Free Press Advocate

Wilmington City Council candidates state their goals

Published by admin on Tue, 03/28/2023 - 5:18pm

The consolidated election is less than one week away.

In Wilmington, elections for City Council are staggered every two years, with the mayor and four aldermen on the ballot in one election, and the other four aldermen seats up for grabs in the next.

This year, the election focuses on just those four aldermen seats, one from each of Wilmington’s wards. There is only one contested seat this year: First Ward Alderman incumbent Kevin Kirwin and former mayor Mary Orr will both vie to serve that ward for the next four years.

Wilmington City Council approves road construction projects

Published by admin on Tue, 03/28/2023 - 5:16pm

As the weather finally begins to warm up, the city of Wilmington is prepping for some much needed road work.

Roads were scarcely addressed over the past year, other than minor maintenance or projects already underway, due in part to sky-high costs of asphalt that left the city in a holding pattern.

But on March 21, the members of the City Council approved a resolution for maintenance under the Illinois Highway Code for road resurfacing, aiming to spend $975,000 on patching, overlay, shoulderstone, curb and gutter work on three streets in need of attention.

Wilmington continues to work on water billing issues

Published by admin on Tue, 03/28/2023 - 5:13pm

The city of Wilmington continues to work on closing the gap when it comes to money owed for utility and water bills.

On March 21, the city’s finance committee met just prior to the regular meeting of the City Council, to discuss financial matters including the monthly bills and that utility billing.

Finance Director Nancy Gross said in February, the city sent out just over 2,300 water bills, representing $350,982 in billing.

Catfish Days preps for a homegrown festival: Down on the Farm

Published by admin on Tue, 03/21/2023 - 5:14pm

The first official day of spring arrived on Monday, which means the countdown is on for the arrival of summer. And with the warm weather comes festival season.

Last week, the organizers of Catfish Days in Wilmington officially announced this year’s theme for the annual festival: Down on the Farm.

Will County transit options could include expanded services

Published by admin on Tue, 03/21/2023 - 5:13pm

There are few options for folks who live in southern Will County if they need a ride to the store, the doctor’s office, or anywhere around town.

But Wilmington City Administrator Jeannine Smith said discussions were in the preliminary stage to expand the county’s dial-a-ride program, with potential for Wilmington to be added to the list.

Smith discussed the possibility during the March 14 regular meeting of the Committee of the Whole, after what she said was a productive meeting with county officials about transportation.

Wilmington to add user fee for WPD firing range

Published by admin on Tue, 03/21/2023 - 5:11pm

The Wilmington Police Department is one of the few smaller departments lucky enough to have its own outdoor firing range for training. The range is utilized not just by the members of the WPD, but by multiple other law enforcement agencies throughout the region.

Now, in an effort to help pay for the upkeep and maintenance, the WPD will implement a fee for those other law enforcement officers who opt to utilize the range on Stripmine Road.

Wilmington Police Chief Adam Zink explained the new fee to the members of the Committee of the Whole on March 14.

Wilmington 209-U school year will face delayed start

Published by admin on Tue, 03/21/2023 - 5:10pm

The 2023-2024 school year will start later than usual in Wilmington.

The Wilmington School District 209-U Board of Education recently formally approved the recommended school calendar for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year.

As a result of a major heating and air conditioning related construction project at SIS, which is scheduled to be completed throughout the upcoming summer break, the beginning of the new school year will take place later than usual.

Wilmington City council discusses incentives for new home builders

Published by admin on Tue, 02/28/2023 - 5:39pm

City officials in Wilmington will dig a little deeper into an incentive plan already in place aimed at attracting new housing to town, to see if the plan needs to be tweaked or changed in an effort to be more inclusive.

On Feb. 14, the members of the Committee of the Whole took a look at the ordinance, which waives impact and connection fees for the next 10 residential building permits. The ordinance was first introduced several years ago, and is periodically renewed in an effort to draw builders to town with a fee waiver equal to $12,000 or more.

The Internal War

Published by admin on Tue, 02/28/2023 - 5:34pm

I wake up, what’s for breakfast? How much can I eat? I check my stomach in the mirror. I am filled with disgust. Why can’t I get the numbers right? Why do I look like this?

I walk to the kitchen, all I can think about is food. It’s all I ever think about. I make a bowl of oatmeal toppped with fruit and peanut butter. A safe food, anything else would fill me with panic.

Mayor delivers address on how Wilmington operates

Published by admin on Tue, 02/14/2023 - 5:02pm

How the city runs and what’s going right. That was the topic of discussion during a special town hall meeting hosted last week by officials from Wilmington.

On Feb. 9, the Wilmington City Council held a special meeting at Wilmington High School. During that town hall style session, Mayor Ben Dietz delivered a state of the city speech to the more than four dozen people in attendance, laying out some of the successes the city saw in 2022, with a brief look ahead to 2023.

At the top of the discussion: Revenues.