The Will County Board adopted its first ever strategic plan Thursday to help provide a vision and direction for the 22-member board.
Board members worked with Leap HR Consulting which conducted surveys, interviews and workshops from April through June. The board adopted the plan in a unanimous vote.
“We have a strategic plan,” said Democratic Leader Sherry Williams, of Crest Hill, who was instrumental getting the initiative started. “I am so happy for that.”
The board members share a common desire to serve residents, including those least often heard, according to the report. They also take pride in concrete results and fiscal restraint.
But the board, which is evenly split among Republicans and Democrats, doesn’t always function as well as it could, Williams said.
During the surveys, board members rated trust as one of its critical issues, scoring it an average of 2.3 out of 5.
Members reported friction in the working relationship between the board and the executive office, difficulty in the budget process and the effects of a divided party system, according to the report.
“We didn’t have direction,” Williams said. “We didn’t know what our priorities were.”
Williams said she hopes the strategic plan provides a way for the board to focus, work together and communicate more effectively, and it can be modified as needed.
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Republican Leader Jim Richmond, of Mokena, said communication among elected officials is key.
“Anytime we get some dialogue going, that is a good thing,” Richmond said. “This is all for the benefit of the citizens. That is what government is about.”
The strategic plan sets near- and long-term goals with one of the first recommendations to create an onboarding program, adopt a code of conduct and review and reaffirm the board’s mission, vision and values.
The board doesn’t have a process now to train new members, and new board members learn the role informally, at their own pace and often after their first consequential votes, the report said.
In November, 16 of the 22 positions are on the ballot, which could add new members to the ranks.
The onboarding process is expected to include briefings on the county budget process, introduction to county staff, training on how a legislative body works and assigning mentors to help guide new members.
Williams said she hopes this gives new members better training in learning how the county operates.
When county interest and party position diverge, the county comes first, the report states.
The strategic plan also recommends creating an off boarding framework so when members leave the board, their knowledge isn’t lost and commitments made to constituents continues, the report said.
“I think it can be very helpful because that knowledge is with (outgoing board members),” Williams said.
The report also recommended policy initiatives, including strengthening senior services, protecting water resources and addressing the cost and barriers affecting housing affordability.
To accomplish its initiatives, the board wants to survey the 65 and older population and create a list of services by both government and nonprofit organizations.
The move comes as the Senior Services Center of Will County has announced Chapter 11 restructuring.
The board is also proposing establishing a Water Action Advisory Committee with one task to address industries that use a large volume of water such as data centers, car washes or golf courses.
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Addressing housing needs is one area where members reported division. Board members said they have diagnosed the problem, but have not agreed on a response, according to the report.
Some of the barriers to housing include rising property taxes that are prohibitive for many residents, costs of housing units, and lending being unavailable to young families and single buyers.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.