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Morton moves forward with negotiations for emergency gas back‑feed station with Ameren
Summary
Trustees authorized staff to negotiate with Ameren and Panhandle on an emergency natural‑gas back‑feed station near West Queenwood Road; Ameren’s estimated installation cost was presented as $508,082.40 with about $37,240 in annual operating costs and the village plans to install roughly 4,000 lineal feet of gas main.
The Village of Morton Board on May 19 approved a resolution authorizing negotiation and preliminary steps toward an emergency natural‑gas back‑feed connection that would provide an alternate source of gas to the village in emergencies.
Public works staff described a long‑running effort with Ameren and Panhandle and said Ameren would facilitate a back‑feed station along West Queenwood Road. The village was told Ameren’s current estimate for installing the station is $508,082.40 with a recurring annual operating and maintenance cost of $37,240. The village plans to install approximately 4,000 lineal feet of gas main from I‑155 to the back‑feed station; trustees said they budgeted $700,000 for construction and expected to come in under budget.
Trustees voted to authorize further negotiation and steps with Ameren and Panhandle. Staff and trustees framed the project as a safety and resiliency measure that had been discussed with prior administrations; one trustee said the matter had been a concern since she first joined the board and thanked staff for progress. Staff said rights‑of‑way and easements were previously acquired for the corridor and that work could proceed this summer pending final agreements.
No final agreement was executed at the meeting; the resolution authorized additional negotiation and procedural steps to finalize a contract.
