 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
It has been about 5 years since becoming your Will County Representative for District 7. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity you have given me. The first several months were more of a learning period than anything. I needed to understand how the County works behind the scenes in order to pursue goals for Homer and Lockport Townhips.
Once elected, I realized that the sub committees for the County Board are very important and that most of the important decisions are made at the committee level. Therefore, I felt it was important to have a representative from our District 7 on two committees which effect us most; the Land Use and Zoning Committee, and the Public Works and Transportation Committee. At Land Use, we vote to recommend to the entire County Board all zoning and land use matters. While on the Public Works Committee, we vote on all County highway maintenance and improvements. In October 2002 and again in May of 2008, I was honored with being named the current Chairman of Public Works.
Many of our main arterial roads with District 7 are county roads. Such as Weber Road, Bell Road, 143rd St, and Division Street.
In January of 2003, I was appointed by the Will County Board to represent us on the Northeasten Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC). With the incredible growth we are experiencing here in Will County this appointment is very important. Recently NIPC has merged with the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS) to become the Chicago Metropolitan Area on Planning (CMAP) where I serve as the Will County representative on the Regional Water Study Planning Goup.
In Homer Township, Will County has jurisdiction over Bell Road and 143rd Street. Bell Road is one of our top priorites and we will be and have been applying for federal and state funds to widen this to four lanes. In the Fall of 2004, the dangerous intersection of 151st Street and Bell Roadwas improved 1000' in all directions at the cost of over $3,000,000. I facilitated the signalization of the intersections of 143rd Street / Golden Oak Drive and 143rd Street / Parker. Will County is also participating with the Village of Homer Glen for a stoplight at 143rd and State (Lemont) Road. This will not be complete until 2009. Construction is expected to start in the Spring of 2009 for the signalization and widening with turn lanes at 167ht (Division St) and Cedar Road. Plans are under way for the widening of 143rd Street east of Bell Road to the County Line. Preliminary studies are also underway for the widening and improving of Bell Road.
Weber Road in Lockport Township is of high priority. Will County completed the interconnection of the signalization along Weber in 2007. Currently preliminary Phase I engineering has been started to for the ultimate improvements for the Weber Road / I-55 interchange. This is no doubt the biggest strangle hold in Will County. With the help of Representative Brent Hassert, we will continue to fight for this ultimate rebuilding of this interchange. In late 2009 or early 2010 we anticipate full improvements to the intersection of Division St / Weber Road.
I will continue to lobby for improvements to our District, being the current Chairman of the Public Works and Transporation Committee assures we will continue to be best represented for our road improvements. Will County does NOT have a gas tax and so we will continue to improve our roadways without raising taxes. You will really start seeing some major improvements over the next three to five years -- one step at a time.
As a Will County Forest Preserve Commissioner, I have been very successful in getting millions of dollars of improvements and acquisitions in our district. My most recent accomplishment has been the purshase of approximately 250 acres along Fiddyment Creek in Homer Township. This was at the cost of over $25 Million. This will protect this land for our future generations to enjoy. I have also been able to cherish the over $5 Million in improvements to our exisitng Preserves within District 7.
I am proud of my accomplishments for District 7 over the past five + years. While on the County Board, I have always supported a balanced budgt while lowering our tax rate. Taxes in Will County have become a substantial burden on our residents and I will continue to do my part fighting increases.
Best Wishes,
Jim Bilotta