Peru approves electric service cost of service study

Another study in Peru has left the city council torn.  The council Monday night narrowly approved a cost of service study of electric services for $22,850.  The study will examine if the city is loosing money with some of their large power users.

Alderman Dave Potthoff is one of the aldermen against it.  He says cost of service is another word for cost increases and sees no benefit.  He points out that the large consumer rate increased by 5% a year ago and the residential rate is kept profitable by using a multiplier.

Aldermen Bob Ankiewicz, Tony Ferrari, and Jack O’Beirne also vated no, creating a tie that was broken by Mayor Scott Harl’s yes vote.

The study will be conducted by a firm called V.H.M.G.  It’s recommended by the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency.  It should take approximately six weeks to conduct.

Peru puts street project on hold until next year

Some of the bumpy roads in Peru will be staying that way for another year.  After bidding out the streets project twice, the city receive only one bid that came in $88,000 over the engineer’s estimate.

The council voted Monday night to throw out the vote and hold the program over until next year.

Engineer Roger Chamlin says they shouldn’t wait so long to bid out the project, recommending they bid early next year.

The streets project would have been paid for using money from Motor Fuel Tax and general fund.  At least the Motor Fuel Tax money will be available next year.

In the meantime, they’re hoping city crews can patch a poor stretch of road near Dairy Queen so they can make it until next year.

Bureau Valley Fire Deemed Suspicious

The investigation continues into a suspicious fire at the Bureau Valley School District office.

Firefighters from across Bureau County responded to the office around six o’clock Friday morning in Manlius.  The fire was contained to the east part of the building and did extensive fire and smoke damage.

The fire damaged some computers with district records but the start of school won’t be delayed.

Streator Biker Improving

A biker from Streator who was flown to Peoria after wrecking with another bike is improving.

Robert Jordan is in good condition after a Friday night wreck on Route 23 north of Streator.  According to the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office, Jordan and Jerry Osterdock of Cornell were both driving south when the handlebars of the bikes bumped as Osterdock was changing lanes.  The bumping caused Jordan to lose control and wreck.  Osterdock wasn’t hurt.

Osterdock was arrested for DUI and improper lane use and taken to the county jail.  Jordan is also facing a DUI charge of drugs and alcohol along with possession of cannabis and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

The accident happened just before midnight Friday.

IDOT plans bridge repairs in Bureau County

Repair work will be shutting down three bridges crossing Interstate 80 in Bureau County.

Starting Thursday, 3100 East Road and 2600 East Road will be closed for repairs until August 5.

Starting August 5 3000 East Road will be closed until August 17.

IDOT says the work is part of a $22 million contract awarded to D Construction of Coal City.

Crews will also be removing and replacing six bridges, removing two bridges to be replaced with embankment.

Streator parishes to be used as “seed churches”

Ever heard the term seed churches used?  Church leaders in Streator are using it describe the future of the city’s catholic churches.

In the letter sent to parishioners last week detailing consolidation plans, Reverend Monsignor John Prendergast says Immaculate Conception, St. Anthony’s, St. Stephen’s and St. Casimir Churches will become “seed churches” for new churches to be built in Haiti and Slovakia.  He says the current churches won’t be destroyed but would become “the seeds of faith for those without a house of God.”

Prendergast says the organization “Food for the Poor” will take whatever is not used in a new church or redesign from Immaculate Conception, St. Anthony and St. Casimir’s and build churches in Haiti.  The Archbishop from Slovakia will then build a church from contents remaining from St. Stephen’s Church when it closes.

Meeting focuses on downtown Ottawa historic district

A portion of downtown Ottawa will be included in a proposed downtown historic commercial district and a discussion tonight will help officials decide where the boundaries will be.

The city has hired Peoples Economic Development Corporation using a federal grant to develop the area.

This evening’s meeting is geared toward owners of historic buildings, people interested in downtown real estate, bankers and craftsmen interested restoration work.

The meeting is from 7-9pm in the city council chambers.

Working meeting for appropriations ordinance

A working meeting in La Salle will give the city council time to work on the new fiscal year’s appropriation ordinance.

The appropriations isn’t a budget, but it estimates spending and revenues.

They plan to approve the appropriations at the following regular meeting.

Monday’s working meeting begins at 6pm.