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Record of Proceedings

Joliet Pre-Council Meeting - May 18, 2026: IDOT I-80 Update, Self-Storage Proposals, Tattoo Studio, and Public Concerns

Meeting Portal — Monday, May 18, 2026
BodyJoliet, Illinois
SessionMeeting Portal
DateMonday, May 18, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:16:57

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Everybody, this is the City of Joliet Pre-Council meeting here in Council Chambers.

0:08

On Monday, May 18th at 5 30.

0:13

Colonel.

0:15

We'll begin with roll call.

0:16

Mayor Darcy.

0:17

Here.

0:17

Councilman Cardenas.

0:18

Councilman Clement.

0:20

Councilman Hogg.

0:21

Here.

0:21

Councilwoman Abarra.

0:22

Here.

0:22

Councilman Moreno.

0:23

Here.

0:24

Councilman Mudron.

0:26

Councilman Quillman.

0:27

Here.

0:27

Councilman Ridden.

0:28

Here.

0:30

First, we have a presentation by IDAT.

0:39

Good evening.

0:40

At uh council meeting, oh, I don't know, a month or two ago, I think Councilman Clement had requested an update on the I-80 construction from IDOT.

0:49

And Councilwoman Reardon did it as well.

0:51

I'm sorry.

0:53

Several council people.

0:55

How about that?

0:56

So tonight we have Eric Ray from IDA with us.

1:01

He's going to go over a brief presentation on the status of the I80 project.

1:12

Good evening.

1:13

I wanted to give a brief presentation.

1:15

It's a big project, but I'll try to boil it down so it's quick.

1:19

I want to take everybody's time and go through hours long spells of information.

1:25

My name is Eric Ray.

1:26

I am the area of construction supervisor for South Cook and Will County at the Illinois Department of Transportation.

1:32

Also, along with me is Mr.

1:33

Philip Gibson.

1:35

He is the senior resident engineer for the I-80 work.

1:39

And we would like to just give an overview on the status of the I-80 work to date.

1:48

Just a quick agenda.

1:49

Again, I'm not going to take a lot of time, but I wanted to give a project overview, giving the construction schedule, the impacts to Joliet, future construction, and also answering any questions that you all might have about the work that we have and what's to come.

2:05

But hopefully I can touch on most of that now.

2:14

So overall, before you dive into the specifics, just an overview of the project.

2:21

This is I-80, Interstate 80, is one of the most important east-west corridors in the country, going right through Will County.

2:29

It carries more than 80,000 vehicles per day, and about a quarter of that is freight traffic, heavy trucks.

2:53

That is 1.3 billion dollars of construction.

2:58

We are delivering.

4:17

So the green area to the far left between Ridge Road and River Road, that's pretty much by the DuPage River.

4:26

That work is almost complete.

4:28

We expect to have that work fully complete by probably in the next two months or so.

4:35

But the entire corridor as a whole has to be opened in sync.

4:39

So we'll be opening portions of it as we complete the work.

4:43

But that section should be done in a couple of months.

4:47

Moving slightly to the east, you have the section between River Road and Wheeler Street or Wheeler Avenue.

4:55

That section we anticipate having complete by the end of this year.

5:00

That would be the stage two of the reconstruction of the I-80 pavement in that area.

5:04

Hobo Road, that has been done for a while now.

5:08

That's done and fully open.

5:10

There is a section between Wheeler Avenue that you see right at the Displains River Bridge or at the Displains River.

5:17

Between Wheeler Avenue and the Chicago Street Interchange, pretty much, what we will call Gardner Street.

5:25

That area is newly under construction.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████████████████████████38%
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████17%
Public Safety███████████11%
Procedural██████6%
Transportation Safety█████5%
Urban Planning█████5%
Water And Wastewater Management█████5%
Public Engagement███3%
Public Transportation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Joliet Pre-Council Meeting - May 18, 2026: IDOT I-80 Update, Self-Storage Proposals, Tattoo Studio, and Public Concerns

The Joliet City Council held a Pre-Council meeting on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting featured a presentation from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) on the I-80 project, public input on several agenda items including self-storage facilities and a tattoo studio, and a review of the upcoming City Council consent agenda. No formal votes were taken, as the Pre-Council meeting serves as a discussion session.

Presentation by IDOT

Eric Ray, IDOT Area Construction Supervisor, and Phillip Gibson, Senior Resident Engineer, presented an update on the I-80 reconstruction project. Key points:

  • The $1.3 billion project covers a 16-mile corridor carrying over 80,000 vehicles per day, with approximately 25% being freight traffic.
  • Sections between Ridge Road and River Road are nearly complete, with full completion expected in two months.
  • The section between Wheeler Avenue and Chicago Street (including the Des Plaines River Bridge) is newly under construction, with completion anticipated by the end of 2028.
  • The Cass Street Bridge, closed due to structural issues, is now expected to reopen in late summer or early fall 2027, later than previously hoped. IDOT cited procurement issues and the complexity of repairing aging movable bridges.
  • Council members expressed concerns about the impact of heavy truck traffic on the bridges, but IDOT noted that age and equipment obsolescence are the primary factors, not truck loads. The current weight limit on the Brandon Road Bridge is 35 tons, not 40 tons as stated earlier, according to a public commenter.
  • Councilwoman Ibarra and Councilman Hug questioned the long-term viability of the bridges, and IDOT acknowledged that replacement may be needed in the future.

Citizens to Be Heard on Agenda Items

Several individuals spoke on specific agenda items:

  • Ron Schelling, owner of 1701 Drauden Road, spoke in support of a self-storage facility on his property. He noted the property has a 300-foot buffer and would use a metal fence with landscaping. Council members asked about the facade design.
  • Josh Melder, representing Menards, spoke in support of a self-storage facility at 2450 W. Jefferson Street (the former OTB location). He explained that Menards operates 37 self-storage facilities and the site would be unstaffed but monitored by security cameras. He clarified that the units would be rented to the public.
  • Joseph Spillie, owner of Ink Everything Tattoo Studio, spoke in support of a special use permit for a tattoo studio at 81 N. Chicago Street. He described it as a private, appointment-only studio with no walk-ins, no exterior signage, and one client per day. He stated his infection rate is low and he has passed health inspections. Councilwoman Ibarra spoke in support, noting his charitable work and love for Joliet.
  • Stan Keen, a resident of 44 years, expressed concerns about traffic congestion, speeding, and rising crime. He called for safer streets and better accountability from city leadership.
  • Candice Johnson, representing the Bicentennial Bluffs Neighborhood Association, spoke in support of Resolution 288-26 regarding an intergovernmental agreement with Pace for transit shelters. She noted that 31% of neighborhood residents use public transportation and 25% lack reliable transportation. She also highlighted the success of a spring neighborhood cleanup with over 80 volunteers.
  • A speaker spoke in support of Joseph Spillie's tattoo shop, emphasizing his character and community involvement.

Discussion of Agenda Items

City Manager Beth Beatty reviewed the actionable items for the upcoming City Council meeting. Notable discussions included:

  • Consent Agenda: Items included approvals for painting services, streetlight painting, pavement marking, traffic barriers, development review agreements, lead service line replacement change order, several software and support renewals, and an audio-visual system for Joliet City Square ($554,742, partly funded by a $225,000 grant). Councilman Hug asked for a historical overview of the City Square project budget.
  • Ordinances:
    • 1701 Drauden Road (self-storage and zoning variation) – discussed; Councilman Hug asked about previous proposals.
    • 201 N. William Street (variation for three-unit residence) – ZBA recommended approval 5-0.
    • 2450 W. Jefferson Street (self-storage) – Menards will use the existing building for climate-controlled units.
    • Breen Road vacation (76,289 sq. ft.) – to allow construction of the Route 53 bridge landing for Eastgate Logistics Park. Public Works Director Greg Ruddy presented a visual showing truck barriers and a roundabout.
    • 81 N. Chicago Street (tattoo studio) – discussed with public support.
    • Rock Run Collection Business District – postponed for further study.
  • Resolutions:
    • AFSCME Local 440 collective bargaining agreement.
    • Historic Preservation Commission annual report.
    • MOU with East Side Joliet Fire Protection District.
    • Justice Assistance Grant agreement with Will County.
    • License plate reading cameras on county highways.
    • Motor fuel tax appropriation for pavement marking.
    • ComEd easements for water main projects.
    • Pace transit shelter agreement.

Public Comments (Non-Agenda Items)

  • Kathy Garthus raised concerns about Whimsy Trucking and the Brandon Road bridge, alleging property issues and requesting investigation of video evidence. He also stated the weight limit on the Brandon Road bridge is 35 tons, not 40 tons.
  • Bob Cobb complained about Waste Management's yard waste collection, stating that the crew used mechanical arms to crush his half-full cans instead of manual pickup. He was given contact information for follow-up.
  • Michele Arana, owner of Internode Greenery & Home at 81 N. Chicago Street, supported the tattoo studio and requested stronger traffic enforcement on Chicago Street, noting frequent stop sign violations and near-misses.

Key Outcomes

  • No formal votes were taken; the Pre-Council meeting is a discussion forum.
  • The IDOT presentation provided updated timelines for the I-80 project and bridge repairs, with the Cass Street Bridge delayed to late 2027.
  • Several zoning and land-use items were discussed and are expected to be voted on at the May 19, 2026 City Council meeting.
  • The Rock Run Business District ordinance was postponed for further study.
  • The council received public input on traffic concerns, waste management, and transit shelters.
  • The meeting moved into closed session to discuss personnel, collective bargaining, land acquisition, and litigation.

Meeting Transcript

Everybody, this is the City of Joliet Pre-Council meeting here in Council Chambers. On Monday, May 18th at 5 30. Colonel. We'll begin with roll call. Mayor Darcy. Here. Councilman Cardenas. Councilman Clement. Councilman Hogg. Here. Councilwoman Abarra. Here. Councilman Moreno. Here. Councilman Mudron. Councilman Quillman. Here. Councilman Ridden. Here. First, we have a presentation by IDAT. Good evening. At uh council meeting, oh, I don't know, a month or two ago, I think Councilman Clement had requested an update on the I-80 construction from IDOT. And Councilwoman Reardon did it as well. I'm sorry. Several council people. How about that? So tonight we have Eric Ray from IDA with us. He's going to go over a brief presentation on the status of the I80 project. Good evening. I wanted to give a brief presentation. It's a big project, but I'll try to boil it down so it's quick. I want to take everybody's time and go through hours long spells of information. My name is Eric Ray. I am the area of construction supervisor for South Cook and Will County at the Illinois Department of Transportation. Also, along with me is Mr. Philip Gibson. He is the senior resident engineer for the I-80 work. And we would like to just give an overview on the status of the I-80 work to date. Just a quick agenda. Again, I'm not going to take a lot of time, but I wanted to give a project overview, giving the construction schedule, the impacts to Joliet, future construction, and also answering any questions that you all might have about the work that we have and what's to come. But hopefully I can touch on most of that now. So overall, before you dive into the specifics, just an overview of the project. This is I-80, Interstate 80, is one of the most important east-west corridors in the country, going right through Will County. It carries more than 80,000 vehicles per day, and about a quarter of that is freight traffic, heavy trucks. That is 1.3 billion dollars of construction. We are delivering. So the green area to the far left between Ridge Road and River Road, that's pretty much by the DuPage River. That work is almost complete. We expect to have that work fully complete by probably in the next two months or so. But the entire corridor as a whole has to be opened in sync.

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