Wheaton Monthly - January 2026

FEATURED NEWS
Graphic announcing the Light Up Wheaton winners. Three photos are shown on a blue, winter-themed background with snowflakes. Entry #7 shows a home decorated with colorful inflatable holiday characters and lights at night. Entry #2 shows the entrance of The Little Popcorn Store decorated with red trim, lights, and holiday garland. Entry #8 shows a home with coordinated green, pink, and white holiday light displays and illuminated snowflakes. Text lists the winners: Most Creative – Entry #2, The Little Popcorn Store; People’s Choice – Entry #7, 1539 Castlewood Drive; Mayor’s Choice – Entry #8, 8 Venetian Way.

Congratulations to the Light Up Wheaton Holiday Decorating Contest Winners

The results are in! Your creativity has lit up Wheaton, and our community has been shining all season long. Thank you to all the amazing entries for Light Up Wheaton and for all your hard work! 

Here are the official 2025 Light Up Wheaton award recipients: 

  • Most Creative: Entry #2 – The Little Popcorn Store
  • People’s Choice: Entry #7 – 1539 Castlewood Drive
  • Mayor's Choice: Entry #8 – 8 Venetian Way

Thank you to everyone who helped spread holiday cheer throughout our community.
Graphic titled “2026 Shared Cost Parkway Tree Planting Program.” A stylized white tree with leaves and visible roots is centered on a light blue background. The City of Wheaton, Illinois logo appears at the bottom left, and the “250 America Illinois” logo appears at the bottom right.

Parkway Tree Planting Program Returning in 2026

The annual Shared Cost Parkway Tree Program, which ordinarily opens on Jan. 1 of each year, will be slightly later this year, as this will be part of a special America 250 initiative. To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, this year the City will be providing shared-cost funding to plant 250 new parkway trees, along with a special commemoration for each tree. The City will provide more information and an application once it is available on the City's website and on social media. Thank you for patience!
Holiday String Lights in a Bin

Reminder: Holiday Light Recycling Program Available

Keep your old holiday lights out of landfills by bringing them to Wheaton’s holiday light recycling drop-off site at the Public Works Storage Facility (820 W. Liberty Drive) between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. weekdays now through Friday, Jan. 30. 

Bring strands of incandescent or LED lights in any condition. Look for signs directing you to the holiday light recycling area just inside the gate. This program is for light strings only. Please do not drop off lawn ornaments or other decorations, and do not put lights in a bag or box. 

City Council Passes 2026 Budget

At its Dec. 15, 2025 meeting, the Wheaton City Council approved the 2026 annual budget, through which the City will continue providing the same high level of services and programs to the Wheaton community. Additionally, the 2026 budget will invest more than 29.4% of the budget – or $45 million – toward capital improvements to maintain and enhance the City’s infrastructure.

The 2026 budget includes total revenue of $160.8 million across all funds and total expenditures of $153.1 million across all funds. The City Council also approved a property tax levy increase of 3% for 2026. This marks the first time in 6 years that the City has increased the property tax levy.

For the owner of an average home valued at approximately $500,000, this increase is expected to result in an annual property tax impact of about $35. The additional funding will support major capital investments, including the rebuilding of the Fire Station, as well as significant renovations and an addition to the Police Department to meet current and future community needs. You can view the City budget on the City’s website.


COMMUNITY SAFETY

Tips to Safely Heat Your Home in Winter

Did you know? According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), winter is when most household fires occur. In addition, 50% of carbon monoxide incidents reported to local fire departments happen between November and February. That’s why it’s important to be aware of ways to prevent hazardous conditions at home.

To help ensure a warm and safe winter season, FEMA recommends the following home-heating safety measures:

  • Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from heat sources, including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, portable heaters or candles.
  • Install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
  • Clean dust or other build-up in heat sources.
  • Always plug space heaters directly into an outlet, and make sure the cord isn’t damaged.
  • Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected each year by a professional.

For more home fire prevention tips, visit the U.S. Fire Administration’s website.


BOARDS & COMMISSIONS

Board/Commission Appointment

The City Council approved the appointment to the following board/commission:

  • Commission on Aging
    • John Bomher was appointed for a three-year term

OTHER NEWS
Exterior of City Hall

Holiday Garbage Collection & City Office Closure

There will be no garbage collection on Thursday, Jan. 1. Pickup will be delayed by one day for residents whose regular collection day is Thursday or Friday. Additionally, non-emergency City offices will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 1.
Tree on the Side of the Road

Christmas Tree Pickup Service

Christmas trees are being recycled now through the week of Jan. 5 at no charge on your garbage pickup day for residents served by LRS. During this free collection period, make sure trees are free of all decorations and are not in plastic bags. After the free collection period, you will need to attach one garbage/organic sticker to a Christmas tree to have it collected.

Cold Weather Emergencies: Local Warming Centers Available

Warming centers are facilities available during periods of extreme cold, providing a safe place to stay warm for those who do not have adequate access to heat. In extreme temperatures, the Wheaton Public Library, 225 N. Cross St., serves as a warming site during its open hours. Visit DuPage County's website to find other warming locations throughout DuPage County.
Resident Snow Plowing

Snow Removal Guidelines for Residents

This winter has already brought several rounds of snowfall to Wheaton, and with more winter weather ahead, simple steps can help keep our community even safer. The following reminders outline ways residents can support safe travel and access for City crews during and after snow events.

  • No Plowing/Blowing/Shoveling Snow into Street: Please do not plow, blow, or shovel snow into the street. Moving snow onto roadways hinders City crews’ efforts to keep streets clear and creates a safety hazard for other drivers. When plowing or using a plowing service, depositing snow onto opposite parkways is prohibited.
  • Keep Sidewalks Clear: The City encourages you to keep the sidewalks near your home clear of snow for the safety of children walking to school or bus stops and other pedestrians. Please consider assisting neighbors who may be unable to clear their sidewalks.
  • Keep Hydrants Clear: Whenever possible, please help the Wheaton Fire Department by clearing snow from hydrants near your property. This ensures firefighters have quick access in the event of a fire.

For more information about snow removal efforts in Wheaton, visit the City’s website.

Employment Opportunities

The City of Wheaton has the following employment opportunities available: 

  • Electrical Services Manager
  • Maintenance Worker (Public Works - Streets Division - Night Shift Sweeper)
  • Part-time Community Service Officer
  • Seasonal Crossing Guard
  • Wheaton Police Officers - Lateral

To apply, visit www.wheaton.il.us/Jobs.
Message from Mayor Suess
Photo collage showing City of Wheaton public works and community scenes. Images include a road roller paving a residential street, people sitting outside near storefronts, construction workers installing a concrete utility structure, a worker in a trench repairing underground infrastructure, a newly poured sidewalk under construction, and the City of Wheaton, Illinois seal.

Welcoming 2026 in Wheaton

As we move into the New Year, I would again thank my colleagues on the City Council, the members of our Boards and Commissions and our City employees for their hard work and dedication in making Wheaton the place we live, work, and raise our families. We are all proud of our community and we are grateful for the involvement of our residents in continuing to maintain Wheaton as an attractive, desirable residential community. 

The year 2025 was again a very successful year for Wheaton. The City remains financially strong, maintaining a AAA bond rating, generating operating surplus, and maintaining reserves above target. Our public safety positions are fully staffed, and our pensions are essentially fully funded. Given our strong financial position, we continue to invest in maintaining the infrastructure of our City and improving our City services. In addition, we are taking on more difficult and challenging projects to address flooding, sewer backups, and road reconstruction. Significant investments continue to be made in streets, sewers, stormwater, water mains, sidewalks, and City facilities. These projects include the removal of lead service lines, replacement of aged water mains, replacing sewer mains, and the ongoing renovations to the Wheaton Public Library plaza. 

In 2025, the City was fortunate to see significant private investments. The downtown continued to benefit from significant renovations of private property including The Kilns Coworking + Social House on Wesley Street, the new Starbucks on Front Street, and the new Innovator building on Front Street. New investments are also being made in the various shopping centers across the City in terms of renovations and new business openings. The past year also saw the commencement of construction on The Faywell, an apartment complex of over 300 units on Liberty Drive. This building will house the Egg Harbor Café, and will have a projected initial occupancy in November 2026. 

Wheaton has benefitted from over 40 new businesses coming into our community, not only in the downtown, but also across the City. These new businesses are an attractive mix of restaurants, retail businesses, as well as services. Even more encouraging is the strong interest of businesses in coming to Wheaton. This upcoming year will have significant announcements of new building projects, renovations and new business activity.

The City of Wheaton enters 2026, the 250th anniversary of our Country, on a high note. We continue to invest in our community, in our people, and in our services to maintain Wheaton as a desirable residential destination in which to live, work, and raise our families. Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.


UPCOMING EVENTS


Community Calendar

  • Nights of Lights, Now-Jan. 4, Lit from 4-10 p.m., Adams Park, located near Main Street & Wesley Street next to the Wheaton Public Library
  • Downtown Wheaton Christmas Tree, Now-Jan. 4, Lit from 4-10 p.m., Downtown Pavilion, located on Liberty Drive near Main Street
  • Electronic, Scrap Metal, Textile & More Recycling Event, Saturday, Jan. 10, 9 a.m.-Noon, Public Works Storage Yard, 820 W. Liberty Drive
  • Cocoa & Coffee Crawl, Saturday, Jan. 10, Noon-3 p.m., Downtown Wheaton

Wheaton Public Library

Register for these events at www.wheatonlibrary.org/calendar. Note: In-person events take place at the Wheaton Public Library, 225 N. Cross St.

  • Organization: What Stays and What Goes, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 7-8 p.m., Virtual
  • Awesome Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 7-8 p.m., Virtual
  • Concert: New Vintage Strings, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2-3 p.m., In-Person
  • Art Demo: Watercolor Scenes, Monday, Jan. 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m., In-Person & Virtual
  • Mobile DMV, Thursday, Jan. 29, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., In-Person



UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS

  • City Council Meeting, Monday, Jan. 5, 7 p.m.
  • Coffee with Council, Saturday, Jan. 10, 10 a.m.
  • City Council Planning Session, Monday, Jan. 12, 7 p.m.
  • City Council Meeting, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m.
  • City Council Planning Session, Monday, Jan. 26, 7 p.m.

City Council Meetings and Planning Sessions are held in the Council Chambers at Wheaton City Hall, 303 W. Wesley St. Coffee with Council takes place in the City Hall Gamon Room. Visit www.wheaton.il.us for a complete list of meetings and events.
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303 W. Wesley St., Wheaton, IL 60187
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