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The Township of Lemont was incorporated
on April 2, 1850, covering 24 square miles and has a population of 17,500 people.
Since the time of incorporation, the township has been providing services and
programs to the residents. The Township has had thirty-nine supervisors since
1850 making sure quality services were provided through direct and partnership
relationships. The Township became the starting point for many of the community’s
functions, civic club beginnings, and the creation of other local governmental
units.
The Township started experiencing rapid growth at the end of the 1980’s. The Township
built a new 4,000 square foot garage to meet the ever-growing needs of the road
district. The building was financed with in-house funding. A large amount of the
new road equipment was also purchased to meet the 30% increase in road miles during
the late 1980’s. The Township has now been experiencing over 10% annual growth
for several years.
The Township government has serviced the community through two tornadoes, one
major flood, multiple industrial caused disasters, and severe weather conditions.
The Lemont Park District was started in 1966 by the township organizing the residents
to form the district. The community medical equipment lending closet was collaborated
with the Lemont Professional Nurses Association in the mid 1970’s. The Township
played a key role in the community’s recovery following the 1976 and 1991 tornadoes.
A youth commission was established in 1977 to service the social needs of Lemont’s
teenagers. A human service department was created to meet the challenges of meeting
the social needs of families senior citizens, and low income residents. An emergency
warning siren system was installed in 1993 by the Township, with additional sirens
installed in growth areas of the Township
The Township participated in the federal food surplus program using the Lemont
Lions Club to distribute over six tons of food monthly. A meals-for-homebound
program was established to provide healthy meals to homebound citizens in the
Township. The Dial-A-Ride program was started in cooperation with PACE of the
RTA. Family counseling was created to meet the challenges under the human services
department. A senior citizen advisory committee was established to provide better
services, housing, and programs for the seniors of the Lemont Township. The Township
works with Cook County Health Department to provide medical shots and services
locally.
The Township partnered with the Lemont Park District in 1991 to build a new community
center for both the township and park district building needs, The intergovernmental
agreement was a role model for other agencies to follow. A 2.5 million dollar
building was built including a gym, arts & crafts center, fitness center, eight
meeting rooms, offices for both agencies, a senior citizen’s room, and ample parking
and site development. The thirty thousand square foot building has a daily attendance
of more than 500 people per day. The center was built without a referendum nor
a tax increase.
The Township continues to meet the growth and social needs of the community by
expanding services in the Assessors Office and Road District. It is working with
a developer to provide a low cost senior citizen housing project. The Jaycee creed
has a phrase that says it all for the Township efforts to help its residents.
“services to Humanity is the best work of Life” |
