4 | December 15, 2016 | The Homer Horizon news homerhorizon.com Walsh pushes for progress, projects in post-election speech Kirsten Onsgard Contributing Editor Will County Executive Larry Walsh emphasized economic vitality and political cooperation during the annual State of the County address Dec. 7 hosted by the Joliet Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The speech came days after Walsh was sworn in for his fourth term as Will County executive, a position he has held since 2004. The Democrat overcame Republican challenger Laurie McPhillips in the November election. Walsh praised his former opponent and other Will County politicians for running respectful campaigns and urged collaboration among officials going forward to fulfill a vision marked by capital projects and infrastructure overhauls in the rapidly growing county. Will County’s population increased 34 percent from 2000 to 2010 and is among the 100 largest counties in the country, according to the US Census Bureau. To about 50 chamber members, officials and residents, Walsh reiterated many of his campaign platforms — such as economic development, health, capital projects and infrastructure investment — and projects detailed in the county’s 2011 master plan while looking to the past and future of the county. That included the launch and continuation of overhauls of aging county buildings, such as a $29.5 million Joliet public safety office to replace the “dilapidated” Sheriff’s Office. Ground broke on the 85,000-square-foot facility on Laraway Road in October after a 2013 confirmation. The facility could be completed by the end of 2017. Construction is also set to begin on a 10-story, $195 million judicial complex — which will include county departments and 28 courtrooms — by spring 2018. Walsh praised these projects as helping to “streamline county government operations,” and in the case of the judicial complex, increase safety by better moving visitors and detainees. The county has also been investing heavily in transportation infrastructure and road spending, to the tune of about $30 million per year, Walsh said. The County Board is expected to approve a new blueprint for transportation spending, Will Connects 2040, early next year, in addition to studying how the county should respond to increased freight traffic. “While this increase in traffic is a major factor in our economic growth, we must address the effects on our county’s overall safety and quality of life,” he said. In addition to responding to the burden of a population expected to reach nearly 1.2 million residents by 2040, Walsh emphasized job creation, skills training and resident health. Several large-scale distribution centers will soon call Will County home, pointing to what he said is the county’s attractive business environment. “Our prime location at the crossroads of America, our skilled workforce and our infrastructure continue to make Will County appealing to a variety of business sectors,” he said. Amazon announced it will open three new warehouses in Romeoville, Monee and a second Joliet location this year. Other brands, such as IKEA and grocery chain Fresh Thyme have distribution centers planned. “Eighteen months ago, Amazon did not have a presence in Will County,” Walsh said. “Today, through its four locations, Amazon has created more than 6,000 jobs.” In the midst of an ongoing opiate epidemic, Walsh pushed for increased school and community education in response to a county with the highest number of overdose deaths outside of Cook County in the state last year. Students in Lincoln-Way and Wilmington schools will begin anti-drug education following a pilot program elsewhere in the county, thanks to a federal grant. “Research has shown that kids are smart, and if we give them the information we need, they will make educated choices,” he said. “It’s an extremely wise investment to keep our children away from heroin and ensuing consequences, both legal and fiscal, that occur with drug abuse.” The county began training police in the administration of the heroin antagonist Narcan in 2015, which saved 19 people from overdoses this year, he said. Seventytwo people died from overdoses this year, he said, up from 53 last year, according to the most recent data available from the Will County Coroner. Looking forward, Walsh acknowledged the work to be done in public health and nodded towards the continuation of ongoing and forthcoming capital projects in 2017. “Many of you have experienced firsthand the effects of the rapid growth that our county has experienced over the past decade,” he said. “We have grown from a rural farming community to a significant player in the global marketplace. We have acknowledged many times: with this growth comes substantial challenges.” Illinois American Water offers residents tips to protect water meter, pipes from cold Reach 96,000 Readers Each Week in the Classifieds! 708.326.9170 www.22ndcenturymedia.com Submitted by Illinois American Water With winter’s bitterly cold temperatures hitting, Illinois American Water reminds homeowners now is the time to safeguard their home plumbing to prevent water damage from frozen and burst pipes and water meters that bring plumbing repairs and frozen water replacement fees. Illinois American Water encourages residents to take the following precautions to reduce the risk of freezing and bursting pipes: Before frigid weather sets in •Know what areas of the home — such as basements, crawl spaces, unheated rooms and outside walls — are most vulnerable to freezing. •Eliminate sources of cold air near water lines by repairing broken windows, insulating walls, closing off crawl spaces and eliminating drafts near doors. •Know the location of the main water shut-off valve. If a pipe freezes or bursts, shut the water off immediately. •Protect the pipes and water meter. Wrap exposed pipes with insulation or use electrical heat tracing wire; newspaper or fabric might also work. For outside meters, keep the lid to the meter pit closed tightly, and let any snow that falls cover it. Snow acts as insulation and shouldn’t be disturbed. When temperatures are consistently at or below freezing •If there are pipes that are vulnerable to freezing, allow a small trickle of water to run overnight to keep pipes from freezing. The cost of the extra water is low compared to the cost of a broken pipe. •Open cabinet doors to expose pieces to warmer room temperatures to help keep them from freezing. If pipes freeze •Shut off the water immediately. Do not attempt to thaw frozen unless the water is shut off. Freezing can often cause unseen cracks in pipes or joints. •Apply heat to the frozen pipe by warming the air around it or by applying heat directly to a pipe. A hair dryer, space heater or hot water can be used. Be sure not to leave space heaters unattended, and avoid the use of kerosene heaters or open flames. •Once the pipes have thawed, turn the water back on slowly and check for cracks or leaks. When away from home •Have a friend, relative or neighbor regularly check the property to ensure that the heat is working and the pipes have not frozen. •Also, a freeze alarm can be purchased for less than $100 and will call a userselected phone number if the inside temperature drops below 45 degrees. Illinois American Water also advises that subfreezing temperatures can cause aging water mains to break and cause water to cover roadways. If a leak is seen, or if water service is disrupted or low pressure is experienced, contact the company’s 24-7 customer service center at (800) 422- 2782 to report an emergency. For general inquiries, call between 7 a.m.-7 p.m. More cold weather tips can be found at www.illi noisamwater.com in the online learning center.
homerhorizon.com HOMER GLEN the Homer Horizon | December 15, 2016 | 5 Winter Wonderland HOLIDAY MATINEE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 3PM Lincoln-Way West Performing Arts Center 21701 Gougar Rd., New Lenox Featuring the music and narration from The Polar Express, plus selections from The Nutcracker Suite and other holiday classics. Special pre-concert activities in the lobby from 2:15-2:45PM. Family friendly! Student tickets just $5 with ID. Adult tickets from $25 in advance. IPOMUSIC.ORG // 708.481.7774 Merry Christmas & Happy New Year AUT0- GRAPHS UFC EVENT December 30th NO COVER WATCH THE GAME WITH LEGEND BOBBY HULL! Dec. 17th • 4pm Giving away a Hawks Autographed Jersey No purchase necessary & PHOTOS AVAILABLE Will be subject to fee at players discretion. While supplies last. $12 DOMESTIC BUCKETS 1/2 PRICE PIZZAS 14807 S. Bell Rd Homer Glen • 708.301.5555
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