County Board Member, District 3· 2025-03-11 to 2026-11-30 (appointed Mar 11 2025 by county board resolution 2025-016 to fill the Counterman vacancy, term set to November 30 2026 in the resolution; oath date not recorded in the minutes)
Joseph Plese
Grundy County
No biography on file yet.
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Top issues during term (20)
FY2027 Public Building Commission Budget
General fund spending would rise about 5.27%, or roughly $24.6 million total.
County Road Maintenance and Capital Projects
Developers, not taxpayers, fund the negotiations and pay impact fees; the amendment process saved the county nothing but protects roads.
Sheriff's Office communications contract
Not finalized — the cost is a placeholder, though some savings in the sheriff's budget would partially offset it.
Health Department Budget and Subsidy
About $7,340 in requested equipment went unfunded, and the department's subsidy request was trimmed by the county.
2026 Tax Levy Proposal
A projected 3.01% levy increase would hit property tax bills, though the county aims to reduce that figure.
Tyler Tech Software Implementation
No specific cost was stated in the meeting; the new server was ordered by the county's technology vendor.
VAC administrative assistant staffing
Only about $9,000 is in the proposed FY 27 budget for the position — not enough for even 20 hours a week — so more money would have to be added for a part-time hire, and a full-time position with benefits would cost far more.
Gorman Road Full-Depth Reclamation Extra Work Costs
$160,000 drawn from general highway funds to cover cost overruns.
Union contract negotiations and county employee wages
Union contract terms could eventually affect county payroll costs, but nothing was decided yet.
Transit ridership record and driver shortage
The job pays $48,000-$52,000 but is covered by operating grants with no hit to the county's general fund; the opioid subcommittee fund also spent about $2,000 on transit fare cards.
Livestock setback variance for horse barn on narrow lot
Commercial solar development in Grundy County
Legal defense of solar cases is a major driver of the trust's $870,000 loss.
Nuclear safety and emergency preparedness planning
Roughly a few hundred dollars — a ~$200 TV plus an outlet installation — reallocated within the existing EMA budget.
Proposed senior center at county Administration Building
Schwer says the senior center wouldn't require additional dollars — just space.
Advisory referendum on consolidating townships, schools and fire districts
The consolidation is expected to save money on running multiple smaller sites, though no dollar figure was given.
SKK Assessor Consulting Contract
About $24,000 more per year than the prior contract rate.
Animal control operations and adoptions
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) ordinance
Developers must fund fire training, decommissioning bonds and engineering plans; the county avoids losing siting authority to state defaults.
Minooka hotel tax abatement extension
The abatement only starts once the hotel has a full assessed year, so the extension itself doesn't reduce tax revenue for schools, the village, or other taxing bodies.
Mobile Flu Clinics and At-Home Shots
Decisions during term (117)
Recorded while Plese was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Approval of Minutes — September 23, 2026 Regular Meeting
26-ZBA-016 SUP Modification — Eglin mini-storage site plan
26-ZBA-007 — UDO Text Amendment
Motion to adjourn
Approve Minutes - October 13, 2026 Regular Meeting
10-26-26 Claims
SKK Contract - 1-Year Renewal
Adjournment
Claims approved
IGA with Braceville Township for road use agreement negotiation
IGA with Maine Township for road use agreement negotiation
Ridge Road construction LPA amendment
Purchase of two pickup trucks
Motor fuel tax maintenance resolution
County engineer's 2027 salary resolution
Five-year road and bridge plan deferred
Claims
Approval of TB Statistics and Financial Reports
Motion to adjourn
Approval of Agenda
Voting record (22)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.