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Attorney briefs trustees on 1991 Ameren street-lighting discount and possible franchise extension
Summary
Village attorney reported the 1991 ordinance granted a 60% discount on taxes and delivery for street lighting; trustees discussed lack of itemization from Ameren, third-party suppliers, and a possible 20-year franchise-extension model yielding about $20,000/year.
Attorney Brandon Clark summarized the Village's inquiry into a 1991 ordinance with Ameren that the Village interpreted as securing a 60% street-lighting discount. Clark said the discount applies to taxes and delivery rather than electricity supply and that Ameren had not provided an itemization; the village has been working through a third-party supplier for supply.
Clark said correspondence with Ameren had no response at first, was forwarded to government relations in Springfield, and that a third-party contact suggested modeling a 20-year franchise extension (franchise-payment structure) similar to existing gas-delivery terms to preserve the village's financial benefit. President Samples referenced an approximate village figure of $20,000 per year related to the historical ordinance and discount calculations and Clark said documented itemization showed over $12,000 in discounts for taxes and delivery.
No ordinance change was adopted at the meeting; the attorney recommended additional investigation to determine whether returning to Ameren or pursuing a franchise-extension agreement would recover or preserve village value. Trustees asked staff to explore options.
