Blab Politics
Will County Board Halts Land Bank Proposal Amid Party Divide
On Thursday, the Will County Board pulled the plug on a land‑bank proposal that had been championed by the county’s economic development agency, leaving the initiative in limbo amid a sharp partisan split.
The plan, drafted by the Will County Center for Economic Development (CED), would establish a county‑run land bank to acquire blighted properties for redevelopment. The agency secured a $1 million grant under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to launch the project. CED Vice President of External Affairs Kayla Sorensen said the agency would reassess its next steps after the board’s decision.
The motion to remove the land‑bank item from the agenda was led by Speaker Joe VanDuyne, a Democrat who supports the idea. VanDuyne told the board that the plan was neither dead nor alive and that he would discuss it with party leaders and external supporters.
Criticism had already mounted. Republican members and one Democrat objected to the plan’s details and to the involvement of County Executive Jennifer Bertino‑Tarrant, who also chairs the CED board. Dawn Bullock, a Democrat from Plainfield, warned that the project’s trustworthiness was being questioned because of Bertino‑Tarrant’s dual roles.
A special meeting on Tuesday, called by Republicans, produced a draft resolution that would allow the county to invite local municipalities to join a land bank without committing to establishing it. The resolution was presented to the board on Thursday, but it failed to gain approval.
During the meeting, Destinee Ortiz, a Democrat from Romeoville, slammed the timing of the vote, calling it “crazy.” Republican members cited dozens of questions about the agreement that could not be answered in a single session. Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Meyers, who drafted the resolution, said the board’s inability to agree would prevent the land bank from moving forward.
Some board members expressed surprise at the resolution’s presentation. Julie Berkowicz, a Republican from Naperville, said it was irresponsible to vote on a proposal that had not been fully vetted. Dan Butler, a Republican from Frankfort, questioned the land bank’s purpose and suggested it could be used to purchase large numbers of properties.
The land bank would use the $1 million ARPA grant to buy a limited number of properties, with the expectation that the county could later sell or repurpose them. The grant must be spent by the end of the year or it will be returned to the federal government.
The debate reflects a broader partisan divide on the board, which is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. The land‑bank vote could have split along party lines, as the board’s tie‑breaker is the county executive, a Democrat.
The outcome leaves the land‑bank proposal in limbo. CED officials said they would evaluate next steps, while board members remain divided. No further action has been announced.
The situation illustrates the challenges of launching a county‑level land‑bank program in a politically divided environment, even when federal funds are available to support the initiative.
As of now, the Will County Board has not moved forward with the land‑bank resolution, and the future of the proposal depends on further negotiations and potential revisions to address the concerns raised by board members.
The next steps for the county will likely involve additional meetings to address the unresolved questions and to determine whether a revised proposal can gain bipartisan support. Until then, the land‑bank plan remains on hold.
The plan, drafted by the Will County Center for Economic Development (CED), would establish a county‑run land bank to acquire blighted properties for redevelopment. The agency secured a $1 million grant under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to launch the project. CED Vice President of External Affairs Kayla Sorensen said the agency would reassess its next steps after the board’s decision.
The motion to remove the land‑bank item from the agenda was led by Speaker Joe VanDuyne, a Democrat who supports the idea. VanDuyne told the board that the plan was neither dead nor alive and that he would discuss it with party leaders and external supporters.
Criticism had already mounted. Republican members and one Democrat objected to the plan’s details and to the involvement of County Executive Jennifer Bertino‑Tarrant, who also chairs the CED board. Dawn Bullock, a Democrat from Plainfield, warned that the project’s trustworthiness was being questioned because of Bertino‑Tarrant’s dual roles.
A special meeting on Tuesday, called by Republicans, produced a draft resolution that would allow the county to invite local municipalities to join a land bank without committing to establishing it. The resolution was presented to the board on Thursday, but it failed to gain approval.
During the meeting, Destinee Ortiz, a Democrat from Romeoville, slammed the timing of the vote, calling it “crazy.” Republican members cited dozens of questions about the agreement that could not be answered in a single session. Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Meyers, who drafted the resolution, said the board’s inability to agree would prevent the land bank from moving forward.
Some board members expressed surprise at the resolution’s presentation. Julie Berkowicz, a Republican from Naperville, said it was irresponsible to vote on a proposal that had not been fully vetted. Dan Butler, a Republican from Frankfort, questioned the land bank’s purpose and suggested it could be used to purchase large numbers of properties.
The land bank would use the $1 million ARPA grant to buy a limited number of properties, with the expectation that the county could later sell or repurpose them. The grant must be spent by the end of the year or it will be returned to the federal government.
The debate reflects a broader partisan divide on the board, which is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. The land‑bank vote could have split along party lines, as the board’s tie‑breaker is the county executive, a Democrat.
The outcome leaves the land‑bank proposal in limbo. CED officials said they would evaluate next steps, while board members remain divided. No further action has been announced.
The situation illustrates the challenges of launching a county‑level land‑bank program in a politically divided environment, even when federal funds are available to support the initiative.
As of now, the Will County Board has not moved forward with the land‑bank resolution, and the future of the proposal depends on further negotiations and potential revisions to address the concerns raised by board members.
The next steps for the county will likely involve additional meetings to address the unresolved questions and to determine whether a revised proposal can gain bipartisan support. Until then, the land‑bank plan remains on hold.
