Wilmington City Council

Wilmington's Dam Committee to dig deeper into modification costs

Published by admin on Tue, 03/22/2022 - 5:42pm

Wilmington’s dam committee will hold more meetings regarding the future of the Kankakee River dam. But, what that future holds is still unclear.

On March 8, members of the committee attended the city’s Committee of the Whole meeting. Member Glennden Daniels gave an informal presentation on where the committee stands currently, after making its first recommendation to the City Council back in January.

Elion plans new building at industrial park in Wilmington

Published by admin on Tue, 03/22/2022 - 5:38pm

Elion Partners is moving ahead with more development at the industrial park at I-55 and Lorenzo Road.

Benjamin Schuster, representing Elion Partners (formerly Ridgeport), was back before the zoning board earlier this month, seeking approval for a preliminary site plan for a new 1 million square foot office and warehouse building.

The site plan includes parking, truck docks and detention and will sit on 66 acres at Graaskamp and Murphy Road. Some of those properties were formerly residential properties that have been purchased by Elion.

Committee begins discussions on solar in Wilmington

Published by admin on Tue, 03/15/2022 - 5:25pm

It’s just the start of the discussion.

Members of the Wilmington City Council are investigating what it would mean to bring solar to the city.

On March 8, City Administrator Jeannine Smith told members of the Committee of the Whole that there is interest from multiple companies in adding the sun-powered energy creators to areas of the city.

“There are several solar companies that are looking to come in to the city of Wilmington,” Smith said. “One is a solar farm concept, the other is ground mounted solar panels.”

Incentive program aims to promote autopay for Wilmington water bills

Published by admin on Tue, 03/15/2022 - 5:24pm

The city of Wilmington is hoping to cut some costs in the long run with a one-time incentive for utility customers to sign up for paperless billing.

Members of the City Council were expected to approve the incentive program via resolution on Tuesday.

Wilmington plant is runner-up Wastewater System of the Year

Published by admin on Tue, 03/08/2022 - 4:37pm

It’s not every day that you would think a building full of human waste would earn an award.

But it’s how the city of Wilmington manages that important—though rarely discussed—necessity of modern living that earned the city recognition, making it number two in the state for all that comes along with handling “number two.”

On Feb. 15 the Illinois Rural Water Association (IRWA), the state’s largest rural utility association, selected the City of Wilmington as its Runner-Up Wastewater System of The Year at the 40th Annual Technical Conference in downstate Effingham.

Wilmington adopts county all-hazards mitigation plan

Published by admin on Tue, 03/08/2022 - 4:35pm

The city of Wilmington has formally adopted an updated hazard plan from Will County.

On March 1, the City Council approved a resolution adopting the Will County Countywide All-Hazards Mitigation Plan.

The plan is a regional effort that meets the requirements of FEMA for the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, and communities must adopt the plan in order to be eligible for grant funding.

Will County’s plan addresses both natural disasters as well as technological and societal hazards, and must be updated every five years.

Wilmington hires new firm for annual financial audit

Published by admin on Tue, 03/08/2022 - 4:33pm

When it’s time to audit the books at the conclusion of the current fiscal year, the city of Wilmington will welcome a new firm through the doors at City Hall.

On March 1, the members of the City Council approved a staff recommendation to utilize Lauterbach & Amen, LLC, of Naperville for accounting and auditing services.

Per the staff report, while it is not uncommon for governments to retain auditors for more than ten years, auditor rotation would provide a “fresh set of eyes” regarding the financial statements and audit processes.

Wilmington hopes to crack down on false alarms at businesses

Published by admin on Tue, 03/08/2022 - 4:32pm

The city of Wilmington has updated an ordinance on how local police get compensated when they respond to businesses for a false alarm.

In February, Wilmington Police Deputy Chief Adam Zink explained to members of the committee of the whole that the WPD has had an increase in calls for building alarms. On March 1, Zink’s report was brought to the City Council in order to approve an amendment that governs how the city can charge to compensate for those officers’ time.

The city’s false alarms ordinance was first passed in 1998, and amended one year later.

Wilmington eyes new Comprehensive Plan

Published by admin on Tue, 02/08/2022 - 5:49pm

The city of Wilmington is looking toward the future.

The city’s planning and zoning board has initiated the first steps in updating the city’s comprehensive plan.

The plan, which was last updated and approved by the City Council in 2008, is designed to serve as a guiding document for policy decisions when it comes to development planning, including land use, transportation, and design.

Businesses making themselves at home in Wilmington

Published by admin on Tue, 02/01/2022 - 4:13pm

The city of Wilmington seems to be on the right track when it comes to bringing in business.

As the city enters its last quarter of the fiscal year, Mayor Ben Dietz said bringing in, retaining, and improving business has been good news during his first year in office.

“We are coming out of a fantastic year for Wilmington,” Dietz said. “Last year we saw our sales tax revenue jump over 20%, we welcomed many new businesses and have had meetings with developers and business owners on just about every piece of available real estate in and around town.”