Grundy County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Grundy County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
FY2027 Public Building Commission Budget
The tentative FY2027 general fund budget is $24.6 million, up 5.27%, driven by cost-of-living adjustments, health insurance, software implementation and placeholders for union negotiations and sheriff IT contracts.
Zoning code text amendment
The county's year-long overhaul of several UDO sections is finally headed to the full board after typo fixes. It shapes how land uses are regulated countywide.
2026 Tax Levy Proposal
The projected 2026 property tax levy is a 3.01% increase, but finance director Matt Melvin says his goal is to land below that once the budget process wraps. The five-year budget forecast guides the target.
Transit ridership record and driver shortage
GTS hit a record 18,668 rides in FY26 and can't hire drivers fast enough. A new full-time admin assistant would be cross-trained to drive, dispatch, and cover office duties, filling a two-hour daily dispatch gap starting October 1.
County Road Maintenance and Capital Projects
Residents say the 55 mph limit and lack of flashing warning signs at Sheryl and O'Brien Roads nearly caused a fatal crash, and semis trying to reach the Love's truck stop from Brisbane Road are blocking lanes. The county highway engineer says the intersection is Kendall County's, and Route 6 is state jurisdiction.
Behavioral Health Division Reopening vs. North Central Lease
The county is pursuing state licensure to reopen its behavioral health division, but North Central Behavioral Health may lease much of the county building and offer far broader services to Medicaid clients. Board members wrestled with whether to keep funding the restart or rely on North Central — and where the money would come from, since the county cut behavioral health from the approved budget.
Health Department Budget and Subsidy
The county didn't approve the department's full budget request, and the Community Foundation denied a grant for exam tables and equipment, saying those should come from the county budget. The department plans to seek capital improvement funds from the county.
EDPA 1 CPV surplus distribution
Under a 2017 intergovernmental agreement, the county will distribute $2,009,525 in tax-year-2025 surplus to taxing bodies, keeping $313,285 for the general fund. It was a 20-year agreement, so roughly 17-18 years remain.
Gorman Road Full-Depth Reclamation Extra Work Costs
The Garman Road rebuild is about 99% done but ran roughly $300,000 over after crews found hidden field tiles and drainage problems; the board authorized $160,000 in local funds to finish and pay the contractor.
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) ordinance
The county unanimously adopted a state-mandated ordinance regulating industrial-scale battery facilities, keeping local control before an expected wave of BESS applications next year. It includes tough fire standards, decommissioning plans and ethical sourcing requirements.
Union contract negotiations and county employee wages
The board met behind closed doors to discuss union contract negotiations. No recommendations or decisions came out of the session, so nothing changed for residents this time.
Commercial solar development in Grundy County
A new lawsuit alleges the county improperly extended a special use permit for the Goose Lake Solar project after it expired. Solar cases are now believed to number seven or more, and while they don't carry big dollar payouts, the legal defense costs are driving up the trust's losses.
Proposed senior center at county Administration Building
Public Health Administrator Tania Schwer pitched converting unused space in the county admin building into a senior center, saying no additional funding is being requested and survey data from the Senior Expo shows demand. She plans to present to the County Board with letters of support.
Minooka hotel tax abatement extension
The dual-brand Holiday Inn Express and Candlewood Suites in Minooka got extra time under its tax abatement because of weather, a storm, and redesigns after adding the second brand. The abatement doesn't kick in until the hotel has a full assessed year, so extending the deadline doesn't cost the schools, village, or other taxing bodies anything extra.
November 3 general election preparations
Early voting is underway at the courthouse with extended hours coming to Minooka Village Hall and the Coal City Library Annex, vote-by-mail processing happens every Wednesday morning and is open to the public, and specimen ballots hit mailboxes this week.
Grundy County Transit Center Design
The committee approved the design of the new transit center so it can go to IDOT for pre-bid concurrence — one of the final steps before the roughly $5.25 million facility goes out to bid.
County self-insurance fund health and claims
The county's insurance trust is losing roughly $870,000 this fiscal year, mostly from legal fees tied to solar litigation and rising insurance premiums. A $700,000 county contribution will replenish the reserve but won't fully cover the loss, and officials say contribution levels may need rethinking if costs stay high.