Washington Mayor Lilija Stevens released her 2026 "wish list" for the city Monday at the city council's first meeting of the year.
Two wishes involve signs.
Stevens would like to see a digital "Welcome to Washington" sign with community-based messages installed at the intersection of Business U.S. Route 24, Illinois Route 8 and McCluggage Road.
"We've had initial conversations about the council's interest in a city-owned digital community sign," she said.
"My preference for a location would be to convert the current 'Welcome to Washington' sign at [the Business Route 24/Route 8/McCluggage] intersection to a digital sign. The location is important to the east and west sections of our community."
The other sign Stevens is focusing on is the one in front of the Washington Fire Station on North Wilmor Road. She'd like to see the sign converted into a digital sign with community-based messages.
A leaf vacuum also is also Stevens' list. She thinks it would be especially useful for residents in the older east and south parts of town that have many trees.
A traffic calming policy is another item on Stevens' list.
"This would provide an objective tool to use for requests for a stop sign, speed bumps/humps, a traffic signal, etc.," she said.
Finally, Stevens would like to see a city newsletter mailed to residents that would introduce the council and city leadership and provide general reference information.
After that mailing, Stevens said, future newsletters would be posted on the city's website or mailed on request.
Stevens also announced Monday that her "Let's Talk Washington" informal hour-long monthly discussions with residents will resume at 4 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Connect Center, 1750 Washington Road.
Police Chief Jeff Stevens will be there and possibly one alderperson.
At the December "Let's Talk Washington" session, Mayor Stevens said, a new topic was discussed: the health concerns caused by leaf burning.
Washington Plaza Christmas tree coming down
Here are highlights of department heads' reports to the council:
• The new community Christmas tree in Washington Plaza will be packed up this week and put into storage.
• Last week's windstorm damaged the Christmas tree in front of City Hall that was decorated by Washington Community High School students and was taken down. The remaining trees decorated by students from other city schools will be taken down this week.
• An interior City Hall painting project is nearly complete.
• Two recent water main breaks on Peddlers Way, near the downtown square, were repaired by city staff. One break resulted in a boil order. Each break was caused by a hole in the water main, which is in poor shape, said Public Works Director Brian Rittenhouse. Long-term options for repair or replacement are being discussed.
• City staff is working on a traffic control policy and a 5-year capital project plan. Each will be brought to the council.
