Will County Weighs Spending Options: Roads vs. Roofs
Public safety and economic sustainability are two of the key considerations in this debate.
Construction
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Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Monday, April 1, 2013
Roads vs. Roofs: Will County Weighs Spending Options
Public safety and economic sustainability are two of the key considerations in this debate.
What’s more important? Up-to-date public buildings or roads? The Will County Board is now faced with this question after a recent study identified a $441 million need in county public building improvements and a $1 billion need in infrastructure improvements, the Sun-Times Media reports. Either project would be funded by Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) tax money. It was originally designed exclusively to pay for road improvements, but legislators have since allowed the money to be spent on public safety as well. There is currently about $45 million in the fund according to Will County Finance Director Paul Rafac. County officials have been delaying a decision on significant public building improvements since the late 1990s. Now, …
Monday, December 10, 2012
PHOTOS: Inside the Mariano's Construction Site
Frankfort village officials toured the site on Friday.
The Frankfort Village Board and Plan Commission on Dec. 7 toured the Mariano’s Fresh Market construction site. “It’s unbelievable how rapidly this store has gone up,” said Frankfort Mayor Jim Holland. The approximately 74,000-square-foot upscale grocery store was originally projected to open in the late spring or early summer of 2013. However, the project is now on track to open in March. Construction on Mariano’s began Aug. 8, and by last Friday, the 75th day of building, the parking lot was complete and crews were installing plumbing and electricity. Mariano’s has the potential to bring 400 fulltime and part time jobs to Frankfort. The chain, which is owned by Milwaukee-based company Roundy’s Supermarkets, combines standard grocery store…
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roy
7:54 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
i just applied online for the Frankfort Store, but i don't have grocery experience. My schedule is 100% open, and I'm willing to learn knew things! my account was under Rnania8288@hotmail.com more ›
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Village Board Talks Business, Griffins, Construction and Heroin
The board approved multiple business-related items on Monday, before addressing other topics of interest in the community.
The Frankfort Village Board of Trustees approved multiple items concerning local businesses at the Nov. 19 board meeting. A downtown retail grant was approved by the board to award $10,000 to local restaurant Smokey Barque. The grant funds will partially cover the cost of replacing the restaurant’s heating and air-conditioning system. The board also approved a special use ordinance for Frankfort Martial Arts and Family Fitness. The ordinance designates 752 Center Rd., the fitness center’s proposed location, as an indoor recreation space. Frankfort resident Jillian Turner will operate the martial arts studio. “We’re very happy to see Jillian coming to Frankfort,” said Trustee Mike Stevens. During the mayor’s report, Frankfort Mayor Jim …
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Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Does the Mild Winter Mean Rt. 30 Construction Will Start Soon?
The favorable weather conditions this season have residents asking Frankfort officials when the massive road-widening project will be up and running again.
Unseasonably warm temperatures and a lack of snow. Two elements that can be welcome signs for road construction. But the favorable weather conditions aren't a guarantee that construction will resume early on the U.S. Route 30 widening project. "Unfortunately, when they (the Illinois Department of Transportation) plan to do a project, they usually release the crews during the winter and return at a certain date," said Assistant Village Administrator Rob Piscia at Monday's Village Board meeting. "No one would've anticipated we would have this type of weather, and therefore you've seen kind of a lag in why construction hasn't picked up. READ: (Almost) All You Need to Know About the Widening of Route 30 "We're hoping that within the next few …
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Thursday, August 25, 2011
Village Board Meeting Roundup
Kansas Street Buildings Get Go-ahead for Repairs
Board also approves two business grants and the purchase of flashing school lights.
We took a look at other business conducted by the Village Board at Monday's meeting. Also, check out coverage of the board's discussion of the possibility of electricity aggregation and the loss of polling places. The request: Approving a contract for demolition and facade repair work to three buildings on Kansas Street. What it means: The village would make the required repairs--not to exceed $40,000--to the properties at 114, 116 and 118 Kansas Street. The bid for the work comes from Bruno's Tuckpointing and totals $27,400. Any comments from the board or public? None. How did it pass? Unanimously (Trustee Doug Walker was absent) The requests: Approving Downtown Retail Grants of $10,000 each for This & That Gifts and White Street …
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Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Start Driving 35: New U.S. 30 Speed Limit Begins Friday
The lowered speed limit will run through the construction zone between William Street in New Lenox and Harlem Avenue in Frankfort.
Get ready to slow down along U.S. Route 30 starting this weekend. A new, lowered speed limit through the roadway's construction zone begins Friday, according to an Illinois Department of Transportation press release. The new 35-mph speed limit will be in effect through Frankfort, New Lenox and Mokena, between William Street in New Lenox and Harlem Avenue in Frankfort. The normal speed limit in those areas is 40 mph or 45 mph. With the new speed limit comes increased fines for speeding. A first offense will cost a driver a minimum of $250, and a second offense will be a minimum of $750. Cell phone use also will not be allowed in the construction zone. The reduction comes after the village lobbied IDOT last month to approve a lower speed …
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Gretchen Kron Dust
8:32 am on Monday, November 14, 2011
I agree, hopefully it sounds like it will be lowered just for construction. What angers me the most is seeing the flag people talking on their phones or texting! When you're not paying attention to the traffic then it's us that are in danger. Also the people that are driving the construction vehicles and are speeding all over the place, not safe either. Talk about the extreme double standard! more ›
Thursday, July 28, 2011
SD161 Approves Fence Work on Summit Hill Junior High Ball Fields
Citing safety issues, members accepted a bid that would create a canopy over the backstop on two of the junior high's baseball fields.
Members of Summit Hill School Board District 161 approved a bid Wednesday to improve fencing to Summit Hill Junior High School's baseball fields but delayed work on the fields' dugouts and electrical systems. The boad accepted a bid for about $27,000 from Do All Fence Co. that would create a new canopy over the backstop of the fields to protect people from foul balls. However, a bid of about $52,000 from another firm to make improvements on the dugouts was rejected. Board members agreed that addressing the safety of fans and players was paramount and that work on the dugouts could wait. "I'm very reluctant to spend $52,000 on dugouts at this time," said Board President Mary Kenny. Board member Denise Lenz echoed that sentiment, saying the…
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Friday, June 24, 2011
Lawmakers Settle Budget; Road Construction Will Continue
During this week's special session, the Illinois Senate removed the additional $430 million it previously tacked on to the state's budget.
Local leaders can rest easier knowing that major construction projects on Route 30 and Interstate 80 won't be stopped this summer because of political fighting down state. In a special session this week, the state Senate removed the $430 million it had previously added to the House's capital construction legislation, which already totaled $33.2 billion. Upset over budget cuts, Senate Democrats added $430 million for human services and education last month and tied that extra spending to the annual reauthorization of the statewide construction plan. An attempt to settle differences in a conference committee failed, and road construction statewide—along with 52,000 jobs—was threatened. "This is very welcome news, and legislators left …
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Thursday, June 2, 2011
VIDEO: Route 30, Like You'll Never See it Again
Construction began last month on the 8.5-mile stretch of Route 30 in Frankfort, Mokena and New Lenox.
After decades of planning, the Route 30 widening project has begun. Last month, the Illinois Department of Transportation started to clear trees and construct temporary pavement, and construction will continue throughout the summer. So get a last glimpse of how Route 30 looks now, because by fall 2012 the road will be more than twice as wide, and new businesses are expected to start filling the empty spaces along the historic highway. The project involves reconstructing the roadway, building a second lane in both directions and adding a raised concrete median for nine miles on U.S. 30 through New Lenox, Frankfort and Mokena. The median will be replaced by a bidirectional turn lane between Williams Street and the west entrance to the …
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Michael Sewall
10:37 pm on Saturday, June 4, 2011
Jason, I removed your comment because you used profanities. That's violates our Terms of Use. Please feel free to re-post your sentiment without using profanities. If you swear again, your account will be suspended. -Editor Michael Sewall more ›
DJK
12:37 pm on Tuesday, April 2, 2013
So let's look at this. Funds originally meant for raod improvements went somewhere else. County officials haven't spent much on upkeep since the late 90's and now they need 400 milion in repairs. A 65 million dollar complex. A nearly half million dollar study to tell them they need that complex, and they have 45 million in funds. You gotta love em. more ›