Updates from DuPage Township
DuPage Township Monthly Review: Feb. 18-March 18
(March 21, 2025)
DuPage Township Board mourns the passing of Supervisor Gary Marschke on March 9. A celebration of his life is Sunday, March 30. at the Joseph and Sara Levy Center, 251 Canterbury Lane, Bolingbrook, from 1 – 4 p.m., tributes beginning at 2 p.m.
The DuPage Township board met on Tuesday, March 18 with Deputy Supervisor Terri Ransom presiding.
The following actions were taken after discussions:
- Approval of a change order for the parking lot to add a garbage enclosure.
- Approval of new tires on the Ford Pickup Truck.
- Approval of landscaping contract for Alexander and Boardman cemeteries
- Approval to remove two dead trees plus stump grinding
- Approval for snow watch costs.
- Approval to go out for a bid on a new 40-ton HVAC system for the Levy Center (funds available in the Capital Improvement budget)
- Approval of the Annual Meeting Agenda
- Passed Resolution 25-02 to oppose consolidation of Township Government into County Government
- Approval to change salary of the Deputy Supervisor.
Services at DuPage Township offices
Spring weddings are starting to sprout with 42 marriage licenses issued while the number of new passports processed was 21. The Township office also offers passport photo service for an additional fee. Marriage licenses are valid for 60 days from issuance.
These two services are by appointment only. Call 630-759-1317 to schedule an appointment.
Staff also facilitated services for Benefit Access Program (BAP) from the Illinois Department of Aging.
The Ride Free Transit benefit is for seniors (65+) or the disabled that allows them to ride fixed-route public transit (CTA, Metra, and Pace) for free. For DuPage Township residents this allows them access to the Pace Dial-A-Ride service for a small fee. They processed 15 applications.
The License Plate discount has an income limit. The staff processed 25 applications.
Walk-ins are welcome for assistance with BAP services.
Financial Assistance
47 households came to the township to apply for LIHEAP. Overall, the numbers have been going up which usually happens around this time of year because of the rising temperatures and the shut-off rules are no longer being in effect.
Grace Tucker and Vicente Fernandez participated in Valley View School District’s Family Symposium. The event was very successful, several families asked about using the food pantry. In addition, they gave a presentation on township services which was well received. Thank you to the Deputy Supervisor (then Trustee) Ransom and Clerk Parker as well as staff member Khadija Sufi for attending.
General Assistance
There are currently two individuals/families receiving ongoing general financial aid.
Emergency Assistance (EA) (limited funding for one-time use)
Number of Applicants: 19
Approved Applications: 10
Denied Applications: 8
Pending Applications: 1
Emergency Assistance breakdown
Rental Assistance: 2
IL American Water: 7
Car Repair Assistance: 1
Denial reasons:
- No life-threatening circumstance
- Grant amount insufficient to alleviate emergency (5x)
- Resident receiving TANF
- Resident is over-income
- Resident voluntarily withdrew application
Other assistance programs
Help to Others (H2O): 11
Referrals offered for services not available at DuPage Township office:
Legal referrals: 1
Food Pantry: 3
LIHEAP Referral: 14
Senior Services: 1
Resource Referral: 4
Out of Township: 2
The Levy Center
February featured a new activity, Singo, sponsored by Community Nutrition Network & Senior Services Association. A light lunch and prizes were enjoy during this musical version of Bingo.
Full house the Lunch and Learn. Seniors learning to be prepared not scared. Fraud topics included: romance, lottery/sweepstakes, grandparent, internet, IRS phone scams and phishing.
Breakfast with the Board included a catered breakfast and a special guest appearance by Mayor Mary Alexandar-Basta.
The Lunch Bunch visited Pappadeaux while the Breakfast Bunch went to Waffle House.
Over 250 seniors enjoyed St. Patrick’s Day festivities on Monday.
DuPage Township Food Pantry
For the start of Ramadan the food pantry has 22 food boxes picked up and were able to deliver 8 boxes to the Bolingbrook Masjid, 351 Veterans Parkway. From Feb. 18- March 18 we supported 1,060 families with groceries.
Pantry will be extending hours on THURSDAYS starting on April 3. New hours will be 9 a.m.-6 p.m. The new Thursday evening hours are a great opportunity for students 16 years and older to earn their community service hours for clubs and learn job skills.
Our current number of volunteers is 103. However, we continue to need more volunteers on our pantry days: Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays. A group of seniors from the Levy Center, We Snap Crackle Pop, are volunteering the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month.
Groups, businesses, and clubs are invited to reach out to support the pantry. We have room and opportunities for group projects! Reach out to foodpantry@dupagetownship.com for more details.
Signs removed
(March 19, 2025):
Parking lot expansion begins next week
(March 14, 2025)
Preliminary work started at 241 Canterbury Lane. Full construction begins March 18, when access and parking will be limited. Thirty-six additional spaces and an electric vehicle charging station should be ready by mid-summer.Â
The work was made possible through state and county grants.
Using permeable pavers is a stipulation to the grant money we received, it. An engineering study also found that a parking lot expansion, without pavers, would require additional water retention mitigation construction at the cost of approximately $40,000 out of pocket for the Township.
The $740,000 total cost is for work at two parking lots, 241 and 251 Canterbury Lane which includes the corresponding sidewalks and other upgrades.
On the surface the pavers seem extravagant, however without the pavers, there would have been no exp(ansion.
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Succession Plan
(March 14, 2025)Â
(editor’s note, there were two errors in the original Patch article we published. That was then picked up by the news outlet. This is the official succession statement)Â
With the weekend death of DuPage Township Supervisor Gary Marschke, DuPage Township solidified its succession plans.
The DuPage Township trustees were informed of the serious nature of Marschke’s health on Thursday, March 6. After conferring with township attorneys, an emergency meeting was scheduled for Sunday, March 9 at 12:15 p.m. to appoint a temporary supervisor.
Marschke passed away early Sunday morning. During the meeting the trustees announced his death.
*edit* Trustees went into executive session. When the open meeting resumed, they voted to appoint Trustee Terri Ransom as temporary supervisor for the next 60 days. By state statute a new supervisor must be elected at the end of the 60 days. The April 1 Consolidated Election falls within this 60-day window.
On Weds, March 12 at 2 p.m. the board is holding a special meeting to pass a resolution to make Ransom the official signatory for township bank accounts.
Vets’ services holding office hours at DuPage TownshipÂ
(March 10, 2025)
DuPage Township’s collaboration with Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County (VACWC) brings another service to Township residents, particularly military veterans, and their families.
As part of its continued outreach, VACWC will begin holding satellite office hours at DuPage Township, 241 Canterbury Lane, Bolingbrook.
During this trial run a VACÂ Veteran Service Officer is available on Tuesday, March 11, and Tuesday, March 25, from 8:30 a.m.- Noon. It will be first come-first served with a sign-in sheet.
The purpose of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County is to protect, promote, and provide needed services to Will County veterans.
In 2024, the VACWC assisted 3,857 veterans, their dependents, and their survivors in obtaining the benefits they earned from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This resulted in $10,809,228.23 in new benefits returned to the veterans and the community.
