Meeting Summary and Briefs: Washington Township Board for Jan. 5, 2026

Washington Township Board Meeting | Jan. 5, 2026

Meeting Summary
The Washington Township Board of Trustees met on Monday, January 5, 2026, to approve bills and discuss administrative policies. Supervisor Mike Stanula led the meeting, which was attended by Trustees Tracy Heldt, Mark Herlitz, and George Obradovich. Trustee Paul Goldrick was absent.

The board unanimously approved a new Record Retention Policy to align with Illinois state statutes. Clerk Joe Burgess noted that the policy helps manage record disposal, as many records no longer need to be kept. The board also approved the payment of bills, including $55,449.08 for the Road and Bridge account, $38,296.28 for the Town Account, and $11,027.42 for General Assistance.

News Briefs:

Meeting Date Rescheduled:
The board voted unanimously to reschedule the March meeting. Originally set for March 23, 2026, the meeting will now take place on March 30, 2026. Supervisor Stanula requested the change after learning that two trustees would not be available on the original date.

Historical Society Merger Talks:
Trustee George Obradovich and Clerk Burgess discussed the future of local preservation efforts. Burgess reported that the Beecher Preservation Committee is looking for a way to merge with the Beecher Historical Society. The Historical Society has recently lost the majority of its members, and the merger aims to ensure the Washington Township Depot/Museum remains open and maintained.

Mental Health Grant Application:
Under old business, the board noted that reimbursements from the City of Joliet have been transferred to the Thriveworks account. The township intends to apply for a Will County Mental Health grant later in January to support local mental health services.

Township Improvement
Supervisor Stanula reported that new lights have been installed on the township flagpole. Additionally, the Dial-a-Ride service report for December showed that the service provided 77 trips at a cost of $531.20.