Meeting Summary and Briefs: Washington Township Board of Trustees for February 2, 2026

Washington Township Board of Trustees Meeting | February 2, 2026

The Washington Township Board of Trustees met on Monday, February 2, 2026, to address multiple local initiatives, including mental health services, community event sponsorships, and infrastructure grants. The board finalized plans to hand over the Thriveworks Mental Health program to the Beecher Fire District, allocated over $56,000 in federal grant money for a new community building HVAC system, and approved a $10,000 sponsorship for Beecher’s Concert in the Park series.

For comprehensive details on these topics, please read the full standalone articles. Other notable actions and reports from the meeting are summarized below.

Township Approves Over $63,000 in January Bills:
The board unanimously approved the payment of all monthly obligations. Trustee Tracy Heldt motioned, and Trustee George Obradovich seconded, the authorization to pay January’s Town Account bills, totaling $17,963.20. Included in those claims were $12,829.76 for payroll and government liabilities, $1,754.72 for the Berkot’s Super Foods food pantry, and $851.80 for accounting services. Separately, the board approved the Road & Bridge Account bills totaling $45,105.75, following a motion by Trustee Mark Herlitz and a second by Obradovich. Road bills included $30,209.01 for payroll and $6,259.34 for health insurance.

Assessor Prepares for 2027 Quadrennial Reassessment:
Assessor Patricia Peters informed the board that Will County has officially opened its system for property changes. Her office is currently assigning values to new builds and actively updating properties that pulled building permits over the last calendar year. Peters noted that her office will be especially busy physically measuring properties throughout 2026 in preparation for 2027, which is a state-mandated quadrennial reassessment year.

Winter Weather Keeps Highway Department Busy:
While Highway Commissioner Michael Smith was not in attendance, he submitted a written report detailing the department’s current workload. Smith noted that road crews have been heavily occupied dealing with multiple rounds of winter weather and are conducting winter patch and repair work as conditions permit. During breaks between storms, staff have focused on building maintenance at the facility, including overhead door and opener repairs. Smith stated the department will resume hauling seal coat chips and road mix to prepare for the upcoming construction season once the weather breaks.

Senior Spring Breakfast Scheduled for April:
The board agreed to schedule the 2026 Senior Spring Breakfast for April 18 at the Beecher Amvet Hall, pending final confirmation that the venue is available. Clerk Joseph Burgess also reported that senior engagement remains strong, noting that 44 local seniors attended the township’s Pizza & Movie Matinee event held on January 21 at the Washington Township Center.

Transportation Services Lift Inspection Required:
The township’s Dial-a-Ride service remained active through the start of the year, providing 63 trips to residents throughout January at a total operational cost of $1,629.22. According to the transportation report, an appointment has been scheduled to transport the township’s Pace bus to a certified maintenance shop in Merrillville, Indiana, to have the vehicle’s wheelchair lift formally inspected.

Closed Session Minutes to Remain Sealed:
The board conducted a mandatory review of the closed executive session minutes dating back to July 7, 2025. Following a brief review, Trustee Tracy Heldt made a motion to keep the minutes closed to the public. Trustee Mark Herlitz seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved by a voice vote.