Braidwood City Council

Sludge building doing its job at Braidwood's WWTP

Published by admin on Tue, 01/09/2024 - 3:32pm

It’s unlikely that most people give it a second though what happens after you flush the toilet.

But the waste that disappears like magic in the powder room sticks around for awhile, first entering the city’s wastewater treatment plant, then through the oxidation ditch, and eventually it’s reduced to what is unfortunately referred to as “sludge.”

Getting rid of that sludge can cost the city a pretty penny. That’s why city leaders erected a building to house the sludge until it can be hauled away.

That new sludge house got its first real test as winter began.

Road survey to aid Braidwood's maintenance, construction schedule

Published by admin on Tue, 01/09/2024 - 3:31pm

The city of Braidwood will take a new approach to road work.

This spring, a comprehensive road survey will be created for all city-owned roadways in the city limits.

Last month, the Braidwood City Council approved a contract with Robinson Engineering to complete that survey.

Braidwood puts its needs in order for 2024

Published by admin on Tue, 01/02/2024 - 4:00pm

If city leaders in Braidwood put together a vision board for 2024, the word that would pop out is “priorities.”

Mayor Karen Hart and City Administrator Tony Altiery said the city has been in the process of creating a list of all items big and small to be addressed, figuring out which items take precedence for the new year, and coming up with plans for how the city will pay for those things.

Braidwood aims to beef up police department in 2024

Published by admin on Tue, 01/02/2024 - 3:56pm

Like police departments across the nation, the Braidwood Police Department’s staff is stretched thin.

It’s a staffing issue that city leaders plan to address in 2024.

“In the last two weeks, we had 175 hours of overtime, because we don’t have the police officers that are needed,” city administrator Tony Altiery said.

Wilmington, Braidwood address potential migrant bus drop-offs

Published by admin on Tue, 01/02/2024 - 3:49pm

The recent arrival in the region of unscheduled busses carrying undocumented migrants from Texas to Chicago has prompted several local municipalities to pass measures to deal with the issue.

Busses made unscheduled stops in the week before Christmas in Kankakee and Manhattan, apparently looking to drop off those migrants at Metra train stations. Will County officials noted that due to a lack of information from the State of Texas, there is no clear indication of the number of buses that might be arriving in Will County in the near future.

Braidwood City Council approves annual tax levy

Published by admin on Tue, 12/26/2023 - 3:15pm

The Braidwood City Council has adopted the official property tax levy for the fiscal year ending on April 30, 2024 (FY24).

On Dec. 12, the mayor and commissioners approved the levy ordinance, estimating total property taxes to be collected in FY24 at $1.9 million.

Not to be confused with the budget, the levy simply sets the total for what the city expects to collect in property taxes. The city’s share is only one line item on the property tax bill of any parcel within the city limits.

BPD secures new weapons for officers

Published by admin on Tue, 12/19/2023 - 4:14pm

Out with the old, in with the new.

The members of the Braidwood Police Department will be outfitted with some new gear, following the approval of a purchase of weapons, holsters, and related equipment by the Braidwood City Council.

The mayor and commissioners gave the green light to that purchase during the council’s regular meeting on Dec. 12, two weeks after declaring some of the departments outdated weaponry as surplus.

Wilczak appointed to vacant Braidwood council seat

Published by admin on Tue, 12/12/2023 - 4:26pm

The Braidwood City Council once again has all five members on the dais.

On Nov. 28, the council unanimously approved the appointment of Ron Wilczak as Commissioner of Public Health and Safety.

That position was left vacant when previous commissioner James Mikel resigned in October.

Upon being sworn in, Wilczak briefly introduced himself to the members of the public.

Braidwood leaders explain TIF, and its benefits, at town hall meeting

Published by admin on Tue, 12/12/2023 - 4:23pm

When the city of Braidwood held its final town hall meeting for the public to get to know their leaders and ask any questions they want, the subject most discussed was how the city attracts new businesses.

Namely, folks in attendance at the special meeting on Nov. 28 wanted more information on TIF incentives offered for the new car dealerships coming to town.

TIF stands for tax increment financing. Braidwood currently has one active TIF district, TIF III.

CMAP plans for public presentation Dec. 12 in Braidwood

Published by admin on Tue, 12/05/2023 - 5:51pm

Dozens of Braidwood residents waited in line and slowly filed into the Fossil Ridge Public Library’s large meeting room on Nov. 30, looking for information on the city’s plan to create a new comprehensive plan.

In 2022, city officials announced that they had been awarded technical assistance from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) to create the plan.