News

Search on for a new patrol officer

Published by admin on Tue, 03/28/2023 - 5:19pm

Coal City’s Fire and Police Commission is again looking to hire a new patrol officer for the village’s police department.

The three-member commission was notified of the resignation of patrol officer David Kasher and that the position be filled with a candidate from the police eligibility list.

Police Chief Chris Harseim told the Village Board last week that Kasher has accepted a position with a new department and take his final shift on April 3.

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.

Golf outing to support Megan’s Mission

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

Megan’s Mission Foundation is set to host its annual golf outing to continue Megan Bugg’s mission of ending childhood cancer.

The Megan Bugg Memorial Golf Outing is scheduled for Saturday, July 22 at The Creek in Morris with a shotgun start at 9 a.m.

All proceeds from the event will go to further the work taking place at the Megan Bugg Global Rhabdomyosarcoma Research Laboratory at Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute [CC-TDI].

New polling location for Maine Township voters

Published by admin on Tue, 03/28/2023 - 5:17pm

Grundy County Clerk Kay Olson announced two polling place changes for the April 4 consolidated election.

Voters residing in the Maine 1 precinct will now vote at the Felix 2 polling location, Felix Township Hall, 6525 E. Whitetie Rd, Coal City.

Voters residing in the Vienna 1 precinct will now vote at the Highland 1 polling location, KMTC Community Center, 219 Main St., Kinsman.

These polling changes were prompted due to the lack of election judges.

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.

Municipal, school and library board members to be elected

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

When area residents go to the polls on April 4 for the consolidated election, there will be few contested races for local municipal, school and library boards.

Just the village of Coal City and village of Carbon Hill have positions with opposition.

In addition to the race for village president [mayor] in Coal City, there are four individuals seeking the three available trustee positions on the Village Board.

Coal City to waive $6,000 in unpaid utility bills

Published by admin on Tue, 03/28/2023 - 5:14pm

A portion of unpaid utility accounts ranging from 1¢ to $1,575 will be waived by the village of Coal City.

The Finance Committee took a look at unpaid balances on old water bills and presented the Village Board with a proposal to clear $6,009.42 from the books.

“This is .34% of the total fees collected on an annual basis,” Village Administrator Matt Fritz said.

There are 100 accounts being waived and the majority of them have balances under $100.

After the waivers there is still $10,820 left outstanding which the village will still attempt to collect.

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.

The race for mayor

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

By this time next week, residents of Coal City will have made their choice for village president.

Dave Spesia and Ross Bradley want to be president—a position more commonly referred to in town as mayor. Both have experience in municipal government as they serve as village trustees. Spesia chairs the town’s Streets & Alley’s Committee and Bradley the Water & Sewer Committee.

During their current terms, both have been part of major projects within their respective areas of oversight.

Braidwood City Council candidates make their final pleas for your vote

Published by admin on Tue, 03/28/2023 - 5:11pm

Election day is less than one week away.

The race for City Council in Braidwood has been feisty in 2023, with all but one of the four seats on City Council hotly contested, in a race that has been fraught with social media bickering and deep public interest.

As of the start of this week, 132 voters had already cast their ballots during early voting at City Hall. Four years ago, the total voters in Braidwood reached more than 1,300, a high turnout versus the county’s overall turnout of just 13% in 2019.

This year looks to be no different.