St. Jacob Village Board approves resolution applying for Safe Routes to School Grant
By Stephanie Malench
St. Jacob’s Village Board met on Aug. 20, and the meeting focused on two discussions. Zach Resmann with Resolute Energy Solutions spoke to the board about Illinois Community Shared Solar. Based on the Ameren bills he was provided by the village, they would save $100 per month on their electric bill ($30,000 over the life of the farm) by signing up to receive their energy through one of the new solar farms being built in the area. The developers of the farms are looking for off takers, specifically municipalities and school districts to rent large sections of the farms to reduce turnover. There are no upfront fees or costs to the village.
Resmann said he can have bids from the different developers by the next meeting. Third party rates are between 9 and 10 cents per kilowatt hour and Ameren’s current rate is 14 cents per KwH. After the developers create the allocations, Resmann will bring the allocations back to the village to select a farm and then will find out if that farm is online or when it will go live. The village is also qualified for alternative third-party electricity which could save the village up to $5,000 each year.
The second major discussion was continuing last meeting’s discussion with Jody Shaw with Oates and Associates regarding the application for the Safe Routes to School grant. Before Shaw took the floor to address the answers she did not have the previous meeting, trustee Nick Timmons asked for clarification on which engineering firm is responsible for which projects. He said he had been on the phone with Bob Massa and Danielle Juneau about another project and learned that Juneau Engineers had been directed by Mayor Richard Schiefer on May 9 at 3 p.m. to move forward with a Safe Routes to School grant to be presented in November. Timmons wanted guidance on how to proceed with two firms doing two projects.
Trustee George Gavlick asked Shaw if it was normal for a municipality to work with two different engineering firms. Shaw said it is not uncommon and the village could apply twice with both firms. Shaw said it is up to the village which of the two projects fits with the village’s goals. Schiefer said he does not remember giving Danielle permission to move forward but would check with her.
Timmons said he would ask Kathy to put all the items he has discussed with Juneau on the next agenda for the board to discuss.
When Shaw began her presentation, she said the village does not need to earmark funds for the application. Attorney James Craney emailed his thoughts on the ordinance language and also said IDOT will front the upfront costs. Bills will only be sent to local agencies for the matching portions or anything over the grant amount. Craney submitted new language for the resolution which Shaw agreed with. Gavlick wanted known that the St. Jacob Township Park Board approved granting the easement without any money from the Village. The resolution passed with only Timmons voting no.
The board also approved Craney’s recommendation that the policy manual be updated to include the Illinois Municipal League’s recommended language in relation to the Return-To-Work program policy required by the Risk Management Association.
Since the Aug. 6 meeting, the police department wrote seven tickets and collected $500 in fees and fines.
The last report was by public works director EJ Rahar. He said the milling is done on the area streets and oil and chip is set for Sept. 10. He also stated that they are finally getting caught up on cleaning up the weeds on village properties.
The next meeting is Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. in village hall.
