Copper Pediment Installed on Top of the Nearly Complete Opera House

Owner Bill Habiger said the entire rehab project should be finished by last September/early October.

One of the key pieces to the old Opera House restoration – a rooftop copper pediment bearing the downtown building’s name – was locked into place Tuesday. A crane was needed to swing the triangular-shaped gable to the top of the two-story building. It centers the façade that faces Lockport Street and mirrors the pointed copper dome that sits atop the round room extending from building’s corner. With those two components in place, they’ll need just a couple of more weeks to install windows and doors, complete brick work and paint the dome-covered room before the bulk of the exterior is complete, owner/developer Bill Habiger said. The only missing element will be the clock, which is being made and may not be ready for another seven weeks, he…

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Karen Sorensen

12:02 pm on Thursday, August 18, 2011

Joel -- This photo is fantastic! Not only am I amazed how close the renovated building is to the way it once looked, I love looking at how downtown used to look in general. Thanks for sharing it...   more ›

No Space in Highway Dept. for Wheatland Offices, Jarnagin Says

Meanwhile, Supervisor Todd Morse said he has asked for an opinion on the legality of the meeting at which residents voted to take no action on obtaining new township office space.

The Wheatland Township highway commissioner said Wednesday the township board is welcome to use his building for meetings, but there's not enough space for the supervisor and assessor offices. The idea of relocating those offices to the highway department's three-year-old, $3 million building on 103rd Street was broached Tuesday night as residents debated the merits of different solutions for the township's space problems. Ultimately, the resounding vote was to take no action at the special meeting attended by nearly 200 township residents. Meanwhile, Supervisor Todd Morse said he questioned the legality of the Tuesday meeting and said he has asked the township's law firm, Ancel Glink, to provide him with an opinion. In rejecting the other…

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Mike Crockett

4:43 am on Sunday, August 14, 2011

"Jane" please list the tax levy requests from 2004 through the FY 2012 request so we have some facts. Then I will show everyone here how the $1.5 million accumulated was "saved." I already have those numbers but wouldn't want to be accused of lying about what the real numbers are. As for those tax rates... If taxes are raised from say 2004 to 2009 to set aside money not needed for day to day …   more ›

Wheatland Residents Reject All Plans for a New Town Hall, Vote to Do Nothing

The decision came after questions were raised about why the township could not use the newly built highway commissioner's building instead of finding new space.

Wheatland Township residents soundly rejected all plans to build or lease space for a new Wheatland Township Administration Center Tuesday night, voting instead for “Option F: Do Nothing.” It was a question that came up near the end of the meeting -- Why can't the township supervisor and assessor use space in the $3 million highway commissioner's building? -- that prompted the group of nearly 200 to vote to take no action by a landslide. "It couldn't have turned out better," said Mike Crockett, who was one of group of residents who spearheaded an effort to pull the plug on the township board's plans to build a new $1.5 million town hall. Options A through E allowed those in attendance at the special meeting, held at Plainfield East High …

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Residents to Cast Historic Wheatland Township Building Vote Tuesday

The space needs committee will make its recommendation and the township board will present its case for a new building before residents vote.

Wheatland Township residents exercising rarely used laws to wrest decision-making power from elected officials -- which could culminate in a vote on a new town hall Tuesday -- is getting to be big news. Township space study committee member Deb Holscher said she's been told the Wall Street Journal may send its Chicago bureau reporter to Plainfield East High School to cover the 7 p.m. meeting. The meeting's also getting big play on the Illinois Republican News Watch Web site, which has posted the article, “A must-attend meeting for Wheatland Township taxpayers.” It describes the gathering as “a historic opportunity to have (taxpayers') voices heard.” Officials are expecting a big crowd, which is why the meeting's being held at the high …

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Margie Bonuchi

7:57 am on Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Mike/Bill, Just so everyone knows, the school district is not a part of any political proceedings. The school buildings are available to be rented for activities and are often used for chruch gatherings and other options. As long as a group meets the criteria and availability, they can rent the facility. No one in the school district or Village of Plainfield is a part of any meeting as a …   more ›

Beware of Scam Targeting Rental, Sale Property

By using a fraudulent e-mail address, the suspect persuades would-be renters to wire him/her rent money.

Plainfield police are warning of an Internet scam targeting local people who leasing or renting homes. Using a fraudulent e-mail set up in the property owner's name, the suspect poses as the owner and persuades people to wire them the first month's rent, Sgt. Kevin McQuaid said in a media release. The scam came to the attention of the police after two property owners reported they had started receiving phone calls about the property from people who quoted a far lower price than had been advertised, McQuaid said. In both instances, the property was listed with a licensed broker. McQuaid said it appears the scam originated in Europe, and apparently people were persuaded to wire money to secure the rental "even though the offender is not …

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Wheatland Hall Decision Goes Back to Voters Aug. 9

The space study committee has already decided that only 3,800 square feet will be needed, but is collecting more info on building options and groups that might use the building.

Wheatland Township residents will vote next month whether they want to buy, rent or build a new town hall or remodel the existing building. Tuesday night, the space study committee charged with evaluating the options proposed that the new township headquarters be about half the size of the building the township board had planned to build. They continue, however, to look at area buildings that are for sale or lease, explore the costs of upgrading the current building at 31W236 91st St. in Naperville and consider the pros and con of building on a site the township owns at 4232 Tower Court in Naperville. At a special town meeting on Aug. 9, the committee will present its final conclusions and the decision will go to the voters who attend. “…

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Landlord: World Gym Owner Behind in Rent but Wasn't Forced to Close

Building owner Joe Ardovich said he was surprised business shut down, plans to take possession and find new fitness center to take its place.

The owner of World Gym is behind in paying his rent, but he was not forced to close his doors, building owner Joe Ardovich said. In fact, Ardovich was as surprised as anyone when a sign went up late last week informing members that the fitness center was "temporarily" closed and that their memberships would be honored at the World Gym in Montgomery, which is 10 miles away. "I don't understand why he's doing this," Ardovich said of Jim Mecha, owner of the Plainfield World Gym. "I know his club is doing fantastic. It's always busy. It's in a great location." It's so appealing, in fact, that Ardovich has already had calls from people interested in taking over the 12337 S. Route 59 storefront and opening their own gym, he said. Given that …

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Township Approves Citizens Group's Agenda, but Things Remain Contentious

Questions arise over bills from the township's legal firm, with some trustees suggesting new lawyers be retained.

It took only two minutes for Wheatland Township Supervisor Todd Morse to make a motion to withdraw the special meeting agenda the township board and its attorney had drawn up and for the board to unanimously approve it.  Instead, the agenda drafted by an attorney for a residents group demanding more details about the proposed township building prevailed and will be the basis for discussion and voting in a special town meeting set for 7 p.m. May 23.  “They got an agenda in, and we withdraw our agenda,” Morse said.  For the last month, the two sides had been bickering over language for the meeting agenda, finally putting forward two separate documents for meetings slated for the same time and place. The township board had approved its own …

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Eunoia

11:39 pm on Monday, May 30, 2011

ADMINS STAFF HAS TRIPLED UNDER MORSE FROM ONE ADMIN TO THREE - LOTTA PORKING GOING ON PAY ROLLS??   more ›

About Town

Residents Suggest Leasing Space as Temporary Fix for Wheatland Issues

Move would give the township board time to sorts out its options on finding a permanent solution, one citizen leader says.

Wheatland Township citizens opposed to construction of a new town hall are eying office space in the Republic Bank building at Route 59 and 111th Street as a possible stop-gap measure. “It looks like a good option,” said Mike Crockett, one of two leaders of a faction of Wheatland residents who last month petitioned for a special meeting on the issue. At it, they asked that all details of the proposed $1.5 million town hall and other options be put on the table. One of those details is a survey of existing properties the township might buy or lease. Trustee Joe Hudetz, the Naperville developer behind the English Rows Towne Center, suggested the Republican Bank option, Crockett said. The office suite is ready to move into and has plenty of …

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Karen Sorensen

6:36 pm on Tuesday, July 12, 2011

I have removed two comments here for falling into the category of personal attacks. Please limit what you have to say to the facts at hand so there can be a legitimate discussion of issues, rather than a forum for name-calling and accusations.   more ›

Wheatland Residents Demand Another Look at Plans for a New Township Hall

Record crowds turned out for Tuesday's annual town meeting, voting another special meeting to re-visit town hall options.

More than 130 people attended the Wheatland Township annual town meeting Tuesday, where a vote was made to stop all action on a proposed $1.5 million town hall until township officials can provide more details. The issue will be discussed again at a special, as-yet-unscheduled town meeting. Because electors voted to hold that meeting, they will have the authority to action on the issue. Opposition to the new building, proposed for a site at 4232 Tower Court in Naperville, has been building in recent weeks. But the issue is not a new one -- it's been the topic of several town meetings since 2004. Some residents of the township, which encompasses parts of the village of Plainfield and the city of Naperville, believe it would be less …

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Sheila Raddatz

9:43 am on Saturday, April 16, 2011

I have physically been in this building. I will admit that the office space stinks of mold and I am certain that it is an unhealthy environment for the employees. It smells dirty and it is very dated. The amount of water damage evident cannot be good for the office equipment, either. With that said, I agree that the township needs a new space but I do not agree that a new building is the answer, …   more ›