Kankakee River dam

Session provides information, but not solutions, for Wilmington dam

Published by admin on Tue, 09/14/2021 - 5:14pm

A two hour session at City Hall produced an abundance of information about the Kankakee River dam. But a plan for how the city of Wilmington should handle issues at the dam remains elusive.

On Thursday, Sept. 9, a packed house at Wilmington City Hall listened to a lengthy presentation from members of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Water Resources (IDNR OWR) on options for removing or modifying the dam, and how it would affect the river and millrace.

Kankakee Dam discussions begin, but answers remain elusive

Published by admin on Tue, 07/20/2021 - 4:55pm

Members of the Wilmington City Council held their first discussion on the future of the Kankakee River dam last week. But, a solution on how to handle the safety issues at the site is still a long way away.

The issue of whether to remove the dam was brought back up for discussion in 2020. While a survey was sent to homes to gauge public opinion on the dam, there was no action taken or recommended.

Wilmington ESDA leader to council: It’s time to address the dam

Published by admin on Tue, 06/15/2021 - 3:25pm

Last month, Wilmington’s Emergency Services Disaster Agency (ESDA) participated in training at the Kankakee River dam with 48 members of MABAS-15.

Next week, ESDA will conduct another training at the dam with members of the Will County Search and Rescue Team.

These kinds of ongoing training sessions are vital when it comes to safety at the dam, which has claimed at least 16 lives since 1982 as people entering the river get too close to the dam and are powerless to stop being sucked in by its hydraulic action.

Plans to install rail, fencing at Wilmington dam in holding pattern

Published by admin on Tue, 09/29/2020 - 4:00pm

Plans to put a guard rail up near the Kankakee River Dam in Wilmington have been in the works for some time.

However, the pace of those plans seems to be going nowhere, with orange sawhorses continuing to be the only barrier between people and getting close to the dam that has taken the lives of at least 15 people since 1982.

Earlier this month, Superintendent of Public Works Ken Ewenson told members of the City Council that while plans were ongoing to install a railing near the dam, there was some issue with getting that railing to fit properly around the curve.

Wilmington residents to receive river dam survey in the mail

Published by admin on Tue, 06/30/2020 - 1:59pm

Wilmington residents can soon expect a survey to arrive alongside their monthly utility bills, asking to voice their opinions on the Kankakee River dam.

The city’s Buildings, Grounds, Parks, Health and Safety Committee again held a discussion on the dam during its regular meeting on June 10.