Du Quoin council finds savings in two places

The Du Quoin City Council Monday found savings for Du Quoin electric users and in the ongoing reconstruction of downtown water lines, new sidewalks and repaving East Main Street.

Nick Hill of Select Energy Partners told the council that by joining a larger pool of 10 Southern Illinois communities that have approved electric aggregation Du Quoin will realize savings through March 2015 between 6 and 10 percent beyond its recent contract with Ameren subsidiary Homefield Energy.

Based upon electric usage between Du Quoin and Pinckneyville the savings could approximate another $56,000. The council approved the amendment to the current contract as did Pinckneyville Monday.

After a Monday meeting between administrator Brad Myers, IDOT and engineers the city believes the Main Street water project will come in at $59,782 less than early estimates with savings of another $75,000 to $100,000 on sidewalk replacement and resurfacing in the next year. Main Street from Washington to Hickory will get a new three-inch asphalt overlay. The meeting made it "a very good day for Du Quoin" said one council member.

Nine-five percent of the Main Street water project has been completed. Residential boulevards will be cleaned up and reseeded in the coming days Thirty-five percent of the Washington Street project is complete.

The council voted to spend $14,725 with Community Link of Pinckneyville to develop a new website to promote the Du Quoin Industrial Park. The site will link to a "You Tube" video that will show the solar power benefits.