Savanna Will Apply for Geo-Thermal Well Field Grant on Behalf of Historical Society

By Michael Miller For The Prairie Advocate News

The Savanna City Council heard a proposal from the Savanna Historical Society to apply for a grant on their behalf that would help them install a geothermal well field, in the Council’s regularly scheduled meeting on January 26th, 2010.

The meeting was attended by Council members Jack Fosdick, Lois Hunsaker, Jeff Griswold, Bill Grummitt, Peg Haffey, Rosalie Hansen, Merle Long and Bill Robinson. Also in attendance were Mayor Larry Stebbins, City Clerk Paul Hartman, City Attorney Phil Jensen, Comptroller/Treasurer Sheryl Sipe, Police Chief Michael Moon and Fire Chief Shawn Picolotti.

The meeting opened with Committee reports, with Hotel/Motel Chairperson Grummitt informing the Council about the Committee’s new billboard and presenting an artwork sample for them to peruse. Grummitt said the billboard will be going up in a few days in Elizabeth on Route 20 for a period of one year, and that it will periodically be changed. Mr. Grummitt also briefly touched on the nonpayment of taxes on two local properties, with the Committee recommending that the City Attorney move ahead with correction action by correspondence.

Long delivered the Building and Public Property Committee report, which was highlighted by a recap of Amy Trimble’s presentation. Ms. Trimble had detailed the basic services of the People’s Economic Development Group, a firm devoted to preserving downtown commercial buildings from decay and demolition. The committee resolved to further investigate alternatives to preserve downtown business area buildings. Long commented that nothing had been resolved and that there were more questions in the offing. He also reported that the bike trail had been plowed and that more details would be available at the next committee meeting.

Hansen was up next with the newly formed Census Committee’s report. She reported on the committee’s redefined goals in promoting the census, which included putting a message in the City’s service bills encouraging participation in the census, putting a mayoral proclamation in the newspaper, having the Chamber of Commerce mass mail the census flyer to all members, distributing flyers to designated sites, working with the school district to stress the importance of participation, and assisting Big Meadows and the Carroll County Housing Authority residents in filling out the census forms.

The Council reviewed and accepted correspondence from the Haunted Forest Committee, retracting their earlier request for use of the City’s fire truck.

Mayor Stebbins made a series of appointments, all of which were unanimously accepted. He appointed Superintendent of Public Works John Lindeman to the Whiteside County Enterprise Zone, Bill Grummitt to the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) Review Board, Sheryl Sipe to the Office of Public Access Counselor, and Linda Yenney and Shannon Case to the positions of FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) officers.

Following up on the Haunted Forest Committee’s request retraction, the Council moved to award the bid for a 1976 Ford fire truck to the Sangamon County Rescue Squad for the amount of $2001.00.

The Council then reviewed a letter from CenturyLink notifying the City that the sole remaining pay phone will be removed, persuant to the deregulation of pay phones by the FCC on April 7, 2007. According to this regulation, any pay phones not generating enough revenue to support service costs will be removed. The City does have the option paying $49.75 a month for a customer supported pay phone, going to a restricted business line with toll restrictions, or seeking service from another pay phone provider. A brief discussion followed, with Grummitt commenting that he was “sad to see it leaving” and expressing concerns about citizens’ safety if the phone were removed. Stebbins remarked that emergency response was available outside the fire station, and Griswold commented on the fact that most people have cell phones now and that the prevailing technology may have rendered the pay phone obsolete.

The Council reviewed an ordinance that would create an easement allowing a right of way for the City’s sewer system to extend out to the Carroll Heights Homeowner’s Association. Fosdick motioned to read the ordinance by title only and the motion was unanimously approved.

John LeCompte of the Savanna Historical Society addressed the Council, reporting that the Society had been in contact with Blackhawk Hills RC and D, and wished to apply for a $147,190.00 grant that would allow them to complete installation of geothermal well fields. LeCompte asked if the City would apply for this grant on the Society’s behalf. He added that the Historical Society would be pay all costs associated with funding this grant. He explained that the total cost of the project was estimated at approximately $250,000.00, which breaks down to $65,000.00 for the deep wells, $156,890.00 for the units themselves, $1100.00 for sand and materials, and the remainder for donated labor. Long motioned, seconded by Robinson, to approve the request and the Council unanimously approved it as Resolution #955.

Hansen commented on some complaints and concerns she had received regarding what the complainants perceived as the slow pace of progress on the proposed Skateboard/Youth Park. She expressed concern that another community might get the grant money for the Park, and dissatisfaction with the job the Skateboard Park/Snowmobile Trail had done. Mayor Stebbins said in response that he had never commented that the City might lose the grant, and that the original grant was specific to a location. Stebbins went on to say that “whenever you are using taxpayer money, you need to do it right”. Grummitt concurred with this sentiment, and asked what was to be done if the proposed site could not hold concrete.

On a related note, Robinson revealed that he had received a call from a Park District member and that the Park District seemed to be “backing down” from being willing to take on the responsibility of the Park. He said the member cited issues with ensuring that the kids wear the proper equipment as one potential obstacle to their involvement.

A representative of Willette Hofmann was present at the meeting, and commented that the proposed area was on a flood plain and might be classified as a wetlands, though further analysis was needed.

Capping the meeting, Moon wanted the public to know about a scam that might be perpetrated in the area. He said that there is a “gypsy group” ripping off elderly citizens by showing up at residences, claiming to be from either the water or power company, then once being allowed into the home, having a second member sneak in the back and steal items. Moon said this group had been described as being Hispanic when in reality they were gypsies from the Elgin, Illinois area. Moon said they had already hit several areas out North, and had been known to drive a black van.

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