Wilmington City Council

D’Orazio Ford looking for a new home

Published by admin on Tue, 06/01/2021 - 5:12pm

Details remain under wraps for the future of D’Orazio Ford. But one thing is for certain — the dealership is moving.

On May 25, the site of the dealership on Water Street next to Wilmington City Hall went on the market, at a sale price of $3.8 million for the 14,000 square foot building plus car wash that has served as a Ford dealership since 1998.

Wilmington approves $12,000 for SCADA system upgrade

Published by admin on Tue, 06/01/2021 - 4:58pm

The Wilmington City Council has approved a system update for the water reclamation plant’s system control and data acquisition (SCADA) computers, hoping it will help clear up some issues with the current computers on site.

Bob Bland, the superintendent of water and water reclamation with the city, gave an explanation of the expense during a May 11 committee of the whole meeting, before the expenditure was approved by the full city council on May 18.

Wilmington leaders to property owners: Keep your land clean

Published by admin on Tue, 05/18/2021 - 5:48pm

Members of the Wilmington City Council said now that spring has officially sprung, they’d like to see the city crack down on properties that aren’t living up to local standards.

On May 4, members of the council met for a Committee of the Whole meeting. At that time, Alderman Dennis Vice said he wants something to be done about properties with overgrown lawns and other issues, particularly when those properties are on the main roads in and out of town.

Wilmington City Council makes changes on how committee meetings take place

Published by admin on Tue, 05/18/2021 - 5:46pm

The new members of the Wilmington City Council are starting to reorganize.

On May 11, the full council met for a committee of the whole meeting, in an effort to organize how the new administration will move forward with committee meetings.

In addition to appointing committee chairs, the council will now scrap four individual monthly committee meetings — Police and ESDA, Ordinance and Licensing, Buildings and Grounds, and Water Sewer Streets and Alleys — and combine those into one committee of the whole meeting, with the full council in attendance.

New Wilmington City Council members take their seats

Published by admin on Tue, 05/11/2021 - 5:03pm

The newest members of the Wilmington City Council have taken their seats.

On May 4, former mayor Roy Strong took a moment to say his goodbyes, before officially swearing in Aldermen Ryan Jeffries (Ward 1), Ryan Knight (Ward 2), Jonathan Mietzner (Ward 3), Thomas John Smith (Ward 4), Todd Holmes (Ward 4), and Mayor Ben Dietz.

In its first official move, the new council approved the appointment of Leslie Allred to fill the remaining two years of Dietz’s term as 3rd Ward Alderman. Allred was expected to be sworn in this week.

Sales tax, state funds help push Wilmington budget to the black

Published by admin on Tue, 04/27/2021 - 4:40pm

The city of Wilmington crafted a conservative budget for the 2021 fiscal year (FY21), which ends on Friday.

And, it appears those conservative figures, as well as higher than expected sales tax dollars, will help the city move into FY22 with their budget in the black.

Matt Hoffman, the city’s finance director, gave an update of the year-end budget during the regular meeting of the Finance Committee on April 20.

Wilmington plans $16.5M in spending in FY22

Published by admin on Tue, 04/20/2021 - 5:32pm

The city of Wilmington held its public hearing on the budget earlier this month, with plans for the 2022 fiscal year (FY22) showing city leaders looking to spend a grand total of $16.5 million.

The citywide budget is near balanced entering the fiscal year, with revenues projected at $16.3 million.

Those numbers are across all funds, and include the following revenues/expenditures:

• General fund — $5.3 million/$5.1 million

• Water fund — $2 million/$2.2 million

• Sewer fund — $2.1 million/$2.3 million

Wilmington plans $16.5M in spending in FY22

Published by admin on Tue, 04/20/2021 - 5:32pm

The city of Wilmington held its public hearing on the budget earlier this month, with plans for the 2022 fiscal year (FY22) showing city leaders looking to spend a grand total of $16.5 million.

The citywide budget is near balanced entering the fiscal year, with revenues projected at $16.3 million.

Those numbers are across all funds, and include the following revenues/expenditures:

• General fund — $5.3 million/$5.1 million

• Water fund — $2 million/$2.2 million

• Sewer fund — $2.1 million/$2.3 million

Coal City residents question Elion expansion plans in Wilmington

Published by admin on Fri, 04/16/2021 - 2:05pm

The owners at Elion Logistics Park were back before the City Council on April 7, working through more of the paperwork to secure a change at the site.

Elion, formerly known as Ridgeport, is looking to amend its TIF agreement with the city of Wilmington, which will allow for further development at the intermodal site.
Benjamin Schuster, an attorney representing Elion Partners, noted during the public hearing that the current matter before the council is one of several items to come before the city for approval with regard to the TIF boundaries.

Dietz: Wilmington is ready to move forward

Published by admin on Fri, 04/16/2021 - 1:59pm

The Wilmington voters have spoken, and the majority said it’s time for a change.

On April 6, Alderman Ben Dietz took home the lion’s share of votes in the Consolidated Election, beating current mayor Roy Strong and former mayor Marty Orr to win the mayoral seat.
Strong and Orr combined have served as mayor for the past 16 years, each holding two terms.