With Yorkville residents staring down 20% annual water hikes over the next five years, the city announced some other infrastructure fees are staying put. However, YBSD wastewater fees are being hiked 5% for residents and 10-20% for non-residents.

The plan authorizes $376 million in funding for grade crossing safety improvements and highway-rail grade separations at approximately 387 crossing locations.

Moving into the height of roadway construction season, the city of Yorkville approved another $3.8 million in improvements, ranging from roadway resurfacing and concrete patching.

With utility rates hiking about 50% by 2029, the city of St. Charles is turning to state and federal lawmakers seeking relief from the state's unfunded lead pipe replacement mandate.

Kankakee downtown parking lot, including the Farmers' Market lot, will be getting some needed attention.

The strategic plan establishes Kendall County’s key priorities for the next several years.

The $1.3 million project, which consists of resurfacing the 1.2-mile stretch of Illinois 50, shoulder widening and sidewalk ramps, is expected to be completed in September.

The Rochelle City Council on April 27 voted unanimously to deny a development agreement with Midwest Power Investors for a proposed data center within city limits.

As we enter the month of May, I am proud to reflect on the progress and activity happening throughout our great city of Rochelle.

Yorkville city staff provided a closer look at the project, including what construction has already been started and what work residents of Kendall County can soon expect.

Francis Road will be fully closed between Silver Cross Boulevard and Gordon Street in New Lenox, the Illinois Department of Transportation said.

Farmland prices are expected to decrease from 1% to 5% this year, according to Illinois professional farm managers.

The city of Yorkville passed a budget for fiscal year 2027 the city finance director said sets Yorkville up for a “strong” five-year financial outlook.

The ramps are expected to reopen in 2028, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The budget reflects the village of Manhattan's growing population while improving roads, upgrading water and sewer systems, and enhancing traffic safety.

Yorkville resident Alicia Castillo announced she is running for mayor because she sees a lack of affordable housing, minimal social services, high taxes and low employment opportunities.

Minooka Village President Ric Offerman said during his State of the Village address that the village has reached a settlement with Canadian National in its lawsuit to keep semis off some of its main roads.

The updated comprehensive plan will address key topics including land use, transportation and growth management. The Kendall County Regional Planning Commission will hold a public hearing Wednesday.

“I think about the communities of Manhattan, Peotone and Manteno who feel helpless when accidents keep happening,” said state Sen. Patrick Joyce, a Democrat from Essex.

The proposed Royal Highlands Estates would be comprised of 21 duplex units and 26 single-family homes.

The Hillcrest Village Board voted April 14 to move forward with a short-term repair of the currently closed Hemstock Road bridge, which is owned by the village.

The Rochelle City Council on Monday unanimously approved an employment agreement with Zeke Jackson, Rochelle’s next city manager.

The Hillcrest Village Board held a discussion April 8 regarding the currently closed Hemstock Road bridge, which is owned by the village.

The three Will County forest preserve projects and engineering for the Lockport Trail are being funded by the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Program.

The Creston Village Board on April 7 unanimously approved intent to do two sidewalk replacement projects this year for an estimated total of $156,500.

During Monday’s Sterling City Council meeting, Sterling Public Works Superintendent Brad Schrader said that as of May 1 the city will change its 50/50 sidewalk replacement program to one in which homeowners pay for the concrete and city crews install the sidewalks.

The city estimates the broken water main along Illinois Route 47 will be repaired by no earlier than 8:30 p.m. tonight.

Metra will be undertaking a wide scope of projects this year, including improvements to 20 stations, replacement of 22 grade crossings, and three major tie replacement projects.

Entering what one resident described as a “crisis,” St. Charles approved utility rate hikes of around 50% over four years. The increases will cover $417 million in upgrades, including $84 million to replace lead pipes.

Yorkville has shined in past national competitions, placing fifth nationally in both 2022 and 2018 in their city-population category.

With farmers capturing only a small share of the food dollar, even modest swings in commodity prices or increases in input costs can quickly strain farm finances.

Residents of St. Charles might be sensing some sticker-shock on upcoming utility bills. The city is projecting $417 million in sewer and water improvements over the next decade. To help cover the costs, the city is eyeing utility rate increases for rate payers over four years.

As Rochelle moves forward, residents and leaders alike are tasked with finding the right balance between progress and preservation, ensuring that growth benefits the entire community while maintaining the character that defines the city.

The city of Rochelle and Rochelle Municipal Utilities are moving toward three large-scale water projects that will take place in the coming years.

RMU Superintendent of Water/Water Reclamation Adam Lanning hopes to see the chemical phosphorus removal addition completed by summer 2027, which would give RMU two years to perfect the process before the 2030 deadline.

The need for the repair on the Lockport Lock and Dam was identified in 2025. The closure is expected to last several weeks.

Soon, St. Charles residents will no longer need to have workers come into their homes to read their water meters. A city project is upgrading systems to make the work a little more hands-off.

Residents are encouraged to avoid washing laundry when flushing is performed in or near their neighborhood, as temporarily discolored water may stain laundry.

The project continues the city of Yorkville's focus on improving roadways and transportation in the city's expanding subdivisions.

The Rochelle city council voted 4-3 on Monday to table a vote on a development agreement with a developer who aims to bring a potential data center to the city.

Lane closures connected to the Chicago Street interchange reconstruction along Interstate 80 in Joliet will begin Wednesday.

The Ogle County Board on Wednesday unanimously approved a $200,700 low bid from O’Brien Civil Works for a Memorial Plaza project on the south side of the historic Ogle County Courthouse property.

Sterling's work on stormwater management projects took the spotlight during a March 2 Sterling City Council budget discussion.

The Rochelle City Council unanimously approved a special-use permit Monday for a new car wash next to 450 Coronado Drive in Rochelle.

Storm sewer reconstruction on North 14th Street in Rochelle is upsizing existing storm sewers to allow for better drainage in the area.

The city of Yorkville is laying the groundwork for the complicated process of hiring contractors needed to pull off the high-powered engineering data centers need.

The City Council OK'd a $60,089 contract with EMA, Inc. to conduct a customer billing audit that the city hopes will reduce water that is delivered but “lost”because it is not accurately measured.

State Rep. Tony McCombie met with current and former elected officials Wednesday to celebrate essential funding delivered to the city of Lanark to help with local infrastructure improvements.

After two decades of steady grain storage capacity growth that matched production increases, on-farm and off-farm expansion has become stagnant.

As we move closer to spring here in Rochelle, the temperatures are finally beginning to feel far more comfortable than the below-zero stretch we experienced not long ago.