Braidwood Journal

Braidwood aims to beef up police department in 2024

Published by admin on Tue, 01/02/2024 - 3:56pm

Like police departments across the nation, the Braidwood Police Department’s staff is stretched thin.

It’s a staffing issue that city leaders plan to address in 2024.

“In the last two weeks, we had 175 hours of overtime, because we don’t have the police officers that are needed,” city administrator Tony Altiery said.

Reed-Custer to complete classroom furniture upgrades

Published by admin on Tue, 01/02/2024 - 3:55pm

The Reed-Custer School District will spend $37,000 to outfit some high school classrooms with up to date furniture. The purchase of that furniture will complete a process to replace desks and chairs district-wide that started several years ago.

Braidwood City Council approves annual tax levy

Published by admin on Tue, 12/26/2023 - 3:15pm

The Braidwood City Council has adopted the official property tax levy for the fiscal year ending on April 30, 2024 (FY24).

On Dec. 12, the mayor and commissioners approved the levy ordinance, estimating total property taxes to be collected in FY24 at $1.9 million.

Not to be confused with the budget, the levy simply sets the total for what the city expects to collect in property taxes. The city’s share is only one line item on the property tax bill of any parcel within the city limits.

Illinois State Scholars lauded by Reed-Custer Board of Ed

Published by admin on Tue, 12/26/2023 - 3:13pm

Six members of the Reed-Custer High School Class of 2024 have earned the honor of Illinois State Scholar.

The seniors were recognized for their academic success by the board of education during its regular monthly meeting on Dec. 20.

“This is the highest honor that we can offer to students, and we don’t offer it, this puts them against every student in the state of Illinois,” Superintendent Mark Mitchell told the members of the board.

The year that was in Braidwood, 2023

Published by admin on Tue, 12/26/2023 - 3:10pm

The city of Braidwood got a new mayor in 2023.

Twice.

The election was just one of the big stories to make headlines this year, with everything from development to a new partnership between the Custer and Braidwood fire departments to the comprehensive plan keeping people engaged and talking.

Here, a look at some of the highlights of this busy year in Braidwood:

Election 2023
A hotly contested election in April changed the makeup of the City Council, only for that to change again a month later, and once more in the fall.

BPD secures new weapons for officers

Published by admin on Tue, 12/19/2023 - 4:14pm

Out with the old, in with the new.

The members of the Braidwood Police Department will be outfitted with some new gear, following the approval of a purchase of weapons, holsters, and related equipment by the Braidwood City Council.

The mayor and commissioners gave the green light to that purchase during the council’s regular meeting on Dec. 12, two weeks after declaring some of the departments outdated weaponry as surplus.

CMAP delivers market analysis for Braidwood

Published by admin on Tue, 12/19/2023 - 4:12pm

After months of data collection and public engagement, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) has delivered its market analysis of the city of Braidwood, to assist the city with the creation of a new Comprehensive Plan.

The city has been working with CMAP on the effort to rejuvenate the plan, which was last updated in 2004. Braidwood was awarded the technical assistance nearly two years ago to put together a Comprehensive Plan, which acts like a road map for growth and development planning within the city limits.

Wilczak appointed to vacant Braidwood council seat

Published by admin on Tue, 12/12/2023 - 4:26pm

The Braidwood City Council once again has all five members on the dais.

On Nov. 28, the council unanimously approved the appointment of Ron Wilczak as Commissioner of Public Health and Safety.

That position was left vacant when previous commissioner James Mikel resigned in October.

Upon being sworn in, Wilczak briefly introduced himself to the members of the public.

Braidwood leaders explain TIF, and its benefits, at town hall meeting

Published by admin on Tue, 12/12/2023 - 4:23pm

When the city of Braidwood held its final town hall meeting for the public to get to know their leaders and ask any questions they want, the subject most discussed was how the city attracts new businesses.

Namely, folks in attendance at the special meeting on Nov. 28 wanted more information on TIF incentives offered for the new car dealerships coming to town.

TIF stands for tax increment financing. Braidwood currently has one active TIF district, TIF III.

Braidwood, Reed-Custer sign SRO agreement

Published by admin on Tue, 12/12/2023 - 4:20pm

The Braidwood Police Department will continue to provide a school resource officer (SRO) to Reed-Custer schools to keep watch over students, staff, and families and visitors to its three campuses.

On Nov. 28, the Braidwood City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Reed-Custer School District to provide that SRO to the district, a renewal of the same ongoing agreement between the city and the school district that has been in effect for several years.