CITY OF WILMINGTON

1165 S. Water Street

Wilmington, IL 60481

                                                                   815-476-2175     

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT

10/14/2011

 

  1. RidgePort Logistics Business Park:

 

The BNSF Rail Spur construction continues with the electronic signalization being installed and the rail crossing across of Lorenzo Road will begin within the next 2-3 weeks. The crossing will be closed while this work is being conducted and emergency agencies and the school district are being notified. This project is being coordinated through Will County Highway Department permit along with BNSF.

 

Widows Road Water and Sanitary Sewer Main construction under I -55 is completed and service connections to the 5 residents will begin. Landscaping coordination for the screening on Widows Road south of the Obrien Subdivision should begin within the next 2 - 3 weeks looks like the length of this area is 350 feet and about 20 + trees will be installed. Final restoration will begin in November with a follow up in the spring 2012.

 

  1. Proposed I – 55 Interchanges for RT 129 and Lorenzo Road:

 

IDOT will be scheduling a follow up public meeting with the final alternatives within the next 60 days and the official Public Hearing being planned for Spring 2012.

 

I – 55 - RT 129 Southbound Exit update the ramps are being removed and the overpass (bridge) is planned to be removed Spring 2012. This exit will be permanently closed until the new interchange is constructed.

 

  1. Continue to work with IDOT on RT 53 request for a speed study from S. Arsenal Road to Wilmington Peotone Road with the goal to reduce the 55 mph speed limit into Wilmington. Also, further discussion about the RT 53 & Wilmington Peotone Intersection improvements with further updates being presented at the WSSA Committee meeting in November with a presentation by HR Green Engineering Services – Transportation Proposal to the City of Wilmington.

 

  1. Miken Carthage Transportation has filed their annexation petition for the 7 acre site located on the N/W corner of RT 53 and New River Road. The Planning Commission concept review was completed at the 10/3/2011 meeting and the company decided to move forward with formal application for annexation and B3 Zoning. The company is planning on updating the current building on site and will bring about 60+ jobs to the area some will be transfers from their other locations and about 15 jobs will be new hires in the office and truck mechanics. Their goal is to close on the property in January and begin improvements immediately after the purchase. A schedule public hearing is planned for the November 3rd Planning Commission meeting.

 

  1. Illinois Transport final plat was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission on 10/3/2011. City Council approval is scheduled for 10/18/2011 City Council meeting. The revised/amended real estate tax abatement agreement will be presented at the 11/01/2011 City Council meeting. The company’s profile and sample property tax bill with the current proposed tax abatement amendment was distributed via email for the City Council to review. Will County Tax Abatement agreement is moving forward through their committees and is planned to be presented for approval at the 11/17/2011 County Board Meeting. The Wilmington School District will be discussing their abatement agreement at their next school board meeting. We will keep everyone updated.

 

  1. The Widows Road overlay street project will be coordinated with the MFT street improvement project and construction should begin after 10/17/2011and completed within 2-3 weeks. The two subdivision final lifts on their streets will be completed during this timeframe for both Obrien Subdivision and Fox Tail Commons Subdivision.

 

  1. The electronic water meter project is 85% completed and the goal is to have the change over of the remaining 15% completed within the next 30 days or less. November 1st will begin the 30 day utility billing for all zones within Wilmington.

 

  1. ‘IKE’ Grant update: The City received 17 RFQ responses for engineering services and the preliminary reviews of their qualifications have been completed by City Engineering Zemaitis and Administrator Graff. The final 3 engineering firms will be interviewed and selection should be made by 10/22/2011. Tentative schedule s for engineering to be completed by April 2012 and construction during the summer months. The area for this project is the Kahler Road and School District Property to address flooding problems.

 

  1. Water Plant Intake and Facility upgrade work has begun and the divers should be out in the river shortly. The Public Works crew has been assisting with maintenance and labor upon request by Supt. Plese. The claricone filters clean out will save an estimated $6,000 in labor costs as one of the first phase of the project using City crew. Supt. Plese is keeping track of the cost and will provide updates as the project continues to progress.

 

  1. Leak Detection service has returned to complete the final work. There was a minor delay with this project as the water atlas needed to be updated and verified for the older part of the city so the project was done in phases. Anticipate a report within the next 30 days.

 

  1. The IEPA conducted an inspection of the water plant, distribution, storage tanks, and well. The report will be completed and the City shall receive a copy in about 45 days. Basically, the report will identify non-compliance with the back flow prevention program (annual inspection report and inventory records) and a program to exercise the water main valves annually at least a multi-year zone program is recommended to open and close the water valves at least once every 4 years. The goal by the IEPA with non-compliance issues to allow the city time to come into compliance before any enforcement action is recommended. As far as water facility operations and quality water production, the inspector was impressed with the current efforts and plans for facility upgrades.

 

  1. The City Crew repaired a water main leak on Buchannan and the city water main extended into the Winchester Plaza property, so the City crew was repairing city water main not a private water main for the Winchester Plaza property.

 

  1. The City received a call about a sewer odor problem on Ridge and Buchanan area and the crew located the sanitary sewer problem on Ridge St and repairs will begin with the back up/broken city main.

 

  1. Next meeting for the ILLANA work study group is 10/25/2011 to review the environmental issues and corridor alignments. This meeting will be held in Merriville IN. I will provide an update at the Nov 1st City Council meeting. There will be another public informational meeting in December location to be named.

 

  1. Concept Plan review has been requested for 235 acres located on the southeast corner of RT 53 and Coal City Road. I have had several meetings with the property owner Mike Savage and he has prepared his request and application. The concept plan review will be on the November 3rd Planning Commission Meeting.

 

  1. Continue to work with ITL (Kankakee River Drive) and the owners are receiving bid proposals to demolish the warehouse building on the N/W corner of their site. Also, the grain transfer station concept is on hold at this time but the owners are committed to continue to clean up their site.