Braidwood City Council

Mayor: Be safe this summer

Published by admin on Mon, 07/02/2018 - 6:14pm

Mayor Jim Vehrs is again imploring the public to keep their eyes on the road – and keep an eye out for kids – now that summer is fully in swing.

The mayor made a public plea for safety during the June 26 regular meeting of the City Council, in light of a near-miss accident he’d been told about involving a car and a child.

“As we’re going into this summertime, like I’ve said before, let’s give these little children some room there on the sidewalks and when they’re crossing the road,” Vehrs said. “We had a little incident today, nobody got hurt, thank God for that.”

ESDA secures third vehicle for emergency response

Published by admin on Tue, 06/19/2018 - 5:57pm

Braidwood’s Emergency Services Disaster Agency (ESDA) has some new wheels in its fleet.

On June 12, the council approved the purchase of a Ford Expedition for ESDA’s use. The used vehicle will cost $2,550.

Summer road work set to begin

Published by admin on Tue, 06/19/2018 - 5:52pm

Get ready for lane closures and the smell of asphalt and tar in the air. Summer road work season has arrived.

On June 12, the members of the Braidwood City Council approved phase two if the Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) roadwork projects for the summer.

“We got really good, competitive bids for the initial phase, so we had some money left over. We thought we’d let it out, another section for bids,” explained city engineer Todd Gereaux.

The work was awarded to Austin Tyler Construction of Elwood in the amount of $241,275.

Water line installed to Townes

Published by admin on Tue, 06/19/2018 - 5:50pm

Prepping for new development, the city has moved ahead with plans to complete a water line into one of the city’s partially completed subdivisions.

City public works crews completed a new water line into the Townes of Braidwood last week.

Commissioner Jim Hutton announced the completion of the tap-on line on June 13, which shut down the corner of Cermak and Hickory for a day.

“That will loop that water line through the Townes of Braidwood and back around to Hickory,” Hutton said.

City secures water plant salt

Published by admin on Tue, 06/12/2018 - 5:46pm

The city’s water treatment plant has all the salt it needs for the coming year.

On May 22, the city council approved a salt purchase for the plant to soften Braidwood’s water.

Commissioner Jim Hutton said the city received three bids, with Midwest Salt the low bidder at $103 per ton.

“It’s $3 cheaper than last year, so we’ll save a little money so that helps,” Hutton said.

City passes balanced budget

Published by admin on Tue, 06/12/2018 - 5:38pm

One month into the new fiscal year, and the city of Braidwood can finally boast a balanced budget for the latest financial term.

On June 1, the council approved the annual budget ordinance for the fiscal year that began on May 1 and runs through April 30, 2019 (FY19).

The ordinance shows a balanced budget in the general fund, with revenues matching expenses at $3.59 million.

Projected general fund revenues include:

• $1.1 million in property taxes

• $380,000 in utility taxes

• $450,000 in state sales taxes

• $660,000 in state income taxes

Braidwood sees housing boom

Published by admin on Tue, 06/05/2018 - 5:16pm

Braidwood has seen a housing boom in the first five months of 2018.

Mayor Jim Vehrs said as of June 1, the city has seen its new housing permits grow exponentially, with more permits issued so far this year than the past several years combined.

AmericInn by Wyndham coming to Braidwood

Published by admin on Tue, 06/05/2018 - 5:14pm

The Braidwood City Council has given the thumbs up to a proposed new hotel at the Reed Road interstate exit.

On June 1, during a special meeting of the council, commissioners approved a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) redevelopment agreement with builder Tony Altiery and his partner, attorney Frank Meents, to construct a new hotel at Reed Road and I-55, inside the TIF III district.

Fed up with overgrown exit ramps

Published by admin on Tue, 05/22/2018 - 6:06pm

A local business owner says he’s fed up with what he sees when he comes home to Braidwood off Interstate 55.

On May 8, Bob Jones, owner of Joneseez on Kennedy Road, said he is sick of the city’s interstate on and off ramps, which he said are actively turning people off from heading into town. Jones directed his comments to members of the City

Council during a regular meeting of the mayor and commissioners.

Summer roadwork set to start

Published by admin on Tue, 05/15/2018 - 5:56pm

As summer fast approaches, the city of Braidwood is set for road improvement projects around town.

On May 8, members of the City Council approved two measures for upcoming road work.

The first measure was to award a bid for asphalt overlay and various street improvements, in the amount of $327,961 to Austin Tyler Construction.

“It was very competitive pricing, I think that will allow us to do more work,” said city engineer Todd Gereaux.

The council also approved an additional $280,000 in motor fuel tax (MFT) work for the upcoming season.