Utica Village Board

The Illinois and Michigan Canal turns 175 this year and Utica hopes to join the celebration by re-watering its portion of the canal.

The outdoor shopping plaza planned for the north end of Mill Street in Utica is expected to be delayed several months.

Utica’s moratorium on vacation rentals is coming to an end. The village has spruced up its ordinance and soon will field requests for new bed and breakfasts, for example.

Construction of the roundabout in Utica remains two months schedule, though Illinois Department of Transportation still thinks the traffic circle will be functional by spring.

Utica’s tax base grew by about $2.5 million — thanks mainly to rising residential property values — and that means the village tax rate is going down a little.

Utica is close to completing an overhaul of its much-dissected sign ordinance.

Do you live in Utica and have you seen crews working on village fire hydrants? They are trying to keep you safe – and lower your insurance premiums, too.

Utica might not be getting a western apparel store, after all.

The former Country Cupboard ice cream parlor in Utica is gone now – acquired and razed by the neighboring business owner – and it’s going to be a parking lot. After that, the new owners will ask the village what to do with it.

Utica is seeking a state grant to build sidewalks and crosswalks on South Clark Street, with hopes of launching construction in 2024.

There’s a lot of work to be done before turning any shovels, but Utica’s mayor hopes to begin construction of the village’s outdoor shopping plaza in March.

Utica might get a nano-brewery – that is, just one barrel of beer – to be located behind the Bickerman building.

Utica was notified Monday it was approved for a capital grant of $1,249,969. The funds, coupled with a village match of $250,000, will be used to build the Shoppes of Mini Mill Street, a plaza of portable retail stalls.

Utica is getting a new tavern — along with four to six new video gaming terminals.

A western wear store is moving from Peru to Mill Street in Utica.