A fourth establishment will be added to the Benton Street Boardwalk after the Woodstock City Council finalized the rules for the controversial outdoor dining project. Benton Street Tap will join three other restaurants in using the “boardwalk,” a city-funded project that will provide space for restaurants to host al fresco dining. The plan has been […]
Part of Benton Street is set to be reserved for al fresco dining this summer after the Woodstock City Council approved plans for a project that some said shouldn’t receive public funding. Restaurants along Benton Street will be able to pay a fee to use one of several removable decks, purchased by the city of […]
Two new members of the Woodstock City Council were sworn in and two incumbent city officials were re-installed during a brief ceremony May 2. Jim Prindiville and Gordie Tebo took the oath of office before beginning their terms as members of the council. They joined incumbent Councilman Mike Turner and incumbent Mayor Brian Sager in […]
Incumbent Brian Sager was re-elected to his fourth term as Woodstock mayor, handily beating challengers Michael Rein and Gregg Hanson in the consolidated election April 4. Sager garnered 58.97 percent of the vote in the three-man race, or 1,834 votes, according to an unofficial tally from the McHenry County Clerk’s Office. Rein, currently a McHenry […]
Candidates for Woodstock mayor and City Council disagree on whether the city should raise its sales tax rate. The proposal to add a home-rule sales tax in Woodstock was a key issue at a candidate forum March 23 at the Woodstock Public Library. Three people are running for mayor in the April 4 election: incumbent […]
Woodstock shoppers might pay more in sales tax in exchange for a property tax cut. The Woodstock City Council voted unanimously March 7 to reduce the city’s property tax levy 10 percent, a move that will lower the tax bill on a $150,000 house by about $94 and cut the city’s revenues by $924,000. A […]
The city of Woodstock will have a lobbyist for another year after the City Council voted 6-1 to approve a contract extension for its Springfield-based legislative advocate. Joyce Nardulli will receive $60,000 from the city of Woodstock over the course of the one-year contract. She has served as the city’s lobbyist since 2014. Most council […]
City officials support retaining long-term public ownership of the Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House as Woodstock continues to restore the historic property and search for new uses for the old buildings. A report discussed by the Woodstock City Council Nov. 15 suggests the city remain the owner of the property on Johnson Street rather than […]
The city of Woodstock’s payments to its police pension fund have increased more than 60 percent since 2007, prompting some city officials to question the state’s formula for funding police pensions. The city will contribute $1,153,597 to the pension fund for retired Woodstock police officers this year, a jump of $448,913 since 2007, when the […]
Woodstock police officers will be outfitted with body cameras in a move city officials said is aimed at ensuring accountability from police and members of the public alike. Each of the Woodstock Police Department’s patrol officers will be issued body-worn cameras in the coming months after the City Council unanimously approved their purchase Oct. 18. […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
