[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6107199,"mediaKeyId","2777321-6702572e5167c69e9bac8eb12440594b","parentId",2777321,"title","St. Charles council approves package of contracts: streetlight LED upgrades, water and sewer work, temporary outdoor dining license","audioSeconds",1240,"startMs",11000,"endMs",1251000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777321-6702572e5167c69e9bac8eb12440594b&start=11&end=1251","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777321-6702572e5167c69e9bac8eb12440594b/thumbnail_11000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6107199/Illinois/St-Charles-council-approves-package-of-contracts-streetlight-LED-upgrades-water-and-sewer-work-temporary-outdoor-dining-license","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107199-bbe16d08b0721a224f3ebcd9f422a7d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436894&Signature=b03Q9ZzBTJmv7XTHSdS7zaOPGgHAB3i6pPac9mrNwXBpWiq~whSugWS7~jwKrtc-PRQAITmmJuQzzxWwf3wty4X9-TW2S23fv1yM9bAWfCqn~TJ6~Y1uqNIraW94eeb2XjsApgD2BCviK77ZP4-pOaE4YVZZ1dL9mbFQ7t7ffhTRd6BBivE~JKEZfkLWrXUy3dMpfiB1~~0g2h4pakp9haw9gGmW7znUWY5iLKhXusL0h5jnQvN1M3u~ICW8r7A-E7e6Odtyjs7iV87sZyM6jzuLvuUQhXetdlUeFU~HwPKPAMJDsVetJWP9buu7OYC2y8ctXyT7N~4iAsCbZNHW8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Saint Charles, IL","date","2025-03-25T19:04:08Z","article","City of St. Charles councilors approved a portfolio of procurement actions and permits covering public-works, utility and downtown placemaking needs, including a temporary outdoor license for Pollyanna Brewing Company and multiple service and material contracts for water, sewer and streets.

The package included: a temporary license authorizing Pollyanna Brewing Company to use the outdoor south-side shared parking lot for outdoor dining (126 seats, a $40 fee collected at the start of the season, total fee revenue estimated at $5,040 under the agreement); an emergency-driven variable frequency drive replacement for Well 9 with a replacement lead time of 16–24 weeks paid from a budget transfer; awarding a one-year streetlight maintenance and LED conversion contract to Mead Electric (with options for two additional years); sanitary sewer lining awarded to National Power Rodding; a three‑year valve exercising and leak‑detection agreement with M.E. Simpson (sole proposer); and several material and landscape contracts (hauling, stone and gravel, and landscape maintenance).

Votes at a glance

- Temporary license agreement — Pollyanna Brewing Company, 106 Riverside Ave.: Motion to approve moved by Bridal, second by David; outcome: approved. Terms: 126 outdoor seats, $40 seasonal fee (not split); license authorizes string lights on private outlet; no deposit required because this is a parking lot rather than a plaza. (Staff estimate: $5,040 total fees.)

- Well 9 variable frequency drive (emergency replacement): Motion moved by Paul, second by Bob; outcome: approved. Replacement required because the existing drive failed; replacement lead time estimated 16–24 weeks; funding via budget transfer from other projects.

- Directional boring services (one-year base with second/third-year options): Award recommended to York Construction Management Company as low responsive bidder; motion approved by roll call.

- Streetlight maintenance and LED upgrade conversions: One‑year purchase order to Mead Electric with second- and third-year extension options; staff said approximately 15% of city streetlights have been converted to LED; motion approved by roll call.

- Valve exercising and leak detection (three‑year service agreement): M.E. Simpson sole proposer and recommended; motion approved by roll call.

- Sanitary sewer lining program: Award to National Power Rodding (lowest bid); program cycles basins on a 14‑year rotation tied to the city’s CMOM basin strategy; motion approved by roll call.

- Water and wastewater treatment chemicals: Contract recommended to Hawkins Chemical as lowest bidder (unit-cost contract); motion approved by roll call.

- IUPA public water supply loan ordinance (Well No. 8 interconnection expansion): Council approved a loan ordinance resolution to remain in line for Illinois Public Water Supply loan program funding; staff estimated a planning-level loan amount of about $17,500,000; motion passed by roll call. Staff noted final loan warrant and exact amounts will return after project bid results.

- Miscellaneous materials and services: hauling services awarded to Marcotte (extension of Schroeder Trucking), stone and gravel awarded to Landscape Material and Firewood Sales of West Chicago, and three-year landscape maintenance contract awarded to Yellowstone Landscape (Roselle service center); motions approved by roll call.

How the council justified approvals

Presenting staff said many of the awards followed the city’s standard procurement process: the lowest responsive, responsible bidder was recommended in each case or — for sole-proposer contracts — staff recommended continuation of a proven vendor relationship. For emergency equipment (Well 9) and time-sensitive replacements (drive lead times long), staff said delaying replacement would risk water-system reliability.

Clarifying details from staff remarks

- Pollyanna Brewing will use a private outlet for string lights and must comply with the city’s food-truck ordinance; no deposit required because the site is a parking lot rather than a public plaza.

- Well 9 VFD replacement is not budgeted; staff will make a budget transfer to cover the cost; replacement lead time is 16–24 weeks.

- Streetlight LED conversion: about 15% converted to date; decorative lights are more expensive; some high-voltage fixtures must be replaced when parts are obsolete.

- Sanitary sewer lining: the city cycles 14 basins on roughly a 14‑year rotation and targets the most severe locations first; unit-cost contract pricing was used and staff based quantities on prior-year billing.

Ending

All listed procurement items were approved at the meeting by roll call, and staff will return with final contract documents, scopes and any approval items that require subsequent formalization (for example, final loan warrant amounts after bids are received).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Government Services Committee Meeting 3-24-2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the March meeting the council approved a series of resolutions awarding contracts and permits: a temporary outdoor license for Pollyanna Brewing, emergency-driven equipment purchases, streetlight LED upgrade work, sewer lining, maintenance and other public-works contracts. Most items passed by roll call during a single meeting block.","taxTitle","Saint Charles City, St. Charles County, Illinois","taxId",53340,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6107204,"St. Charles continues public review of IMEA power sales contract; council seeks more analysis before deciding",4970,1366000,6336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777321-6702572e5167c69e9bac8eb12440594b&start=1366&end=6336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777321-6702572e5167c69e9bac8eb12440594b/thumbnail_1366000.jpg","/articles/6107204/Illinois/St-Charles-continues-public-review-of-IMEA-power-sales-contract-council-seeks-more-analysis-before-deciding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107204-b7ac8ad24f7e2a6b02391127a62ac3dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436894&Signature=l5bPUW3XWj~t8dr0Mqy1Ggh2H~IEEGGjHVdEm9W0~T3fyDiB3-6sJolLhRectN0bgdnEKF4mLlJz5f79cT3ZCLzELNEVd~aFd5QXOLYvj-FBT0lqmRDDJx8hD2AGSToDBWbZlLLiEWGrXl5~b6bsusXaOpFG-eKLl7IQe963Z5FQzEcOrL1ZYvQV135NQwG-USsDz-ay1W0h2aUx5MpoEypDUQ-61fvOGJNiYrwo0H~5lbP9qVhHBCk0tQTjUHts6ayDgWxr~3aAbYBjT-iDCes8xO8gERNnUOaNs91Zxe0bFroS1GbGOcOu1vyajsYRerSOhK8PluAY8v7DVHOBOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of St. Charles staff and councilors spent the meeting’s longest block of time reviewing whether the city should sign a new 20-year power sales contract with the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency that would take effect in February 2035 and run through February 2055. Staff emphasized the offer is a new contract, not an extension of the existing agreement, and members of the public and several council members urged more study before any commitment.

The city’s presentation, delivered by a public works staff member identified in the meeting as Peter, summarized IMEA’s role as a joint-action agency that supplies wholesale power to municipal utilities, outlined IMEA’s recent additions of solar capacity and its stated decarbonization target, and described the timeline IMEA has set for communities to sign up during an open opportunity period that closes April 30, 2025.

Why it matters: the decision would shape where the city buys wholesale power for decades, affect the municipality’s carbon profile and long-term exposure to generation costs, and could influence regional generation owners such as the Prairie State generating facility.

What staff said

Peter told the committee St. Charles has been an IMEA member for decades and that IMEA supplies wholesale electricity and transmission services to the city. He said IMEA’s portfolio currently includes about 11% noncarbon generation and that, once two contracted solar projects come online in late 2026, IMEA’s portfolio would be at least 20% renewable “if we don't find any other renewables until then.” He also said IMEA’s administrative and general costs represent roughly 2.8% of total IMEA expenses and that St. Charles paid about $40.6 million to IMEA in calendar year 2024 for power, transmission and agency services.

Peter emphasized the new power sales agreement is not a renewal clause or an extension of the existing contract but a separate agreement IMEA has offered all of its current members. He described the open enrollment period and the association’s economic-principle rationale — that members who sign in the open window should not face cost increases caused by later joiners — sometimes called cost causation.

Council questions and staff response

Multiple council members pushed for additional, independent analysis before any commitment. Questions included whether the city could join another supplier or a power marketer, how signing now would affect local control and long-term costs, and what protections or “guardrails” the contract contains if IMEA or the Prairie State facility’s portfolio changes.

Staff said the city could remain an IMEA member without a power sales agreement but that it would be impractical because IMEA’s purpose is to supply power to members. Staff also said the city is funding decommissioning liabilities for Prairie State and Trimble County through IMEA and that those decommissioning funds are being collected during the existing contract period.

Consultant work and outside studies

Councilors referenced an independent study being prepared for Naperville and set for presentation April 8; staff said that report will be available to St. Charles and could be used as a starting point. Several council members asked staff to obtain comparable independent cost models and pro forma analyses comparing IMEA membership to alternative procurement paths (for example, power marketers, partial requirements contracts or other joint action agencies) and requested staff solicit presentations or request-for-information responses from other providers so the council can see apples-to-apples comparisons.

Public comments

More than a dozen residents and community representatives spoke during public comment. Speakers raised concerns about Prairie State’s environmental record and the prospect that a long-term commitment could prolong the use of coal-fired generation. Other speakers asked for more transparency, benchmarks tied to IMEA’s sustainability commitments, and for the city to pursue additional competitive bids or cooperative purchasing with nearby communities such as Naperville.

What happened (no formal vote)

Committee members did not take a final vote on any contract. Instead, the council and staff agreed to pursue more information: staff will collect the Naperville study when it is released, seek additional independent pro formas and feasibility analysis, and consider holding public forums in April to widen the public conversation before any decision. Several council members said they would prefer additional months of review rather than a rushed decision before IMEA’s April 30 opportunity window.

Context and next steps

IMEA asked its members to consider the new contract through April 30. Staff said signing in the open period could protect early joiners from costs arising if other jurisdictions join later, but that members who do not sign by the deadline could request to join later subject to IMEA approval and potential cost adjustments. Staff also reiterated that any decision to leave IMEA later would require the city to plan for alternative supply arrangements and make administrative changes.

Staff committed to returning with more analysis and asked councilors to identify the specific options and scenarios they want modeled. The Naperville report is due April 8; councilors asked staff to circulate that report and to plan at least one public forum in April focused on the power-supply question.

Ending

The committee left the meeting without taking a vote on the IMEA proposal and with direction for staff to compile independent cost comparisons, request additional supplier briefings and widen public engagement before any formal council action.

","City staff and councilors spent more than an hour reviewing a proposed new power sales contract with the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency and answering public questions. No formal vote was taken; the IMEA offer window closes April 30, and council members asked staff for more independent analysis and public forums before any commitment.","actionData","errors"]

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St. Charles council approves package of contracts: streetlight LED upgrades, water and sewer work, temporary outdoor dining license

St. Charles continues public review of IMEA power sales contract; council seeks more analysis before deciding