dam

Kankakee River dam modifications back for discussion at Wilmington City Hall

Published by admin on Tue, 08/15/2023 - 5:47pm

The city of Wilmington continues to look ahead on plans for the Kankakee River Dam, starting with the approval of an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Will County related to one half million dollars in American Rescue Plan grant funds set aside for grant modification.

Wilmington earns $500,000 in ARPA funds for dam improvement

Published by admin on Fri, 05/26/2023 - 2:56pm

Several agencies in Wilmington and Braidwood will benefit from Will County’s latest allocation of American Rescue Plan funds.

The latest allotments were approved by the Will County Board on May 18, and include a combined $43 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars for infrastructure updates, payroll assistance, and health and well being programs.

Of those funds, $15.9 million were reserved for infrastructure improvements in 37 agencies in Will County, including municipalities, townships, water districts, fire districts, and a museum.

Gone fishing? Stay out of the water in Wilmington!

Published by admin on Tue, 06/28/2022 - 3:24pm

The City of Wilmington plans to raise the fines for folks who ignore the signs along the Kankakee River and enter into the water near the dam.

On June 21, Police Chief Joe Mitchell told members of the City Council assembled for their monthly Finance Committee meeting that he would bring a text amendment to the Aldermen next month for approval.

The amendment would substantially increase the penalty for those who ignore both the signage and the fencing and enter the river anyway.

Wilmington's Dam Committee to dig deeper into modification costs

Published by admin on Tue, 03/22/2022 - 5:42pm

Wilmington’s dam committee will hold more meetings regarding the future of the Kankakee River dam. But, what that future holds is still unclear.

On March 8, members of the committee attended the city’s Committee of the Whole meeting. Member Glennden Daniels gave an informal presentation on where the committee stands currently, after making its first recommendation to the City Council back in January.

Kankakee River Dam fencing set for spring installation

Published by admin on Tue, 02/08/2022 - 5:46pm

While the first thaw seems far away, the city of Wilmington is already planning some spring projects. On the top of the list—installation of new fencing near the Kankakee River dam on the south island.

Mayor Ben Dietz said the city plans to install that new fencing in early spring.

The City Council unanimously approved the fencing in November.

The 8-foot high commercial grade aluminum fencing will be placed from the guard rail after the one lane bridge, extending 330 feet—the length of a football field and one endzone—into the exclusion zone.

Kankakee River dam issue will move to committee for discussion

Published by admin on Tue, 10/19/2021 - 4:51pm

While the issue of whether to keep or remove the Kankakee River dam in Wilmington is far from settled, Mayor Ben Dietz hopes a new committee can keep it from overtaking the city’s other business matters.

During the Oct. 12 Committee of the Whole meeting, Dietz proposed the creation of an ad-hoc committee, specifically to weed through each and every detail when it comes to removal, modification, or simply leaving the dam alone.

From a race to a canal, the grand experiment

Published by admin on Mon, 09/27/2021 - 4:39pm

One of the most interesting spots in Wilmington to view the remains of the grand experiment is at the south end of the South Island.
What we can see gives us just a small glimpse into the 1870's when Wilmington's expectations were high. Construction gangs were everywhere, money flowed like water over the new dam, and the face of Wilmington was changed forever. But let's start where we left off last week.

Proposed Wilmington kayak launch sunk for good

Published by admin on Tue, 08/24/2021 - 4:57pm

The question of whether a new kayak launch will come to Wilmington has been answered, and it’s a no for the majority of the City Council.

The North Island kayak launch was a $250,000 project, with $200,000 expected to be covered by the Forest Preserve District of Will County via state grant funding. The city would have had to invest $50,000, plus an additional annual cost of $6,000-$8,000 for property and liability insurance on the launch.

Dietz pledges to address the Wilmington dam once and for all

Published by admin on Tue, 06/22/2021 - 4:19pm

Just six weeks into a new administration, Wilmington’s mayor says the city will finally address the Kankakee River dam once and for all.

In early June, Wilmington’s ESDA director Dennis Housman spoke up at a committee of the whole meeting, telling members of the Wilmington City Council that it was time to take action when it comes to safety at the dam.

On June 15, new Mayor Ben Dietz said this time, the city council is finally going to act, instead of engaging in discussions that ultimately lead to little change as they kicked the issue down the road.

Safety issues still the focus around Wilmington dam

Published by admin on Tue, 03/09/2021 - 5:10pm

The dam in the Kankakee River in Wilmington has re-emerged as a hot topic over the past year, with the city of Wilmington focusing on safety issues at the site.

Dangers at the dam have been addressed in different ways over the past years, including the creation of an exclusion zone prohibiting people from the water in 2018, and the addition of Jersey barriers near the dam in 2020.

Now, Mayor Roy Strong said he has a new idea for the dam — a lighthouse.

Strong said he traveled to Beecher to take a peek at a 30-foot tall steel lighthouse for sale.