiting veterans and a statewide increase in farmland property values. For complete details on these topics, see our full stories.

In other business, the board formally expressed its opposition to a proposed solar farm near Beecher, sponsored a local child advocacy group, and began discussions on tax levies and compensation for future elected officials.

CASA Sponsorship Approved
The board unanimously approved a $2,000 sponsorship for CASA of River Valley. The funds, which are in the current budget, will be used to provide services for children from Washington Township who are currently in the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) system. CASA volunteers advocate for abused and neglected children involved in the judicial system.

Tax Levies for 2024 Under Review
The board reviewed initial estimates for the 2024 Town and Road & Bridge tax levies. The initial consensus among board members was not to raise the Town Levy. However, Highway Commissioner Mike Smith indicated that an increase in the Road & Bridge Levy will likely be necessary due to the rising costs of fuel and materials. The board will review the information and formally address the levies at its next meeting.

Future Official Salaries Discussed
The board began the process of setting compensation for township officials for the four-year term beginning May 19, 2025. By law, the resolution must be approved by November 20, 2024, which is 180 days before the new board takes office. The board is using compensation data from the neighboring townships of Green Garden, Monee, and Peotone as comparisons and will discuss the matter further at the October meeting.

Will County to Fund Mental Health Program
Clerk Joe Burgess reported that Will County will receive $1.9 million over the next three years to fund a county-wide mental health program in partnership with Thriveworks. Details regarding the program’s timeline are still forthcoming.

Road Commissioner Updates
Highway Commissioner Mike Smith reported that the new township fuel system is nearly operational, with hardware installation pending. Upcoming road construction projects include grinding Western Avenue from Indiana Avenue to Church Road, and Offner Road between Western Avenue and Knacke Road. Smith also noted that switching the department’s phone service to Spectrotel will result in “a substantial amount of money” saved each month.

Community Building Repairs Moving Forward
The board has received two quotes for foundation leak repairs at the community building and has selected a vendor for the project. Additionally, vinyl plank flooring has been chosen to replace the old tile in the building’s lower level. The new flooring will be installed directly over the existing tile.