The Washington City Council gave the city the go-ahead Monday to begin legal proceedings that most likely will result in the demolition of a blighted home at 121 S. Elm St.
Washington police alerted city staff to the condition of the vacant home. After being given permission to inspect the home by the owner, it was found to be "severely dilapidated, full of refuse, vermin-infested, and containing considerable pet fecal matter," according to Joe Boyer, the city's building and zoning coordinator.
The home was declared Unfit for Human Habitation.
Another dilapidated home deemed Unfit for Human Habitation, at 121 Peoria St., that was up for a council vote Monday to pursue legal action for demolition, escaped a similar fate.
The fire-damaged home was purchased recently and renovations have begun. Jon Oliphant, the city's planning and development director, gave the council that update Monday.
"We're confident the work will be done expeditiously and satisfactorily," Oliphant said.
Temporary speed humps the latest effort to slow down drivers on Gillman
Two temporary speed humps will be placed about 500 feet apart on the 400 block of Gillman Avenue later this month to see if they can reduce speeding issues that residents have reported to police for years.
Previous police efforts to reduce speeding haven't worked, residents have said. So police are now turning to the speed humps, which can be removed before the snow plowing season.
Washington Police Chief Jeff Stevens told the council Monday there are 34 single-family homes on the block, which runs east/west for about 1,500 feet between Grandyle Drive on the west and a 90-degree turn at Dallas Road on the east.
"It's straight and fairly flat with parking lanes and sidewalks on both sides, making a wide field of view for drivers," he said. "The road is an access route between Dallas Road, Newcastle Road, and much of Washington Estates, making it a route of travel involving WCHS, Central schools, Five Points Washington and other facilities."
Alderperson Bobby Martin III said he wasn't in favor of the speed humps. Alderperson Mike McIntyre said he wasn't a fan of the speed humps, either, but he supported them in this case because something needs to be done about speeding on the block.
The cost of the speed humps plus application materials was $12,083. Application, removal and speed documentation labor will be done by city employees.
Portal opens to fill 21 vacancies on city boards and commissions
The city has created a new Boards and Commissions portal on its website where residents can see what openings there are on the voluntary boards and commissions, learn about the bodies' responsibilities, apply to fill an opening, and check out agendas and minutes.
"The portal went live July 2 and we've had six applications turned in already," Mayor Lilija Stevens said Monday.
Appointments to boards and commissions are made by the mayor with the approval of the council.
The portal can be found under the "Recent News" heading on the home page of the city's website and on the Mayor's Office page under the "Government" heading on the home page.
Here are the boards and commissions and numbers of vacancies.
- Glendale Cemetery Board of Managers: 0 vacancies.
- Police Pension Board: 0 vacancies.
- Planning & Zoning Commission: 1 vacancy.
- Building Board of Review: 2 vacancies.
- Board of Police Commissioners: 3 vacancies.
- Historic Preservation Commission: 4 vacancies.
- Tree Board: 5 vacancies.
- Economic Development Commission: 6 vacancies.
Retail thefts at Walmart kept police busy
Here are highlights of city department heads' reports Monday to the council:
JEFF STEVENS
POLICE CHIEF
- The Washington Police Department made 94 arrests, including 78 for retail theft, at Walmart from Jan. 1 through June 8. There were 29 retail theft arrests in May alone and six for other charges: two for trespass, one for cruelty to animals, one warrant, one for diving with a suspended/revoked license, and one for possession of a controlled substance.
- The speed trailer placed May 18-June 1 on the 300 block of East Jefferson Street for westbound traffic revealed an 85th percentile speed of 29 miles per hour in the 25 MPH zone. That means 85% of vehicles were going 29 MPH or lower. Of 14,527 vehicles detected, 100 were clocked at 36 or more MPH, and two at more than 45 MPH.
- The speed trailer placed June 3-14 on the 200 block of Hillcrest Drive revealed an 85th percentile speed of 31 MPH in the 25 MPH zone. Of 7,837 vehicles detected, 24 were clocked at 41 or more MPH, and 164 at 36-40 MPH.
- The speed trailer placed June 15-22 on County Fair Drive revealed an 85th percentile speed of 20 MPH in the 25 MPH zone. Of 14,527 vehicles detected, 100 were clocked at 36 or more MPH and two at more than 45 MPH. County Fair is a less than 600-foot stretch of road between a T-intersection and a 90-degree curve. The trailer was placed there on a resident's request.
- The new police evidence building is still on schedule for an October completion.
DENNIS CARR
CITY ENGINEER
- A bid opening for a project to repair the historic Candlewood Bridge will be done in time for the council to award a contract at its Aug. 4 meeting.
- An Illinois Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School project to install sidewalks on North Street and Grant Street will begin in mid-July.
JON OLIPHANT
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
- A city tourism grant of $1,000 was awarded to the organizers of the second annual Food Truck Frenzy and Custom Car and Bike Show that will be held Aug. 23 at the Connect Center, 1750 Washington Road, as part of the city's bicentennial celebration. Registration fees for the judged car and bike show will benefit the Washington Community High School auto shop. The grant will be used to help purchase awards for the car and bike show.
- Five applications were received for Washington business improvement grants. The applications will be discussed at the July 14 council committee of the whole meeting.
Another TIF payment approved for Tangled Roots
Council unanimously approved Monday a TIF payment of $29,029 to CL Real Estate, owner of the Tangled Roots Craft Beer & Kitchen, to reimburse a portion of interest costs incurred in late 2024 and the first quarter of 2025.
The payment brings the total of interest costs reimbursed by TIF funding to $117,374. Those payments are capped at $305,000, according to the city's redevelopment agreement with CL Real Estate, and will end Dec. 31, 2025. The city's total TIF fund payment to CL Real Estate is now $792,374. That payment is capped at $980,000.
'Lets Talk Washington' at Myers Tinting
The next "Let's Talk Washington" session will be at 6 p.m. July 16 at Myers Tinting, 300 Muller Road.
Residents are invited to meet with Mayor Lilija Stevens, city staff members and another elected official to discuss what they feel are the most important issues facing the city.
"It was very nice of (business owner) Lucas Myers to offer his space as a meeting place," Stevens said. "I hope other businesses can do that."
