Sara Zumwalt for Ward 2

03/15/2026

⚠️ Public Safety Notice – Please Avoid Route 16 (East End of Town) 03/15/26 4pm

Route 16 to Hillsboro is currently closed!

Our emergency crews are currently responding to a structural fire on the east end of town near Route 16. With strong winds, fire conditions can become unpredictable and extremely dangerous.

Please avoid the area and allow our first responders the space they need to safely and effectively do their jobs. Keeping roadways clear ensures emergency vehicles can move quickly and crews can focus on protecting lives and property.

Additionally, thunderstorms are expected to move through the area later tonight, which may further complicate conditions.

We are grateful for the professionalism and dedication of our firefighters, police officers, and emergency personnel working this incident.

Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and support. Please stay clear of the area until further notice.

(Update Fire is under control and Route 16 is back open. Thank you to all our local first responders. It is a testament to their skill and professionalism that the fire did not spread today!)

02/06/2026

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is an old adage my grandpa used to say.

That sentiment is how I felt about the hunting license issue on the council table last night.

The permits felt like busy-work to me. Hunters already have hunting licenses, which they applied for and paid for. Vehicles have license plates, which could be run with a phone call to law enforcement if needed. Most people carry their wallets, which have ID. We could easily access all of this information when necessary.

Instead, we added another form to fill out and file. A duplication of information already available, which we may never need to access if there are no accidents or incidents to our hunters. These forms would be kept at the lake office, which means getting to it could be time consuming.

The issue, in its essence, was that out of town hunters don’t “know the rules” of our lake. Requiring a form that they don’t know they need isn’t going to help that issue. People don’t investigate the rules on something that they have done before to see if changes were made.

The lake crew is small, and this added another responsibility to an already big job. A job that really was done, without any form or placard card, but with standards and rules already in place by IDNR and the State of Illinois.

I didn’t see it as broke. So I voted not to fix it.

01/14/2026

Dear Citizens,

An issue is coming to the city council at the January 22 meeting that needs your attention.

Walton Park has long been a beautiful and peaceful destination for those who enjoy the outdoors. The park is owned by the city but maintained by the Litchfield Park District.

The issue at hand does not include the park itself, but the abandoned “American Legion” hall on the north side of the lake.
The city has been approached by an individual who would like to purchase the property and build a private home there.

This home would be in full view of anyone approaching Walton Park from either direction. It would become the focal point of the northern side of the lake.

My fellow aldermen Robbin Huffman, Dwayne Gerl and Marilyn Sisson and I oppose the sale of this property for a private home. Instead, we would like to see the legion building demolished and a public pavilion with picnic tables placed there instead. We would like to make the north side of the lake into a family friendly place for citizens to enjoy.

We do not believe the beauty of our Walton Park lake should be made into private property for one individual to build a home. We have many lots available in the Eagle Ridge subdivision that are near a lake and already developed for homes.

If you agree that this area should remain a public space, please contact your aldermen. Others on the council would prefer selling the property via sealed bid to the highest bidder. They prefer the property taxes that will be collected by the city rather than maintaining the sanctuary of Walton Park’s northern shores.

The vote on January 22 will be a question of whether or not to declare the property “surplus,” which, if passed, allows the land to be sold. Four of us do not want this to happen.

Your voices need to be heard to keep this property public and to encourage the development of additional pavilions and picnic areas. Please contact your aldermen today.

10/01/2025

Send a message to learn more

09/29/2025

Boil order still in effect.

09/29/2025

Please continue to bear with the city as we remedy this situation.

09/27/2025

From our Mayor Jake Fleming

How to boil and disinfect water to kill most disease-causing microorganisms during emergency situations where regular water service has been interrupted and local authorities recommend using only bottled water, boiled water, or disinfected water.

09/25/2025

🚰 Water Update – 09/25/25
The boil order remains in effect. We will provide another update later today.

It’s truly all hands on deck as we work to resolve this issue. Critical parts have been ordered, and every step is being taken to restore water service as quickly as possible.

I know this is frustrating, and I deeply appreciate your patience and understanding. At this time, we do not have a firm resolution timeframe—but as soon as we know, you will know.

— Mayor Jacob Fleming

09/25/2025

City wide boil order!!

09/05/2025

Boil order alert!

08/10/2025

Please use this service wisely.

🚨 Litchfield Update: Ordinance Enforcement🚨

Litchfield now has a full-time, uniformed Ordinance Officer to help keep our community safe, clean, and welcoming.

📞 To report an ordinance issue:
Call 217-324-8159.
All concerns are addressed in the order they are received.

✅ Common ordinance issues include:
• Tall grass & weeds 🌱
• Junk or debris in yards 🗑️
• Unlicensed or abandoned vehicles 🚗
• Animal complaints 🐕 (For fines, the officer will work with County Animal Control if an animal pick-up is required)
• Other local code violations 🏠

📌 How it works:
1. Call 217-324-8159 to report your concern.
2. The Ordinance Officer will investigate and address it in order.
3. If your issue is not resolved after following this process, contact me or your alderperson.

💡 Extra Support:
Our Ordinance Officer has been trained to connect older residents or those with disabilities to local community organizations that can assist with certain issues when needed.

Let’s keep Litchfield looking its best — together! 🧹💪

— Mayor Jacob Fleming