Centegra Health System’s decision to cut services at Centegra Hospital-Woodstock surprised and upset some local officials. “I am disappointed and dismayed by the decision to remove inpatient care from the [Centegra] hospital site in Woodstock, especially following the expressed support of the city of Woodstock when Centegra was looking to establish the Huntley facility,” said […]
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 […]
The Woodstock City Council closed a loophole that could have allowed some gas stations to receive video gambling licenses. The city amended its Unified Development Ordinance April 4 to create a new definition for truck stops in order to differentiate them from gas stations. Truck stops are eligible to host video gambling terminals while gas […]
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 seven-member Woodstock City Council will need at least four yes votes to pass most measures regardless of how many members are present to vote. The new rule, approved unanimously by the City Council at its Jan. 17 meeting, sets a higher threshold for approving ordinances than otherwise would be allowed under its new status […]
It turns out Woodstock is a little larger than the U.S. Census Bureau initially thought. The final tally from a special census completed in September shows the city with a population of 25,528, which is 171 more than the Census Bureau’s preliminary estimate. That represents an increase of 758 people from the last regular census, […]
The Woodstock City Council approved an ordinance Dec. 6 setting its 2016 property tax levy at $9.26 million that forgoes an inflationary increase. The 2016 levy is $77,605 higher than last year’s total, which city officials said is attributable solely to new growth in the city. The equalized assessed value of all properties in Woodstock […]
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.
