Farmers Weekly Review

By Nick Reiher
Editor

Following the October 3 Joliet City Council meeting I was watching at home, I posted a brief bulletin on our Farmers Weekly Review Facebook page and our new website (fwrnews.com) about Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy’s comments regarding an $8.6 million grant approved by the state to Joliet Township to provide services for migrants.

D’Arcy and the City Council were livid that they knew nothing of the grant, even though they said they and the Joliet Fire Department were on the township’s application without their approval.

I urged you in the blurb to check back soon for more updates. Only, there weren’t any, or at least any that could be confirmed.

It was mentioned at the council meeting that Joliet Township Supervisor Angel Contreras would issue a comment the next day. Though I waited until nearly midnight that day just to be sure, there was no press release from Contreras.

I have talked to several of our local legislators, communicated with D’Arcy and anyone else who just might have any information about what the heck was going on.

What I know so far is, the state has not released the funds, there is some kind of a plan Contreras has, but not all township officials knew about it. And, of course, D’Arcy and the City Council said they didn’t know about it.

I can also say that early last month, I talked to Contreras because I had heard the township was interested in buying a former Silver Cross Hospital building on Copperfield from the county. The county was going to use that building for storage and new space for the Veterans Commission of Will County. But that went south.

Contreras said he mentioned the building in passing to Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. But the township had no firm plans to buy it, since it’s a pretty big building.

He did mention the township was leasing the shuttered Hartman Center from the Joliet Park District for community recreation and transportation, and is using the former Peter Claver Center for community services.

Finally reached on October 5, Contreras said word of the Hartman Center being used instead for a migrant welcome center instead was only something that could happen. Regardless, Joliet Park District officials didn’t like what they heard and issued this statement:

“The Joliet Park District had been working with the Joliet Township on a lease agreement for use of the Hartman Center by the Township. Despite statements to the contrary from Township officials, the Park District learned on Monday that the Township listed the Hartman facility as a ‘Welcome Center’ for migrants on a state grant application. This was never a permitted or intended use of the facility and the Park District is working with its legal counsel to rescind the lease agreement.”

Contreras said none of those three buildings was to be used for the migrant population coming in. But he said the grant was to be used to offset costs associated with migrants who already have come in to Will County, which he said numbered more than 100.

“But no one realizes because they assimilated into the community,” he said. “And this is not for the township. We are only the agent because the Spanish Center and the Will Grundy Medical Clinic could not apply for the grant.

“Also, we would not get the full amount at one time. The Spanish Center and Will Grundy Clinic would have to be reimbursed by the state for each expense.”

Contreras didn’t address the miscommunication with or charges of fraud by Joliet officials. That will come later, he said, after he has a chance to talk with them personally.

He did share a screen shot he said was the original release from the state Department of Human Services that showed the City of Joliet as receiving the grant; not Joliet Township. That didn’t help, he said.

Contreras expects a lot of people at the township’s next board meeting at 5 p.m. October 11. He notes they may have to find a larger location. And he expects it to be very vocal.

Finger-pointing aside, part of the issue, vocalized at by some City Council members and public at the October 3 meeting, was that while sympathetic to the plight of the migrants, Joliet needs to take care of “its own” first. The homeless, including veterans, and many others who need social services.

Councilman Cesar Guerrero said he hoped when it comes time to consider services for those “Americans,” the council will remember that. He will be watching to see how they vote.

Good point, Cesar. Me, too.