Kendall County Times

Joliet Council members had no shortage of questions during their March 21 gathering, where the planned unit development of the Stepping Stone subdivision topped the list of concerns.

With a growing list of ordinances needing to be enacted before either of the two separate 8-unit abuse treatment facilities planned as part of the development can get off the ground, council members openly quizzed Stepping Stone representatives in attendance about where things go from here.

“Our commitment is to Joliet and the Community,” Stepping Stone executive director Paul Laurisden told council members in a video posted to YouTube. “That's the majority of the people we serve. And the history of the organization is founded by people that were public officials and were interested in seeing the services available for men with an alcohol use disorder back in 1971. We have a great deal of respect for those people. We appreciate the effort that they put in and personally feel a commitment to seeing that lives on for them. Those people stepped up in a big way. And we've had a good relationship with the city of Joliet for 50 years. These guys have supported us in our move to our location at 1621 Theodore Street, to acquiring the A-frame building that was part of the original Howard Johnson Motel. This is going to be a life-changing experience for the kids and the moms that go through this program.”

As the meeting progressed, Council member Jan Quillman asked a group of developers that included architect Bob Morris if they were aware of some of the building requirements for the development, such as an ADA playground.

Having gained assurances on that front, Quillman turned her attention to safety concerns, including plans not including a daycare facility for women trying to work and care for their children. The representatives assured the council they would be helping the women coordinate with family and childcare providers.

With plans calling for construction to start over the next six months and for the project to be finished within a year, developers made it a point of highlighting they have built other successful treatment centers that have not caused any disturbances in the neighborhoods where they stand.

With the ordinances needed for the project green-lighted by the council, developers said they have secured about $2.5 million of the roughly $3 million in grants and funding needed for the project.