OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Joliet City Council Meeting - July 7, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, July 7, 2026
BodyJoliet, Illinois
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, July 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:17:39

Transcript — Verbatim
0:14

Mayor Terry Darcy presiding.

0:16

We will be led in an invocation by Pastor Kurt Hoover from the Messiah Lutheran Messiah Lutheran Church at 40 Hobolt Road, after which he'll lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:26

Thank you.

0:29

The Lord be with you.

0:30

And also let us pray.

0:32

So we thank you for the public servants here.

0:34

We thank you for all those that are represented.

0:37

We pray for the safety of our first responders, our public workers, all those that provide water, electricity, safe roads, storm recovery.

0:48

We pray for safety, and we give thanks for all that uh the city does, and not just the city, but the faces, the people that make that city work.

1:00

We pray for your presence in this meeting.

1:03

We pray that we might be present, that we might hear and listen to each other, and do the work that you've already planned before us.

1:14

In Jesus' name.

1:16

Amen.

1:19

We pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:43

We'll begin with roll call.

1:45

Mayor Darcy.

1:45

Here.

1:46

Councilman Cardinals.

1:47

Here.

1:47

Councilman Clement.

1:48

Here.

1:49

Councilman Hugg did let me know he's going to be late this evening.

1:53

Councilwoman of Barra.

1:55

Here.

1:55

Councilman Marino.

1:57

Here.

1:57

Councilman Mudron.

1:58

Here.

1:59

Councilwoman Queman?

2:00

Here.

2:01

Councilwoman Rudin.

2:03

Here.

2:04

Under Mayor, we have a proclamation for the Slovenian Union of America presented by Councilwoman Cuman.

2:28

I want you to stand and watch it at Facebook, because we're going to be on TV, so we're going to get you on TV.

2:33

Two more over here, okay.

2:37

All right.

2:39

Here we go.

2:43

Proclamation.

2:45

Whereas the National Board of Directors and the members of the Slovenian Union of America are proud to announce the 100th anniversary of their union and the 50th anniversary of their Joliet Home Office in 2026.

2:58

A special centennial convention is scheduled for July 30th, 31st, and August 1st in Tower, Minnesota, and in Chisholm, Minnesota.

3:09

Whereas the Slovenian Union of America, formerly known as the Slovenian Women's Union of America, was founded on December 19th, 1926 in Chicago by Slovenian immigrant Marie Cern Chrisland to help Slovenian immigrant women adjust to America to preserve and promote their beloved Slovenian heritage and to help them become American citizens.

3:32

For most of its existence, the Union offered burial insurance to its members and branches throughout America.

3:40

The Slovenian Union of America has been an Illinois 501 C3 nonprofit since 2011, dedicated to educating its members and the public about the history of Slovenians and Slovenian Americans and their contributions to America.

3:54

Its home office at 431 North Chicago Street is located in the 1910 Stonish building and includes a Slovenian Heritage Museum and Library.

4:05

It is across the street from the Slovenian-founded St.

4:08

Joseph Church, whose parish is celebrating its 135th anniversary in 2026.

4:27

Also known as Arjovek was her maiden name, affectionately known as the mayor of North Chicago Street, was its office manager for some 37 years, and was a lifelong Joliet resident and member of the Union's Local Branch 20, Joliet.

4:44

Members of the Slovenian Union of American Joliet and across America are hardworking citizens who have enriched American society with their religious faith, patriotism, and love of their Slovenian history and customs.

5:00

They continue to serve in all areas of life in Joliet and across America.

5:03

They respectfully ask for recognition for the 100th anniversary of the Slovenian Union of America and the 50th anniversary of their Joliet Home Office.

5:12

Now, therefore, I, Terry Dice Darcy, Mayor of Joliet, Illinois, on behalf of the Joy City Council, do hereby recognize the Slovenian Union of America and congratulate them on their 100th anniversary of the union and their 50th anniversary of their Joliet Home Office, dated July 7, 2026, and signed by Mayor Terry Darcy.

5:36

And so congratulations.

5:41

I've been a member for a long time, but I forget how long.

5:45

So thank you so much.

5:47

I'm just going to introduce some people.

5:51

This is Liz Engelman.

5:53

She is president of the Slovenian Union of America Branch 20.

5:58

Kathy Gunnier is vice president.

6:01

And Georgine Agnich is the director of the home office.

6:08

Councilman Cuelman said that we do have a museum on the north side of Chicago Strait, across from St.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management████████████████████████24%
Public Safety██████████████████18%
Community Engagement█████████████████17%
Procedural████████████12%
Public Engagement███████████11%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Historic Preservation████4%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Economic Development███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Joliet City Council Meeting - July 7, 2026

The Joliet City Council met on July 7, 2026, at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting opened with an invocation by Pastor Kurt Hoover of Messiah Lutheran Church and the Pledge of Allegiance. The council addressed a range of items including proclamations, consent agenda approvals, ordinances for development projects, resolutions for grants and street designations, and public comments on water infrastructure issues in the Preston Heights area.

Proclamation

  • Councilwoman Quillman read a proclamation recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Slovenian Union of America and the 50th anniversary of their Joliet Home Office. Members of the organization spoke about their Heritage Museum on N. Chicago Street and thanked the council.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda was approved unanimously. Key items included:
    • Approval of minutes from the Pre-Council Meeting (June 15, 2026) and City Council Meeting (June 16, 2026).
    • Payment of $50,000 in annual membership dues to the Will County Center for Economic Development (Memo 336-26).
    • Purchase of two specialty trucks for Public Works for $272,143 (Memo 337-26).
    • Purchase of six vehicles from Ron Tirapelli Ford for $288,318 (Memo 338-26).
    • Amendment No. 3 to engineering services for the Joliet Centralized Traffic Management System Improvement Project to Iteris Inc. for $14,999.24 (Memo 339-26).
    • Change Order No. 1 for the County Line Road Improvements Project (deduction of $16,122.71 and final payment of $97,620.74) (Memo 340-26).
    • Change Order No. 3 for the 2024 Electrical Maintenance Assistance Contract to Meade Electric Company for $19,237.51 and Payment Request No. 8 for $49,527.97 (Memo 341-26).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Carla Liburdi (Contractors Association of Will and Grundy County) spoke in support of the honorary street name designation for Les Cheney (Memo 350-26), thanking the city for honoring his legacy.
  • Preston Heights Residents (Non-Agenda): Multiple residents, including David Hook, Ashley Buster, Natalie Silva, and Crystal Adams, voiced urgent concerns about recurring water outages due to frequent water main breaks (over 33 since February 1, 2026) in the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District, which was taken over by the city in February. They described loss of water for 24-72 hours at a time, financial burdens (e.g., buying bottled water, paying for hotel rooms), lack of communication from city staff, and the need for permanent infrastructure replacement rather than temporary repairs.
  • A resident also raised personal safety concerns regarding a protection order violation, but did not address council action.

Discussion Items

  • Council Committee Reports:
    • Land Use & Economic Development (Councilman Cardenas): Reviewed a lease extension for GG Suites at the Gateway Transportation Center and a presentation on visitor data from Heritage Corridor Destinations.
    • Public Safety (Councilman Clement): Discussed equipment purchases for fire department ambulances, MOUs with Elwood and Shanahan Fire Protection Districts, tobacco enforcement grants, FOID card enforcement, and concerns about e-bikes, dirt bikes, and the sale of Kratom (synthetic heroin marketed to kids at gas stations). Councilman Hug requested brand name information to educate parents.
    • Public Service (Councilman Hug): Reviewed vehicle purchases, change orders for traffic management and road projects, and the honorary street name designation for Les Cheney.
  • Preston Heights Water Infrastructure: Council members and City Manager Beth Beatty provided background that the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District was insolvent before the city took over in February 2026. The county committed $15 million over 10 years for improvements, but the aging system (with many inoperable valves and only one water feed) continues to fail. A $3 million project to add a second feed on Route 53 is scheduled for completion in September 2026.
  • City Manager's Report: Highlighted national attention for Route 66 events (world's largest fried apple pie, restoration of the first Dairy Queen), successful management of multiple community events (fireworks, NASCAR, storm response), and thanked city staff.

Key Outcomes

  • All consent agenda items (Memos 336-26 through 341-26) were approved unanimously.
  • Memos 343-26 through 346-26 (Ordinances):
    • 343-26: Final plat of resubdivision for Vista Ridge Phase 3 PUD (Ordinances 18868-18869) – Approved unanimously.
    • 344-26: Final PUD and recording plat for 580 Caton Farm Road (Ordinances 18870-18871) – Approved unanimously.
    • 345-26: Special use permit and variation of use for 1216 Fairview Avenue (Ordinances 18872-18873) – Approved unanimously.
    • 346-26: Ordinance setting a public hearing for the Rock Run Collection Business District (Ordinance 18874) – Approved unanimously.
  • Memos 348-26 through 351-26 (Resolutions):
    • 348-26: Accept a grant for Joliet’s Tobacco Enforcement Program (Resolution 8303) – Approved unanimously.
    • 349-26: Appropriate Motor Fuel Tax funds for Amendment No. 3 to traffic management engineering services (Resolution 8304) – Approved unanimously.
    • 350-26: Approve honorary street name designation for Les Cheney (Resolution 8305) – Approved unanimously.
    • 351-26: Declare surplus property from the Tri-County Auto Theft Taskforce (Resolution 8306) – Approved unanimously.
  • Next Steps on Preston Heights Water: Council members agreed to form a task force, contact the county about accelerating the 10-year funding plan, explore emergency management resources (including possible FEMA assistance), and hold a meeting with affected residents. Public Utilities Director Allison Swisher will gather more information and report back.

Meeting Transcript

Mayor Terry Darcy presiding. We will be led in an invocation by Pastor Kurt Hoover from the Messiah Lutheran Messiah Lutheran Church at 40 Hobolt Road, after which he'll lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. The Lord be with you. And also let us pray. So we thank you for the public servants here. We thank you for all those that are represented. We pray for the safety of our first responders, our public workers, all those that provide water, electricity, safe roads, storm recovery. We pray for safety, and we give thanks for all that uh the city does, and not just the city, but the faces, the people that make that city work. We pray for your presence in this meeting. We pray that we might be present, that we might hear and listen to each other, and do the work that you've already planned before us. In Jesus' name. Amen. We pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We'll begin with roll call. Mayor Darcy. Here. Councilman Cardinals. Here. Councilman Clement. Here. Councilman Hugg did let me know he's going to be late this evening. Councilwoman of Barra. Here. Councilman Marino. Here. Councilman Mudron. Here. Councilwoman Queman? Here. Councilwoman Rudin. Here. Under Mayor, we have a proclamation for the Slovenian Union of America presented by Councilwoman Cuman. I want you to stand and watch it at Facebook, because we're going to be on TV, so we're going to get you on TV. Two more over here, okay. All right. Here we go. Proclamation. Whereas the National Board of Directors and the members of the Slovenian Union of America are proud to announce the 100th anniversary of their union and the 50th anniversary of their Joliet Home Office in 2026. A special centennial convention is scheduled for July 30th, 31st, and August 1st in Tower, Minnesota, and in Chisholm, Minnesota. Whereas the Slovenian Union of America, formerly known as the Slovenian Women's Union of America, was founded on December 19th, 1926 in Chicago by Slovenian immigrant Marie Cern Chrisland to help Slovenian immigrant women adjust to America to preserve and promote their beloved Slovenian heritage and to help them become American citizens. For most of its existence, the Union offered burial insurance to its members and branches throughout America. The Slovenian Union of America has been an Illinois 501 C3 nonprofit since 2011, dedicated to educating its members and the public about the history of Slovenians and Slovenian Americans and their contributions to America. Its home office at 431 North Chicago Street is located in the 1910 Stonish building and includes a Slovenian Heritage Museum and Library. It is across the street from the Slovenian-founded St. Joseph Church, whose parish is celebrating its 135th anniversary in 2026. Also known as Arjovek was her maiden name, affectionately known as the mayor of North Chicago Street, was its office manager for some 37 years, and was a lifelong Joliet resident and member of the Union's Local Branch 20, Joliet. Members of the Slovenian Union of American Joliet and across America are hardworking citizens who have enriched American society with their religious faith, patriotism, and love of their Slovenian history and customs. They continue to serve in all areas of life in Joliet and across America. They respectfully ask for recognition for the 100th anniversary of the Slovenian Union of America and the 50th anniversary of their Joliet Home Office.

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