Du Quoin and Pinckneyville Discuss Electric Aggregation Vote
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[In the coming days the Du Quoin Evening Call will answer every imaginable question about the referendum asking voters if they choose to allow the cities of Du Quoin and Pinckneyville to settle on one electric utility provider. Addressing the question will take far more space than allowed here.
But, on Monday night a Select Energy contingent that included Nick Hill of Du Quoin did a good job in wresting most fears about the proposal.
Select Energy representatives fielded questions from both council audiences Monday. Generally the answers focused on the fact that only voters in the corporate limits of Du Quoin and Pinckneyville can vote on the issue.
They also explained the concept that electricity is both sold onto the nationwide grid by electric utilities and purchased off of the same grid by utilities and energy resellers. There is no such thing as "my power" or "your power" so it gets down to not the electricity, but who you pay for it.
Approval of the referenda only allows the cities to begin negotiations with any or all of seven independent providers. You are voting to allow the cities to be your representative in finding the best rates for customers.
And, finally, even if the referendum passes you can opt out of the program and stay with Ameren. Ameren will continue to service all of its power lines and equipments before, during and after storms.
Regardless of the provider you will only get one bill.
In Pinckneyville
The Pinckneyville City Council agreed to pay $49,492 to add variable frequency drives to motors on the blowers at the east treatment plant and boaters at the pump station near the Junior High School.
The city will be reimbursed for $39,760 through a grant program administered by DCEO which disburses funds state law requires Ameren to collect and spend on energy efficiency programs.
Representatives from Illinois Electric Works estimate the variable frequency drives will save the city $16,900 in electricity costs each year. They will handle the grant paperwork and installation of the Toshiba drives.
The city has up to 20 motors which could benefit from the drives, but narrowed it to two. The city may choose to add drives to additional motors in the future. The estimated savings in electricity was $40,000 per year if all motors were fitted with variable frequency drives.
The program has been in place for several years. However, the current funding year ends May 31. A new funding year begins June 1.
In other business, the board:
placed on file for public inspection a resolution authorizing the 2012 motor fuel tax program, appropriating the sum of $186,000 for street maintenance and authorizing the advertisement for bids.
approved the mowing contracts placed on file at the previous meeting. The two-year contracts went to J & S Services for the ball fields at an annual cost of $5,760 and Simply Beautiful Landscaping for $8,500 per year for the park.
placed on file for public inspection a contract with Steve Tanner, doing business as Designs Unlimited, allowing him to continue leasing city-owned property for billboards for $1,000 per year.
passed an ordinance allowing the company which maintains the city's code book to update the book to reflect changes approved by the council in the past year.
In Du Quoin
The Du Quoin City Council on Monday acted on the following agenda.
The council approved Ordinance 2012-02-01: An ordinance authorizing the sale of property on North Walnut Street
The council approved Ordinance 2012-02-02: An ordinance authorizing the vacating of an alley between Poplar and Franklin Streets and Blackburn and Ballantine Streets.-Public Display.
The council approved the Final Plat on Washington Plaza West Subdivision near the Southtown Shopping Center.
Fire Chief Bob Shaw updated the city council on work and training of members of the Du Quoin Fire Department and the council voted to proceed with implementing/incorporating, by ordinance, job descriptions/responsibility of Fire department personnel in the current code of ordinances. It is a work in progress that will continue into the next council meeting and beyond.
The council voted to proceed with implementing/incorporating, by ordinance, a standard hiring practice for new part-time, seasonal, temporary full-time and/or full time employees (see top story above).
The council approved to proceed with the condemnation of property located at 602 S. Jefferson St., 222 S. Mulberry St., and 529 Smith Ave.
The council approved the creation of a Temporary Art Committee and the associated membership. An upcoming story this week will detail that work.
The council approved to proceed with seeking out the best banking options on five of the City's bank accounts
Review the TIF #3 Timeline and Schedule requirements for Special Meetings.
The council met in special session at 7:30 a.m. this morning to take care of matters having to do with the TIF 3 program.