Will County Board Graphic.03

Veterans Assistance Commission Buildout Complete, Body Scanner Installed at Juvenile Center

Spread the love

Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | April 7, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County Facilities Department announced the successful completion of the Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) building renovations and the installation of a new full-body scanner at the River Valley Justice Center.

Facilities Update Key Points:

  • The VAC buildout at 1300 Copperfield is officially complete, and staff have moved in.

  • A new full-body scanner was successfully installed in the visitation area of the River Valley Justice Center.

  • The Facilities Department completed over 550 work orders in March, averaging $15 per order with a 98% on-time completion rate.

  • Will County met its 100% Demand Response energy reduction goal for peak shaving.

The Will County Board Capital Improvements & IT Committee on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, received an extensive operations update from the Facilities Department, highlighting the completion of a major renovation and significant security upgrades.

Director of Facilities William Fern and Ken Rogalski presented the April 2026 Facilities Update, announcing that the Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) buildout at 1300 Copperfield is fully complete. The project included a total roof replacement, glass replacement, and interior space renovations. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held recently, and staff have officially moved into the owned facility, successfully eliminating another county lease.

Security and safety upgrades were also a major focus for the month. Rogalski reported the successful installation of a new full-body scanner in the visitation area of the River Valley Justice Center (3200 W McDonough St).

“It was like a two-day project. It turned out really good,” Rogalski noted.

Additionally, Life Safety Specialist Aaron Kozlowski has been touring county buildings to update emergency evacuation plans and conduct CPR and AED training. The county’s Finance Department recently completed the life-saving training, and “Stop the Bleed” classes are scheduled to begin soon.

In general maintenance news, the Facilities Department completed over 550 work orders in March, representing over 300 hours of labor. The department maintained a highly efficient average cost of $15.00 per work order and achieved a 98% on-time completion rate. Rogalski also highlighted that the county successfully hit its 100% Demand Response energy reduction goal for summer peak shaving electrical curtailment.

The committee also took a moment to honor Facilities Team member Dan Shields, who recently celebrated his 35th anniversary working for Will County.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Arizona Senate majority leader blasts Phoenix resolution limiting ICE operations

Arizona Senate majority leader blasts Phoenix resolution limiting ICE operations

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square Arizona Senate Majority Leader John Kavanagh is criticizing the city of Phoenix for its resolution restricting federal immigration enforcement. Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, told The Center...
$4.4B budget request for new Illinois early childhood agency draws scrutiny

$4.4B budget request for new Illinois early childhood agency draws scrutiny

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An agency focused on early childhood education created by state lawmakers in 2024 has made its first...
Lawmaker, officer warns Elgin officer firing could chill free speech

Lawmaker, officer warns Elgin officer firing could chill free speech

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois lawmaker and law enforcement officer is sharply criticizing the city of Elgin’s decision to...
Airline nixes perk for flying lawmakers as DHS shutdown continues

Airline nixes perk for flying lawmakers as DHS shutdown continues

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square As a partial government shutdown continues, one major airline has suspended services for flying lawmakers as travel chaos builds at U.S. airports. The ongoing partial...
Student sues school over removal of Charlie Kirk tribute

Student sues school over removal of Charlie Kirk tribute

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square A North Carolina high school student is suing over alleged violations of her constitutional rights after her school painted over her Charlie Kirk tribute and...
Illinois quick hits: Coalition calls for more action on data centers

Illinois quick hits: Coalition calls for more action on data centers

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Coalition calls for more action on data centers The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition says more action is needed from the Illinois...
Asylum advocates disappointed by Supreme Court arguments

Asylum advocates disappointed by Supreme Court arguments

By Emily Rodriguez and Andrew RiceThe Center Square Immigration asylum advocates expressed disappointment with justices on the Supreme Court after arguments Tuesday regarding asylum protections. The case, Noem v. Al...
IL House GOP asks “Have you had enough yet” following student’s murder

IL House GOP asks “Have you had enough yet” following student’s murder

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After the alleged murder of a Loyola University student by a migrant who was in the country...
EXCLUSIVE: 5-year anniversary of Operation Lone Star, nearly 540,000 apprehended

EXCLUSIVE: 5-year anniversary of Operation Lone Star, nearly 540,000 apprehended

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Texas’ border security mission, Operation Lone Star, reached a milestone in March, its five-year anniversary. Gov. Greg Abbott first launched OLS in March 2021, in...
Many Republicans say proposed bipartisan DHS funding deal 'impossible'

Many Republicans say proposed bipartisan DHS funding deal ‘impossible’

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Senate Republican leaders appear close to reaching a Department of Homeland Security funding deal with Democrats, but many rank-and-file Republicans view the proposed compromise as...
Mullin sworn in as secretary of Homeland Security

Mullin sworn in as secretary of Homeland Security

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square As the Department of Homeland Security nears 40 days since a government stalemate shut it down, Markwayne Mullin has been sworn in as the ninth...
Gas spike continues for Illinoisans; state leaders offer no plan to help yet

Gas spike continues for Illinoisans; state leaders offer no plan to help yet

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As fuel prices continue rising, government leaders in Illinois have responded to growing concern over the impact...
BREAKING: Minnesota sues feds for evidence in Metro Surge shootings

BREAKING: Minnesota sues feds for evidence in Metro Surge shootings

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for refusing to share evidence regarding three...
Supreme Court appears to favor Trump's asylum border policy

Supreme Court appears to favor Trump’s asylum border policy

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court appeared in favor of the Trump administration's policy to prevent immigrants making asylum claims from being processed if they are on...
Screenshot

Updated: St. John Woman Charged with Nine Counts of Murder in Crete Township Triple Homicide

Article Summary: Jenna Strouble, 30, of St. John, Indiana, has been charged with nine counts of first-degree murder following the shooting deaths of her former partner, Jacob Lambert, and his...