By Andrea Earnest | Enterprise Staff
news@enterprisepublications.com
@PlainfieldNews
The annual state of the village was held last week, and Mayor Mike Collins delivered his addressed to an audience that included state officials, village trustees, and community and business leaders.
Collins spoke of the successes Plainfield has had over the past year, and also some things that residents can expect in 2016. The state of the village took place Jan. 20 at Whitetail Ridge Golf Club in Yorkville.
In 2015, Plainfield was recognized for being one of the 100 safest cities in the country by NeighborhoodScout.
“This matches what we learned from the police department’s citizen survey, where 93 percent of respondents said they felt safe and secure in the village,” Collins said.
Collins also spoke about how residents continued to have a stable tax rate.
“This is the seventh year we’ve kept property tax at the same number or lower,” Collins said.
Collins also spoke about some awards Plainfield received in 2015. The village received the Will County ‘We will work healthy’ gold level achievement award, and the village was named one of top healthiest employers in the state.
The Plainfield Police Department also received a rail safety award, and police Sgt. Eric Munson received an achievement excellence award and a distinguished service award.
Collins also shared that members of the Plainfield Emergency Management Agency volunteered 6,000 hours, ensuring the community is prepared for all kinds of emergencies.
Collins said that perhaps the area going through the most change in 2015 and 2016 is the downtown area.
A 4,000-square-foot addition to the historic Opera House is being worked on, and the addition will provide new retail along Illinois Street and a high-end steak and seafood restaurant. Collins added that the restaurant will most likely be opening in May or June.
Mora, an Asian fusion restaurant, will open in a historic building on Lockport Street. The building had served as a town hall and jail. The restaurant officially opens Feb. 5.
The mayor also discussed Plainfield’s growing medical community, including a new kidney dialysis center approved by the board. He said the center should be constructed this year near Route 59 and Riverwalk.
As for commercial businesses, the village saw a few new additions last year. In 2015, Blueberry Hill, Goldfish Swim School, Ross and Twisted Cork joined the Route 59 commercial corridor, and several other businesses joined the village in other parts of town.
Collins added that several new projects are coming up for 2016.
Route 30 construction will continue, although Collins said this project is almost complete.
“A lot of the water and sewer replacement that the village needed has been done,” he said.
The project has a total cost of $21 million, and the construction will continue all the way to Renwick Road and Interstate 55.
Collins also shared news about a service that many residents said they missed: electronics recycling. The village has worked with At Your Door, a company that will pick up resident’s recycling at their house, for a minimal charge.
“The future for the village looks very promising for 2016,” Collins concluded.