MONTHLY ARCHIVES: February 2020

At the March 13, 2019 Village Board meeting, the Village Board approved Ordinance No. 19-05-20 which updated and clarified parking areas in Downtown Antioch. To see the areas that are affected, click on the map here . Parking signs have been installed to notify users of the new restrictions, and enforcement will begin with warnings for the first month, effective from the date of this Posting. If you have any questions about our updated parking areas Downtown, please contact Sgt. Aron Fendel at (847)395-1000 ext. 1171.

February 2020 About the Pittman Property Located in the Village of Antioch town center at the intersection of Main, Depot and Orchard Streets, is a two-acre parcel known as the Pittman Property. The portion of the property with the failed creek culvert is privately owned. It is zoned as “Village Core” and could accommodate commercial, residential or a mixed-use application. The property is currently for sale by the owners. The role of the Village in relation to the parcel is to keep the property secured, and to work with the owners to implement a solution. The Village of Antioch makes safety and well-being a priority. Many have asked “Why doesn’t the Village just fix the culvert?” The condition of the culvert is not repairable, and the active creek must be relocated into a new culvert or other conveyance system. This is a complex and costly endeavor and feasible solutions will take some time to develop. The Village will continue to work with its engineering and environmental consultants to perform due diligence and ultimately formulate solutions that are in the best interests of the community. The Village will work as quickly and diligently as possible for a resolution and appreciates the community’s support. The culvert: safety, status & next steps The Village installed a culvert in this location nearly 45 years ago and is responsible for its repair. Over time, heavy rains and corrosion of the steel caused the integrity of the culvert to fail, leading to a ground collapse above it (creating a sinkhole). For safety, and to mitigate the potential of material washing into the creek and obstructing flow, an emergency declaration was signed by Mayor Lawrence Hanson. This declaration grants the Village certain powers to protect properties from damage, including flooding. Many have expressed concerns about the sinkhole impacting Main Street. Although there is no way to guarantee it will not, the likelihood this would occur is low. The culvert under Main Street is concrete and is considered more stable than the metal culvert. With flow maintained into the concrete section at a normal capacity, it is anticipated it will function properly until a permanent solution is in place. The Public Works Department, under the direction of Director Heimbrodt, has removed all remaining material that sits over the culvert pipe. This has taken the load off the pipe and decreased the probability of future failure. It will also keep material from entering the creek and creating a blockage. This has worked to maintain flow capacity within existing pipe sections and stabilize the area. Material is stockpiled at the site and will remain there until all environmental testing is complete. While the current situation is being managed and monitored, the Village will continue to work with its team and environmental and engineering consultants to fully understand the environmental conditions and present feasible solutions. Final use of the property has not yet been determined and will require action by the Village Board. Options include having the creek remain underground, opening it up, or a combination/mix of each. Project updates can be found online at antioch.il.gov . Questions or comments can also be directed to Village Hall at 847-395-1000 .

The Antioch Police Department today announced it will conduct special patrols this St. Patrick’s Day to crack down on impaired drivers and encourage people to wear their seat belts. Celebrated throughout the country, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to the number of drunk drivers on the road. If you’ll be drinking or using another impairing substance, plan ahead for a sober ride home. “We urge our community residents and visitors to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day responsibly,” said Sgt Fendel. “We’ll be out in force to keep impaired drivers off the roads and help ensure that everyone makes it home safely.” Before the green beer starts flowing, remember to designate a sober driver. If you don’t have a designated driver, call a cab, use a ride-sharing service, have a sober friend or family member pick you up, or stay where you are and sleep it off. Never let a friend leave your sight if you think they’re about to drive impaired and always buckle up – it’s your best defense in a crash. Pedestrians are at risk, too. If you are walking, keep an eye out for cars. If you’re a designated driver, be alert for impaired walkers who may not obey street signs and pedestrian signals. The Illinois “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket” campaigns are administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation with federal highway safety funds managed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Village of Antioch will be holding its Mother Daughter Bingo Luncheon on Sunday, April 26th. There will be 3 different seating to choose from, 12:00 pm, 2:30 pm. Or 5:00 pm. This will be a unique Antioch event bringing ladies together for a wonderful afternoon. Entertainment will feature Bingo and a buffet style lunch will provided by Antioch Rosati’s Pizza. This year’s event will take place at Antioch Senior Center located at 817 Holbek Drive, Antioch. Tickets go on sale Monday, March 2nd at the Village of Antioch’s Parks and Recreation Department (806 Holbek Dr.). Cost is $15.00 per person and can also be purchased online at www.antioch.il.gov by clicking on the parks department and going to online registration. We have a limit of 100 tickets for sale per seating. Tables only seat 8, so if you want to request to sit with certain individuals please inform the Park’s office when you call. Price includes; Buffet style lunch, 6 games of Bingo, a memorable photo, and raffle prizes. For more information please contact us at 847-395-2160