Dixon City Council

The $12 million development known as Project Rock will extend the multi-use path that runs west of Heritage Crossing with a pedestrian bridge over the Rock River using the old Illinois Central Railroad piers.

The Dixon City Council approved an agreement with Lee County officials on June 2, 2025, that allows access to previously awarded grant funds to be used for rehabilitating or demolishing abandoned properties.

The Dixon City Council approved a cash farm lease agreement Monday, June 2, 2025, for the 65-acre property behind Walmart on South Galena Avenue that the city purchased in October 2024.

Dixon Mayor Glen Hughes walked into Monday’s City Council meeting wearing a city of Rockford hat after challenging Rockford's mayor to a bet based on the winning team of the 2025 Stateline Quiz Bowl.

Following former Dixon Police Chief Steve Howell's retirement May 9, Ryan Bivins was sworn in as the new chief at Monday's City Council meeting.

Ryan Bivins will officially assume his new role during his swearing-in ceremony on Monday, June 2, 2025. Bivins’ selection was announced Tuesday, May 27.

Dixon Mayor Glen Hughes administered the oath of office at Monday’s City Council meeting to two firefighters who joined the Dixon City Fire Department last summer.

The Dixon City Council has approved an agreement with OSF HealthCare marking its commitment to providing care to low-income and uninsured patients.

The Dixon Sister Cities Association has retired its 36-year-old charter with its first established sister city – Dikson, Russia, which is one of the world's most northern settlements.

In anticipation of Dixon Police Chief Steve Howell’s retirement, Dixon Deputy Chief Doug Lehman was sworn in as interim chief Monday, May 5. The new police chief will be selected in the first week of June by a committee of 10 community members.

Dixon city officials are moving forward with a $21 million project to update and repair the aging infrastructure at the wastewater treatment plant, which will be funded through a state-run loan program.

The Dixon City Council has approved two contracts that allocate funds to Discover Dixon and the Lee County Industrial Development Association. Both contracts provide a specific amount of annual funding – $325,000 for Discover Dixon and $50,000 for LCIDA.

Dixon Police Chief Steve Howell will retire May 9, 2025, after serving about 26 years on the force. Until a new police chief is selected, Deputy Chief Doug Lehman will become the city’s interim police chief.

The Dixon City Council has decided that representatives from Discover Dixon and the Lee County Industrial Development Association need to appear before the council before it will approve contracts to allocate funds to the organizations.

The Dixon City Council will vote April 17, 2025, whether to approve the fiscal 2026 budget.

The city of Dixon announced the start of its $12 million pedestrian bridge project Tuesday morning at the band shell in Page Park. Project Rock will construct a pedestrian bridge over the Rock River, add 2.8 miles of multi-use pathway and resurface about a mile of Page Drive.

Election judges in Dixon and Sterling saw low voter numbers as of noon Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Only weeks after The Dixon: Historic Theatre‘s grand reopening, its executive director, who also served as artistic producer, is no longer employed with the 103-year-old theater.

Read the transcript from our podcast with Dixon City Council member Chris Bishop on what he sees as the future for Dixon.

Read the transcript from our podcast with Dixon City Council member Dennis Considine as he and Shaw Local reporter Payton Felix discuss housing in Dixon and more

Dennis Considine, a member of the Dixon City Council, spoke with Shaw Local reporter Payton Felix about the issues facing Dixon ahead of the April 1 election.

Chris Bishop, a candidate for Dixon City Council, spoke with Shaw Local reporter Payton Felix about the issues facing Dixon ahead of the April 1 election.

Dixon’s candidates running for Dixon Township, Dixon School Board and Dixon City Council in the April 1 election spoke about their top priorities during a forum Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at Dixon High School.

The Dixon City Council discussed several planned improvements to water main lines within the city limits during a public hearing at its meeting Monday.

The designation, given by the Jefferson Barracks POW/MIA Museum in Missouri, is reserved for communities that actively honor United States service members who were captured or declared missing in action during conflicts.

Project Rock will extend the multi-use path that runs west of Heritage Crossing with a pedestrian bridge over the Rock River using the old Illinois Central Railroad piers and construct an additional 2.8 miles of multi-use path.

Candidates are on ballot for April 1 consolidated election.

Executive director: After a few years of getting the Economic Development Administration grant in order and all the pieces in place, we can proudly open our doors and say, “Welcome back."

The Dixon City Council honored two people – one who’s working to create a sober community and a former city commissioner known for his integrity – in observance of Black History Month.

The Dixon City Council was presented a budget of about $33 million on Wednesday for its various capital improvement projects in fiscal 2026.

Due to a loss of federal grant funding, the Dixon Police Department requested $86,767 in city funds to continue to employ a mental health professional in its ranks.

The council listened to funding requests from six community nonprofit organizations during the session, which was the first of many meetings as the city begins drafting its fiscal 2026 budget.

The Dixon City Council approved three ordinances Monday to expand the Lee-Ogle County Enterprise Zone’s boundaries in anticipation of three projects planned in rural Lee and Ogle counties.

The Dixon City Council will vote Monday on three ordinances that expand the boundaries of the Lee-Ogle County Enterprise Zone in preparation for three projects planned in rural Lee and Ogle counties.

The Dixon City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 21, approved a motion to extend its garbage service contract another five years despite some residents concerned that the contract was negotiated with the company instead of being put out for bid.

The Dixon City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, on the second floor of City Hall, 121 W. Second St. in Dixon.

Li Arellano now represents the 37th District, which is composed of all or parts of Bureau, DeKalb, Henry, La Salle, Lee, Marshall, Ogle, Peoria, Rock Island, Stark, Whiteside and Woodford counties.

One major theme for Dixon in 2024 was economic development that will carry over into 2025 as the city continues to grow.

In 2024, the city of Dixon has grown through various developments, anticipated a historic change in health care offerings and dealt with shocking news because of clemency granted by President Joe Biden.

The Dixon City Council has approved an engineering agreement for the construction of a pedestrian bridge across the Rock River that is expected to take about two years to complete.

The property tax levy for fiscal 2025 is just more than $5.1 million, 5.51% more than what was levied in fiscal 2024.

City of Dixon outraged after Crundwell’s prison sentence commuted by President Biden.

Property taxes in the city of Dixon could increase despite a steady decline over the past several years.

The Dixon American Legion will be serving roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, roll, salad, vegetable and dessert from 5-7 p.m.

OSF will take over KSB, which will become OSF HealthCare Saint Katharine Medical Center, on Jan. 1, 2025.

On the ballot for the April 1, 2025, election will be two incumbents running for two open seats on the Dixon City Council along with two incumbents and two newcomers running for two open seats on the Sterling City Council.

Dixon’s City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to ban sleeping and camping in public spaces on Monday in response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision that now allows cities to do so.

The Dixon City Council approved an ordinance Monday to instate a 1% grocery tax following Gov. JB Pritzker’s August legislation that will repeal the state’s grocery tax on Jan. 1, 2026.

The Dixon City Council on Oct. 21 approved the purchase of 65 acres to be developed into additional retail and housing. On Monday, the council approved the use of $1 million from the general fund and $500,000 from the community development fund to actually pay for it.

As KSB Hospital is partnering with OSF HealthCare and anticipating a full merger with the organization, the conditions of the Bethea deed must be dissolved through Lee County courts in order for the merger to happen.