As Property Assessments Dip, Plainfield Tax Rate to Go Up

Village trustees previewed the proposed $20.9 million 2013-14 budget at a Monday night meeting.

Plainfield officials are mulling what village staff called a “status quo” budget that would keep the tax levy the same as last year. But with assessed property values projected to drop villagewide, Director of Management Services Traci Pleckham said the village’s tax rate would have to increase to generate the proposed $5.1 million in property taxes. “It will change the homeowners’ rate, but the dollar amount [of the levy] will stay the same,” Pleckham said. The tax levy is the amount of property taxes a governing body asks the Will County treasurer to collect on its behalf to fund its operating expenses. Get Plainfield news delivered straight to your inbox — sign up for Plainfield Patch’s newsletter. The current rate is about 43 cents per…

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Lisa S.

7:58 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012

Tim...get a grip. The generalization that ALL Republicans do or don't do anything is not true. And not everyone in this town thought that the 'business center' was a good idea. I do not think it was a good idea. It opens up liability, interior building traffic and maintenance/business expenses that should not be borne by taxpayers. A small fee is not going to offset this.   more ›

Cops: Driver Nabbed Doing 113 in a 45

Ihusseen Odeh of Plainfield was charged with driving 68 mph over the speed limit on Wallin Drive.

Police to Conduct Route 126 Speed Crackdown

Multijurisdictional effort comes after a year of serious accidents, deaths along Route 126 in Plainfield and nearby towns.

Editor's note: The following is taken in part from a press release issued by Plainfield Police Department Traffic Sgt. Eric Munson: In response to what police called an "inordinate" amount of fatal and serious-injury crashes along Route 126 this year, Plainfield police will partner with other area police departments to conduct a multijurisdictional Speed Awareness Day along the Route 126 corridor on Wednesday, Oct. 17. Sponsored by Families Against Chronic Excessive Speed (www.faces4.org) and the Illinois Department of Transportation, the enforcement will include: The goal of the campaign is to increase traffic safety and reduce traffic crashes along the Route 126 corridor through both education and enforcement.   During the campaign, all …

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Gina Palmer

4:49 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Yes. I saw at least four police cars along 126 from 0800am - 0845am and probably three or four on the way home (6pm - 6:45pm). I probably see at least one police car every day on each of my trips. Again, the only danger I see is from the impatient drivers that insist on passing those of us who are driving the speed limit, or even up to 5mph over the speed limit. More stop signs of stop signals …   more ›

Village of Screamfield Scares Up a Good Time

With both family friendly and “full-scare” hauntings, the annual event is bigger and better this year, according to creator Ken Erdey. All proceeds benefit the Plainfield District 202 Foundation for Excellence.

This Halloween, you’re invited to descend into the depths to have the daylights scared out of you. For the third year, the subterranean “Village of Screamfield” will welcome visitors bold enough to brave the underground village and its nightmarish residents. This year, the buried city — located in the basement of the Plainfield Police Department at 14300 S. Coil Plus Dr. — will be open for two weekends, offering both “full-scare” and family friendly hauntings, according to founder Ken Erdey. All proceeds from the haunted house will go to the Plainfield School District 202 Foundation for Excellence, which provides grants to fund teacher-initiated enrichment programs in Plainfield schools. Erdey’s wife, Carla Erdey, is the foundation …

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Plainfield Police Reports

Police Blotter: Thieves Steal Motorcycles, Racing Gear; Arrests for ID Theft, Hit and Run

Arrests and incidents reported by Plainfield police, other agencies, Sept. 14-30.

Crystal Arnold, 30, of the 2600 block of Sierra Avenue, Plainfield, was arrested by Plainfield police at 11:52 p.m. at Drauden and Renwick roads and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, police said. Bond amount was $3,000. Angel Bullock, 23, of the 0-100 block of Fernwood Court, Romeoville, was arrested by Plainfield police at 11:42 a.m. at Feeney Drive and Route 59 on an in-state warrant, police said. Someone forcibly entered a trailer at Generation MX, 10200 S. Mandel St., and stole a 2006 Suzuki RM85-K5 motorcyle, a Suzuki Z-400 racing quad, three pairs of racing goggles and various hand tools, according to Will County Sheriff's police. An offender or offenders also entered a second trailer and stole a Yamaha 80cc ATV, a…

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Lock Your Doors: Vehicle Burglaries on the Rise in Plainfield

Plainfield police seeing a "sharp increase" in incidents, warn residents to take precautions.

Plainfield police are warning residents to be wary as the number of vehicle break-ins — most attributed to unlocked doors — is up in Plainfield. Calling the numbers a "sharp increase," Sgt. Kevin McQuaid said police have received 36 reports of burglaries to vehicles since Aug. 1, up from about a dozen reports in June and July. While there have been some cases of thieves shattering car windows, police said 80 percent of the crimes have been the result of unlocked doors. The vehicle burglaries have occurred throughout the village, with more than 40 percent happening in the Liberty Grove and Patriot Square subdivisions. Liberty Grove is located west of Wallin Drive between 143rd Street and Lockport Street, while Patriot Square is a half-mile …

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Tim

8:31 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Obviously they weren't there those months either, were they? The word you are missing is 'patrol'. It's what they are missing as well. Many times I have see 2 cars parked off the side of a road for HOURS in the same spot. The attitude seems to be that this department can still be run like it was when this was just a small town. This chief is better suited for a town of 350 people, not 35,000.   more ›

Cross Hosts Free Car Seat Safety Check Sept. 22

Balloon sculptures, sponge painting, magnetic fishing and more highlight annual event.

Editor's note: The following is a press release issued by State Rep. Tom Cross' office. Local parents and grandparents of young children are invited to attend State Rep. Tom Cross’ annual Child Passenger Safety Seat Inspection co-sponsored by the Plainfield Fire Protection District, set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Plainfield Meijer on Route 59.  Admission to the event is free with entertainment and activities including complimentary balloon sculptures; sponge painting and tattoos courtesy of the Plainfield Public Library; magnetic fishing courtesy of the Plainfield Park District; and Child ID’s courtesy of the Will County Sheriff’s Office. Door prizes include a drawing for a free boys and girls bike, donated by Meijer. …

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John Tips

8:52 am on Friday, September 21, 2012

Wondering this myself ??? Our laws and regulations should be followed by all!   more ›

Plainfield Police Reports

Police Blotter: Suspended Licenses, Domestic Battery Charges

Arrests reported by Plainfield police, other agencies, Aug. 24-Sept. 3.

Aug. 24 Lucio Lara-Gomez, 43, of the 0-100 block of Wilkins, Plainfield, was arrested by Plainfield police at 8:46 a.m. at Bartlett and Main Street and charged with driving on a suspended/revokedn license, police said. Aug. 30 Robert Fenoglio, 27, of the 25000 block of Faraday Road, Manhattan, was arrested by Plainfield police at 5:14 p.m. at Joliet Road and Route 59 and charged with driving on a suspended/revoked license, police said. Calvin Leal, 20, of the 22000 block of Reserve Circle, Plainfield, was arrested by Plainfield police at 6:01 p.m. at Naperville and Pilcher roads and charged with driving on a suspended/revoked license, police said. Sept. 1 Sampson Burton, 50, of the 4700 block of Cameron Ridge in Indianapolis, Indiana, was …

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Mom’s Petition Opposes Rifles in Plainfield Schools

Colleen Curry is collecting signatures urging the District 202 Board of Education to reject a plan to install gun safes in four Plainfield schools.

When Colleen Curry first heard about a proposal to install gun safes — not to mention AR-15 rifles — in Plainfield schools, she thought it was just a rumor. “I saw some pratter on the Internet,” she said. “It was kind of on my radar.” Curry soon discovered the proposal was real: Under a request by Plainfield Police Chief John Konopek, school resource officers at Plainfield high school campuses sought permission to install gun safes, where they could store their rifles in case of a school shooter incident. Curry said she was shocked to see information about the proposal in a District 202 newsletter last Friday. “I was sort of blown away,” she said. “I thought, I don’t think I’m OK with this.” So on Monday, Curry launched a petition online …

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UPDATED: Bull Struck and Killed in Ridge Road Crash

Plainfield police are investigating accident that killed animal, sent man to hospital.

Updated at 7 p.m. Aug. 31 Police had to put down a bull that was severely injured after being struck by a car late Thursday night near Ridge and Wheeler roads. Sgt. Mike Fisher said the animal had wandered off a farm near Route 126 and Ridge Road and was hit by a car. The driver of the vehicle was taken to Provena Saint Joseph hospital in fair condition following the crash. Fisher said the darkeness may have made it difficult for the driver to see the black bull. "It's a real dark area out there," Fisher said. "Obviously, the bull was hurt very badly," he said. "Our officers dispatched the animal humanely." Original story: A driver was taken to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet in fair condition after his vehicle struck a bull …

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