Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Landfill Committee for February 10, 2026
Will County Landfill Committee Meeting | February 10, 2026
The Will County Landfill Committee met on Tuesday to address legal preparations for the upcoming landfill expansion and operational needs at the Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility. The meeting was dominated by a presentation from Special Assistant State’s Attorney Charles Helsten, who detailed the “ethical wall” required to separate the County Board’s role as decision-makers from the county staff’s role as applicants. The committee also reviewed financial data showing the RNG plant is operating at a net loss after debt service, despite record production numbers in late 2025.
In addition to the legal briefing, the committee took decisive action to improve the RNG plant’s reliability by approving a major equipment purchase.
Brief: Heavy Equipment Purchase Paused
The committee agreed to pause the proposed purchase of a manlift and telehandler for the RNG facility, opting to continue leasing the equipment for the immediate future. Director Dave Hartke presented quotes showing a cost of $90,000 for a manlift and $252,000 for a telehandler. Currently, the county leases these items for approximately $3,000 per month. Hartke suggested waiting until later in the fiscal year to reassess finances before committing to the $342,000 capital expense. “I think that would be the conservative approach at this point,” Hartke said. The committee directed staff to attempt to bypass third-party markups by contacting Sunbelt Rentals directly to negotiate a purchase price for the currently rented units.
Brief: Minutes and Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 AM with a quorum present. Members in attendance included Herbert Brooks Jr. (D-Joliet), Dawn Bullock (D-Plainfield), Kelly Hickey (D-Naperville), Sherry Newquist (D-Steger), Dave Oxley (R-Lockport), and Frankie Pretzel (R-New Lenox). The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the January 13, 2026, meeting. There were no public comments.
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Committee Rejects Troy Township Solar Projects Amid Strong Local Opposition
Controversial DuPage Township Rezoning for Outdoor Storage Advances
Residents Allege Health Crises, Violations from Peotone Grain Facility
Health Department May Seek Property Tax Increase to Maintain Critical Services
Crete Township Solar Project Approved Despite Township Objections
Health Department Opens Second Breast Milk Depot in Bolingbrook
Lockport Township Solar Farm Gains Committee Approval
Health Department Plans Back-to-School Fair July 12
Meeting Briefs: Will County Land Use & Development Committee for July 3, 2025
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Prairie State College Board of Trustees for March 25, 2025
Will County Public Health & Safety Committee July 3 Meeting Briefs
Prairie State College Board Accepts Positive FY2024 Financial Audit
Will County Seeks Asian Carp Provision in Federal Legislative Agenda
