Wilmington

Wilmington officials to public: Tell us your thoughts on dam removal

Published by admin on Tue, 05/19/2020 - 4:51pm

Elected officials in Wilmington are looking for some feedback from the public regarding the ongoing issues at the Kankakee River dam.

Alderman Ben Dietz made a presentation on the dam to the Buildings, Grounds, Parks, Health and Safety Committee May 13, providing to the committee information he gained after conversations with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

Dietz has corresponded via phone and email over several weeks with Wes Cattoor, the acting section chief of engineering studies with the IDNR’s Office of Water Resources (OWR).

Sunday storm prompts road closures after flooding

Published by admin on Tue, 05/19/2020 - 4:47pm

Heavy rains drenched the area on Sunday, flooding roads as the National Weather Service reported a brief tornado touchdown just outside of Braidwood.

In Wilmington and surrounding areas, several roads had to be closed due to flooding, including the roadway through the South Island park, Kahler Road at Forked Creek, Ballou road at Route 102, Route 102 at
Rivals Road, Angle Road at Rivals Road, Route 102 through the town of Ritchey, and Boathouse Road at North River Road.

Wilmington budget process slowed by coronavirus pandemic

Published by admin on Tue, 05/19/2020 - 4:43pm

City leaders in Wilmington are starting to organize their budgets for the 2021 fiscal year (FY21), which officially began on May 1.

But, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, that has spawned a stay-at-home order and closures of non-essential businesses that will last at least through the end of this month, getting the numbers just right is a challenge.

On May 5, members of the Wilmington City Council began initial discussions on the FY21 budget.

St. Rose community makes final plea to Diocese of Joliet

Published by admin on Tue, 05/12/2020 - 2:48pm

The 10 members of the St. Rose School Class of 2020 — the last to graduate from the 73-year-old institution — were given a special send off by the community on May 8.

This year’s graduates donned their caps and gowns on Friday and stood in front of the church and school as a parade of cars drove past, with drivers and passengers honking, waving signs, and saying farewell to the class and the school.

It was a bittersweet ending to the academic year for the school that has housed students from pre-K through 8th grade since 1947.

Veteran’s Memorial Park among local improvement projects Brieser Construction undertakes

Published by admin on Tue, 05/05/2020 - 3:58pm

Work has been slower than usual for construction contractors during a time of year that is typically a busy one, as major regional companies push back projects due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the state’s stay-at-home order.

For Brieser Construction, a civil industrial construction and maintenance contractor that employs many workers from Wilmington, the down time isn’t being wasted.

Crews have been putting shovel to dirt to make civic improvements around town at the recommendations of employees who live locally.

St. Rose School supporters are down, but not out

Published by admin on Tue, 05/05/2020 - 3:54pm

Two weeks after a meeting with the bishop of the Diocese of Joliet did not go as planned, supporters of St. Rose School said they’re down, but not out.

The announcement was made on March 30 that St. Rose would close in the 2020-2021 school year, merging with St. Joseph School in Manhattan.

The Diocesan School Board voted 6-1 approving the merger.

The news spawned the creation of the Save St. Rose Task Force, a group of parishioners, alumni, community members and supporters who want to see the 73-year-old institution remain open.

Driver’s ed students left spinning their wheels

Published by admin on Tue, 05/05/2020 - 3:38pm

The WIlmington School District continues to organize and alter plans for wrapping up the school year, for the summer session, and looking to the fall.

While all of the students have had their day-to-day classroom activities put on hold, it’s those students enrolled in driver’s education who are seeing one of the biggest changes. While other classroom work can be completed from home, the behind-the-wheel component means students aren’t getting that required practice out on the roads.

Wilmington Island Park District Board considers name change

Published by admin on Tue, 04/28/2020 - 4:40pm

What's in a name? A lot if it's your "brand."

The Board of Commissioners has been asked to consider changing the name of the Wilmington Island Park District. Park Director Renee Chavez asked the board to consider the change at the board’s Thursday, April 23 meeting, which was held via video conference.

She said this was ‘kind of” brought up during strategic plan discussions – the district’s legal name versus what residents call it. She estimated that of the people participating in the meeting, only about half would be able to come up with the district's full proper name.

Council members want the public to give a dam

Published by admin on Tue, 04/28/2020 - 4:37pm

It’s a conversation that comes and goes throughout the years, but without any changes once it’s all said and done.

Discussions of what to do about the roller dam along the Kankakee River in Wilmington have resurfaced on social media, with two city aldermen seeking public feedback on the river feature where people have drowned.

Aldermen Ben Dietz and Jake Tenn both took to the internet recently, asking for input on the possibility of removing the dam.

Wilmington issues bonds related to IEPA loan debt

Published by admin on Tue, 04/28/2020 - 4:33pm

The city of Wilmington authorized the issuance of general obligation refunding bonds to help pay the city’s outstanding IEPA water treatment loan and related costs during its regular meeting on April 21.

The monthly meeting was held over the videoconferencing site, Zoom.

General obligation bonds are municipal bonds backed by credit and taxing power of a municipality. The idea behind the obligation bond is that the city will be able to pay back the debt through taxation and revenue from projects.