village of Coal City

A push to quiet train horns in Coal City

Published by admin on Tue, 07/30/2024 - 3:06pm

Former mayor Neal Nelson believes the time is right for the Village of Coal City to push for the quieting of trains that rumble through the community.
There’s no denying Coal City residents are bombarded by train horns daily.
Coal City currently has seven crossings. Nelson points out that if the 60 trains (on average) a day initiate their horn three times for each crossing, Coal City residents could hear up to 1,200 horns a day. On average, train horns measure between 110-140 decibels which is the same level of a rock concert.

Preserving a town’s heritage comes with a $2.4 million cost

Published by admin on Tue, 07/23/2024 - 3:48pm

Village leaders took the first step that could someday turn a downtown building into the envy of Grundy County and even northern Illinois.
The Coal City Board of Trustees approved a $725,258 commitment towards a state grant that, if awarded, would allow for the purchase and rehabilitation of the old Bohemian Hall which has been a vacant storefront on South Broadway Street since Coal City Pharmacy closed four years ago.

Trash pickup delayed this week

Published by admin on Tue, 05/30/2023 - 4:42pm

Trash and recycling services will be delayed one day this week in the villages of Diamond and Coal City.

Due to the Monday, May 29 observance of the Memorial Day holiday, Environmental Recycling & Disposal will collect from residential households one day late, so trash will be collected on Friday, June 2 in the village of Diamond.

Coal City residents with Thursday pickup will also have their trash, recycling and yard waste collected on Friday, and those with a traditional Friday pickup will have their trash collected on Saturday, May 3.

Mayor says three years better than five when asking residents to serve on boards

Published by admin on Tue, 05/30/2023 - 4:41pm

With the strike of the gavel, Dave Spesia called to order his first meeting as the mayor of Coal City.

In his new capacity, Spesia is responsible for making appointments to the various town boards and commissions.
The new mayor has found it difficult to find individuals willing to serve in various positions.

Commissioners on the Planning and Zoning Board and members of the Park Board receive five-year appointments.

Mincey appointed to Coal City Village Board

Published by admin on Thu, 05/25/2023 - 2:44pm

One of the first decisions Dave Spesia had to make as the village’s new mayor, was who would take his seat at the table as trustee.

The decision took him back to a chance meeting he had with Bill Mincey.

While campaigning for mayor, Spesia would drive around town and the various subdivisions and when he saw a resident outside he would pull over, introduce himself and engage in conversation.

Record keeper

Published by admin on Tue, 09/22/2020 - 6:00pm

Pam Noffsinger is the keeper of the village record. It’s a position she takes seriously, and rightly so.
It’s been 22 years since she first took office in Coal City and for a majority of that time she’s been on a search for what she refers to as the town’s “history.”
When she assumed the clerk’s duties in 1998, Noffsinger recalls how she was handed a ledger, a little black book filled with ordinances and resolutions, yet something was missing.

Coal City adding administrative intern

Published by admin on Tue, 09/15/2020 - 4:57pm

The village of Coal City is taking on an administrative intern, an individual whose work will focus primarily on the town’s workplace liability and risk control resulting from the on-going pandemic.
“The capability of having someone work in an administrative capacity writing policy, assisting with policy and everything that it takes especially to follow some of the state of Illinois guidelines, liability laws, and loss control is something that is becoming increasingly necessary,” Village Administrator Matt Fritz said.

Coal City plans to expand TIF District

Published by admin on Tue, 09/15/2020 - 4:55pm

The village of Coal City is moving forward with plans to expand the boundaries of its tax increment financing [TIF] district. A hearing has been scheduled to accept public comment on the proposal.
Coal City established its first TIF to encourage economic development nine years ago. Now it’s planning its fourth amendment expanding boundaries to the northeast, south and west.
In announcing plans to expand the district’s boundaries, the town’s administrator said the proposal is based on interest and the amount of available property prime for retail and industrial development.

Coal City looking for waste hauler

Published by admin on Tue, 09/08/2020 - 4:30pm

The village of Coal City is seeking a new waste removal contract, and requests for proposals [RFP] are going out with the goal of finding the best deal.
Village Administrator Matt Fritz informed trustees the proposal seeks costs for weekly collections including recycling, lawn waste and town cleanup events to serve the village’s roughly 2,000 users.
It’s the bi-annual curbside cleanup events—spring and fall— that have reportedly been driving up the costs.

The doctor will see you now

Published by admin on Tue, 02/11/2020 - 5:14pm

It’s was just about 14 months ago when the tips of six golden shovels pierced the ground to mark the start of construction on a 13,400-square foot medical facility in the village of Diamond. On Monday, it was the silver tips of two oversized scissors that cut the ribbon to mark the facility’s opening.