“We already have enough warehouses and enough traffic in our area,” Garrett said.
He has worked in warehouses in Joliet, Lockport and Monee, and does not see many opportunities in the prospect of more warehouse development.
“The ones in Joliet pay anywhere from $13 to $16 an hour, and that’s it,” Garrett said.
The annexation agreement that goes to the Joliet City Council for a vote on March 17 provides for union jobs in building the Compass Business Park. But Garrett said that will not help workers in the warehouses.
“The unions are building it, but the facilities are going to be non-union,” he said. “That only brings in lower wages.”
Warehouse Workers for Justice has joined the Just Say No to NorthPoint cause. Roberto Clack, associate director of the organization, also was at the meeting at the Knights of Columbus Hall on 129th Infantry Drive and urged people opposed to the NorthPoint Development project to contact council members.
“They need to see people in Joliet are also upset,” Clack told the audience of about 75 people.
Just Say No to NorthPoint will have its next town hall-style meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at the Croatian Cultural Club, 1503 Clement St.
Quillman was there
One City Council member didn’t need to be reached by phone or email.
Council member Jan Quillman was at the Just Say No to NorthPoint meeting – listening, not speaking.
Quillman also attended a presentation on the project given by NorthPoint Development last month at Stone City Veterans of Foreign War Post 2199.
She was the only member of the City Council at either meeting. The mayor also did not attend.
Water works
One Joliet resident at the meeting, Joe Roth, said the city should hold its own town meeting on the NorthPoint issue before bringing it to the City Council, as it did before voting on an alternative water source.
Roth was a regular at Environmental Commission meetings on the water issue.
Meanwhile, Joliet has started meeting with neighbors to talk about joining the city’s Lake Michigan water venture. Joliet hopes to become a regional water supplier.
Utilities Director Allison Swisher told the Joliet City Council Public Service Committee on Monday that a meeting with Shorewood was scheduled but the process would take a while.
“We’re trying to get some feedback at this point about interest,” Swisher said.
Joliet will be looking for commitments from neighboring towns and villages to join in a regional water program at the end of 2021, she said.
