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Council hears RISE grant award, EV charging station plan and mutual‑aid MOU with Lakeland College
Summary
Staff reported a RISE implementation grant to buy roughly 2.68 acres for residential development, described grant-funded EV charging station plans at the former fire station site (revised cost $62,199.39) and previewed a mutual‑aid agreement with Lakeland College Police Department to be returned with indemnification language.
City staff told council the city had been approved for a RISE implementation grant from the Illinois DCEO to purchase about 2.68 acres from HSHS on the north side of Heritage for future residential development; staff said the parcel could yield an estimated 14–17 lots once platting and zoning are complete. The original numeric string in the staff presentation was unclear; a council member later characterized the award as about $373,000.
Staff also described two grants totaling $79,435 to support installation of an electric vehicle fast‑charging station at the site of the former fire station. The project cost was revised during the meeting to $62,199.39 to include commissioning and installation; staff said the grants would cover most of the cost but that additional expenses are expected to run power from Ameren and to install conduit/piping to support a potential second charging station later.
Police Chief Davis summarized a proposed mutual‑aid memorandum of understanding with Lakeland College Police Department to provide assistance for campus events and emergencies and to enable direct radio communication to city dispatch. Chief Davis said the draft is substantially similar to an existing MOU in Mattoon but that city legal staff requested additional indemnification language; staff will return a finalized version for approval.
Council members generally reacted favorably to the grant news and to the EV charging proposal and asked staff to bring finalized agreements and procurement details back for formal action.
