Press Releases

At the Feb. 18 meeting, the Will County Board approved three residents appointed by Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant to serve on county boards and commissions.

Moving Will County is a project focused on bringing the region together to find consensus on the balance of industrial, agricultural, natural and cultural resources, residential, and preservation areas.

The Will County Office Building, located at 304 N. Chicago Street in Joliet, will be closed on Fri. Feb. 12 and Mon. Feb. 15 in observance of Lincoln's Birthday and Presidents' Day. Normal business hours will resume on Tues. Feb. 16.

Nearly 100,000 seniors anxious to receive the vaccine, county only receiving shipments in 2,000 doses increments.

Calls to the Will County Health Department COVID-19 hotline are topping more than 800 per day, some days reaching 1,000 calls per day, which is overwhelming the current system as residents in the 1b category, 65+, are trying to schedule appointments for the vaccines.

Will County has developed a vaccination program which utilizes a collaborative partnership between the county Health Department and over 40 different providers including local hospitals, EMS providers, pharmacies and other healthcare providers.

Earlier today, Governor Pritzker announced that Region 7, which includes Will and Kankakee counties, will be moving into Tier 1 mitigations beginning Friday, January 22.

“This is great news for the many businesses who have suffered greatly during the pandemic and it demonstrates our resident’s commitment to observing mitigation guidelines. While we welcome this news, we urge both our business owners and our residents to carefully observe the Tier 1 mitigation guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety,” said Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. “We must still take actions to protect ourselves from the virus – wear a mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance.”

The Will County Health Department (WCHD) is asking for patience from the senior community and their families during the still very young “Vaccine Stage” of the “Covid-19 Pandemic Response.”
Shortly before Christmas, WCHD placed a survey on its website, allowing all Will County residents who intend to take the vaccine to register their interest, and offer important information concerning age range, pre-existing health conditions, occupation, and location of their residence.

When former Will County Executive Larry Walsh announced he would not seek reelection in 2020, it would be the first time in 16 years someone new would hold the position.

After all the ballots were counted, it would also be the first time a woman was elected to the office.

“When the late Larry Walsh Sr. said he was not going to run again, I knew it was an opportunity for me to come home and be able to focus on my community where I’ve been all my life,” said Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, who was sworn in to the executive position in December.

Through strategic financial planning and consistently high credit ratings, Will County will save more than $20 million in debt service payments on existing bonds over the next 25 years, or an average savings of $821,295 per year.

With the COVID-19 vaccine being rolled out to more sectors of the population on almost a weekly basis, the Will County Health Department has set up an online registration portal and encourages residents to logon, take the survey, and register for future vaccine clinics.