09/26/2026
Happy Friday, Antioch!
It’s another busy weekend around town, and this one starts with Homecoming Weekend at Antioch Community High School. Good luck to the Sequoits tonight as they take on Lakes Community High School at 7:00 p.m. Have a great Homecoming weekend to all of the students, families, teachers and staff!
Homecoming information:
https://www.chsd117.org/o/antioch-high-school/article/3119460
Then on Saturday, the Fall W**e Walk takes over downtown from noon to 4:00 p.m., with early check-in beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Sequoit Creek Park. The weather looks like it is going to cooperate, so come downtown, taste some w**e and, more importantly, spend some money in the shops and restaurants that open their doors and make these events possible.
And while you’re checking in at Sequoit Creek Park, stop at The Latte Cafe for a coffee or pastry and put down a little base before you start sampling w**e. 😁
W**e Walk tickets:
https://secure.rec1.com/IL/village-of-antioch/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTQyNzk3NDA%3D
The Antioch Traveling Closet also has a giveaway this Sunday. Lisa Fisher and her volunteers continue to do an incredible job helping local families with clothing and other essentials. If you know someone who could use the help, please spread the word.
More information:
https://antiochtravelingcloset.org/
Also, mark your calendar for next Saturday, October 3, for the Antioch Rotary Club Dinner & Auction at the Antioch VFW. It’s always a great event that raises money for projects right here in our community and beyond.
Rotary Dinner & Auction tickets and information:
https://rotary-club-antioch-operations.square.site/
One quick congratulations to Assistant Administrator Jim Moran on five years with the Village. Jim was one of my first hires and has grown from communications and special events into the Assistant Administrator position. He has become a familiar face in Village government and remains dedicated to our residents and businesses. Congratulations, Jim! And as in aside. I do write these messages myself and Jim has to help me get all the graphics that I put online and make sure I didn't spell anything wrong or say anything that I would regret 🙂. And he's off today so I had to create these graphics using AI so yes, I'm guilty of using AI for the graphics. 
I also promised some development and infrastructure updates. Instead of putting everything into one giant post, I’m going to start doing these one issue at a time. I think it will give everyone a better understanding of what happens behind the scenes, how many different agencies can be involved and why some of these projects take significantly longer than any of us would like.
Believe me, I understand the frustration. I came from the private sector, and anybody who knows me knows that patience is not exactly my greatest strength.
So let’s start with Route 173.
When I first came into office, I was told that getting a railroad grade separation at Route 173 would be nearly impossible. Those are usually the worst words to say to me because they only make me more determined to keep pushing.
Anyone who lives here understands the problem. Freight traffic continues to impact our community, trains can effectively divide the town, and Route 173 is one of the most important transportation corridors serving Antioch.
The difficult part is that this is not something the Village can simply decide to build on its own. We have to work with IDOT, CMAP — the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning — our state representatives and senators, our federal representatives, the railroad and potentially several other agencies when you are talking about a project of this size.
And, of course, projects like this take a lot of money. That is another reason they take time and why getting them into the right regional and state planning and funding programs is so important.
I have continued to raise the issue with Congressman Brad Schneider, our state legislators, IDOT, CMAP and the other agencies involved in projects of this magnitude.
Here is where things stand today. IDOT has reinitiated its Phase I study of Route 173 from west of Route 59 in Antioch to east of U.S. 41 in Wadsworth. The preferred alternative includes reconstruction and widening to two lanes in each direction, intersection improvements and a shared-use path. IDOT currently anticipates a public hearing this fall.
The frustrating part is that the project is not currently included in IDOT’s Proposed Highway Improvement Program, meaning construction funding has not yet been identified. Once funding is secured, there are still engineering, design, land acquisition and construction phases that have to occur.
That is exactly why these projects require persistence.
My goal remains the same: keep Route 173 moving forward and continue pushing the railroad grade-separation issue until we can get a realistic path toward making it happen. I know how much the trains frustrate residents because they frustrate me too.
And I know there are plenty of other things people want updates on — Grimm Road, the Veterans Memorial, the Marketplace property, Chipotle, taxes, the schools and several other projects around town.
I’ll get to all of them.
Rather than throw everything into one post, I’m going to take them one at a time and explain what has happened, what is happening now and what still needs to happen.
I think Grimm Road will be next.
Have a great Homecoming and W**e Walk weekend, Antioch, and please remember to shop local!
Scott J. Gartner
Mayor, Village of Antioch
