The City of Edwardsville and its professional staff work every day to serve

the community and improve quality of life. The City's E-newsletter was

created to share news, information and more for our residents,

businesses, property owners and all stakeholders.

Please also see below to sign up for the City Business E-newsletter, news from the Wildey Theatre and the Parks and Recreation Department!

City's Hydrant Flushing Program is Underway

The City’s 2023 hydrant flushing program got underway in late March. As part of the program, the City of Edwardsville’s Water Division began flushing water mains and hydrants.  

This annual maintenance work is essential because it ensures the continued delivery of high-quality water to homes and businesses. City workers also inspect all fire hydrants to maintain firefighting capabilities and public safety. Crews will be going hydrant to hydrant within the City’s 24 water routes as part of the process, so please be alert for workers in the affected areas. The program began in Routes 18, 19 and 20, and is continuing in Routes 21, 22 and 23. The streets in each affected route are on the City’s website. 

Hydrant flushing periodically may lead to incidents of cloudy or discolored water, water pressure that is lower than usual, and the possibility of air in water lines. If you experience cloudy or discolored water, please try flushing your cold water tap for a few minutes until the water runs clear. If you experience prolonged periods of cloudy or discolored water or have other water issues, please call the Public Works Department at 618-692-7535.

Maple Tree in Declining Health to be Removed

City Park is losing a dear, old friend: A towering maple tree estimated to be about 125 years old will be removed in the near future amid safety concerns about its declining health.

The maple tree reaches high into the sky, its branches sprawling far and wide, in a prominent spot in the downtown park. It’s roughly centered between the Edwardsville Public Library and South Buchanan Street. 

"We've been keeping an eye on it for about five years," said Sarah Cundiff, the chair of the City's Beautification & Tree Commission. "We knew it was declining and have been trying to keep it as long as possible. With that being such an active park, it's a safety concern."

An exact date hasn't been set for the tree to be brought down, but it's expected to take place by April 10. Cundiff said it's with a heavy heart that the decision was made to remove the towering maple. 

"It's such a cool tree. But trees are a living thing, and they do come and go," said Cundiff, noting that an arborist evaluated the tree recently and suggested the time had come to remove it. "Although it's a loss for City Park, it is a replaceable loss."

To mark the significance of this tree and memorialize the impending loss, a thank you tribute has been affixed to it. It was adapted from the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery's "Notice of Tree Removal."

To read more about the tree removal, click here. For more on the Beautification and Tree Commission, here. 



Click the image above for more details and an application for the Edwardsville Police Department. Applications for entry-level officers are due no later than Friday, March 31.

Or, visit: www.cityofedwardsville.com/698/Police-Recruitment

Other Job Openings With the City

Public Works

Project Engineer

Apply through April 30

Parks and Recreation

Full-time Parks Laborer

Apply through April 30

Parks and Recreation

Seasonal Parks Laborer

Apply through April 30

R.P. Lumber Center

Skating Instructor

Apply through April 30

Edwardsville Public Library

Library Director

Apply through April 30

Edwardsville Public Library

Adult Services Head Librarian

Apply through April 30

R.P. Lumber Center

Hockey Instructor

Apply through April 30

Parks and Recreation

Parks Facilities Supervisor

Apply through April 30

Visit this link for job opening details and to apply. 

Sign up to receive alerts about new employment opportunities with the City.

Citizens Police Academy Graduates are Honored

The newest graduates of the Edwardsville Police Department's Citizens Police Academy graduated on Tuesday, March 28. The academy is offered periodically. To learn more about the program, click here.

Battle of the Badges Blood Drive Set for April 10

The next Battle of the Badges blood drive is set for Monday, April 10. It is being hosted by the Edwardsville Fire and Police Departments and helps address an ongoing need for blood donations. The blood drive will run from noon to 6 p.m. at the Public Safety Building, 333 S. Main Street. Schedule an appointment at RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code EdwardsvilleBB.

City of Edwardsville on YouTube

Watch Now: Candidate Forum

The 2023 Consolidated Election is set for Tuesday, April 4. There are four City Council seats on the ballot: Wards 1, 3, 5 and 7. Two wards, 3 and 7, are contested, meaning two or more candidates are running. Earlier in March, the League of Women Voters of the Edwardsville Area and the NAACP of Edwardsville sponsored a candidate forum attended by the four candidates vying in Wards 3 and 7. Candidates running for the Edwardsville District 7 School Board also participated. You can watch that video here and on our YouTube channel.

Find a list of candidates, polling information and more on the Madison County Clerk's website.

Spotlight Edwardsville

Our latest Spotlight Edwardsville video is now available on our YouTube channel. In this installment, Mayor Art Risavy visited GC Cuisine and Crystal Garden Banquet and Event Center. You can learn more about our Spotlight Edwardsville series and nominate a business or organization here.

Business Forecast Breakfast

The City's Business Forecast Breakfast took place on March 7. The annual event offers an opportunity to showcase business development that has taken place in the past year and that which is on the horizon. The City honored its 2022 Large Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year and Nonprofit Business of the year. Chad Opel, a finance coach and advisor with Front Office Wealth Strategies, was the keynote speaker. See the video on the City's YouTube channel.

Click the image above to check out a video of the Business Forecast Breakfast presentation.

City Boards and Committees

Our boards and committees have been set up to help the City accomplish priorities and provide input on a variety of topics. These boards and committees rely on residents who volunteer their time to participate in meetings and activities.

Among current volunteer opportunities for residents are the Tourism Advisory Committee and Human Relations Committee. (Click on the committee names to learn more about them.)

Applications are considered by the mayor, who makes recommendations to the full City Council. Individuals are appointed on the basis of: openings on a board/committee/commission, date application is received, and qualifications for the appointment sought. Residents can learn more about the process, the existing boards and submit an application here.



Upcoming Events

The Wheels & Walk Festival is returning for a second year on April 15. This fun event starts with an approximately 2.5-mile walk on area trails (bike, skate or scooter, too -- how you hit the trails is up to you). There are two starting points: at SIUE and the N.O. Nelson Complex, home to Lewis and Clark Community College's Edwardsville campus. They both lead to the Ironworks development on Plum Street, where music, food, drinks and fun will await. Participants can bring an item to donate to Glen-Ed Food Pantry or the Cougar Cupboard Pantry for a $5 food voucher (available to the first 200 participants who donate). The event is being hosted by the Campus to Community Committee, a collaboration of the City, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Lewis and Clark Community College. Find route maps, registration and other details here or by clicking the image above.

In addition to the City Council, which is Edwardsville's governing body, there are many boards, committees and commissions that serve our community.

To view meeting dates, please visit this link.



Interested in serving on a committee or board? Visit this link.