Manhattan Township Meeting | July 2025

Discussions about a massive 5,000-acre solar farm proposed by EarthRise Energy dominated the Manhattan Township meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. Supervisor Jim Walsh detailed a preliminary meeting with the energy company about the large-scale project. The board also received updates on major infrastructure work, including the $1.6 million Kankakee Bridge project going out to bid. For more on these topics, please see our full-length stories.

In other news, the board learned that the Illiana Expressway project remains stalled, discussed potential water and sewer fees for its road district shop, and was asked to find volunteers for the local historical commission.

Illiana Expressway Remains on Hold: Supervisor Jim Walsh shared an annual update from the Illinois Department of Transportation regarding the Illiana Expressway. The project, which was put on hold in 2015 due to a lack of capital resources, remains unchanged. No work has been initiated, and there is no current timeline for it to resume.

Township Explores Water/Sewer Tap-On Fees: The board is considering having the Manhattan Road District Shop connect to new village water and sewer lines being installed for the new fire department building. The Village of Manhattan provided a price list for the tap-on fees, but the board took no action due to uncertainty about the required pipe diameter for the shop’s needs. Highway Commissioner Jim Baltas will discuss options with the village.

Baker Road Variance Application: The board was notified of a Will County Land Use Application for a property at 12211 W. Baker Road. The owner of the 5-acre, A-1 zoned property is seeking a variance to bring the lot into conformance to allow for the construction of a pole barn.

Volunteers Needed for Historical Commission: The township has been asked to appoint two individuals to the Manhattan Area Historical Preservation Commission. Board members will be reaching out to community members who they believe might be interested in serving on the commission.

Assessor Awaits Final County Multiplier: Assessor Joe Oldani reported that the Will County Supervisor of Assessments office is currently reviewing assessments for all townships. The county will determine if a state-required multiplier is needed to equalize assessments and is expected to provide Manhattan Township with its final multiplier by the end of July.