DANVILLE — Aldermen Tuesday night heard from Good Energy officials, based out of Peoria and New York, about the consultant working with the city to get the best rate for the electrical aggregation program.

The full city council will act on an agreement next week, but if the referendum passes in the city on April 9, Danville’s electrical rate would be bid with a group of other communities represented by Good Energy.

“There is no outlay financially from the city,” Mayor Scott Eisenhauer again repeated.

A fee of not more than .00075 cents per kilowatt hour for Good Energy would be added to the bid rate the city approves.

An aggregation program gives the city the authority to enter into an electric supply power contract on behalf of residents and small businesses in the city that have not opted out with the intent to secure a lower rate for electric service. This would yield reduced electric bills.

Eisenhauer said if Danville residents now with Integrys want to opt out after a rate is established, they can without penalty.

Residents also can opt-out of the city-endorsed plan and go with someone else, he added.

All residents could start seeing savings in their electric bills, if the referendum passes, by July and August. It could take longer for budget billing customers.

In other business Tuesday, the city council’s Public Works Committee heard from Germantown neighborhood resident Neele Azaka, who lives on Pries Street, about the street’s poor condition.

Azaka is one of about 80 residents in the neighborhood who sent a petition to city officials wanting to see the streets and sidewalks improved in their neighborhood.

“There’s a lot more traffic in the area,” he said, adding that residents are worried about children being hit by vehicles and the vehicles “jumping to one side to the other to avoid pot holes.”

“This is something that has to be dealt with,” Azaka added.

Ward 3 Alderman Bill Gilbert and Public Works director Doug Ahrens agree, with Ahrens adding, “it’s one of two of the top worst ride-ability wise.”

The public works committee recommended using $450,000 in motor fuel tax funds for proposed improvements to Maple, Pries and parts of May streets.

Residents asked for sidewalk upgrades throughout the area, but Urban Services director David Schnelle said only part of the area will see upgrades.

The project is associated with the additional truck traffic at the Watchfire and Automation International facilities.

“That all will be done this summer,” Eisenhauer told Azaka about the improved roadways.

Committee members also received an update on the detention area/storm water management that has not been functioning properly at the First United Methodist Church, 1400 N. Vermilion St.

Schnelle told alderman that paving performed at the church was not done through the city’s normal permitting process. The contractor was fined for not getting permits.

The city was to try to help finish some work on the issue today.

Also Tuesday, the committee recommended approving:

• A $15,000 contract with Donald Archer of Oakwood to act as a professional land acquisition specialist to acquire right-of-way and easements for the Bowman Avenue project. The next phase focuses on the section from Crestview to Winter Avenue.

The city has had appraisals and right-of-way plats prepared for 16 properties. The city is engaging a land acquisition specialist due to the project requiring federal land acquisition procedures.

• Using $260,000 in Motor Fuel Tax funds as the city’s share of the proposed shared-use path along Fairchild and Jackson streets to connect the Fairchild overpass and Lincoln Park shared-use paths.

The city has been awarded $1.3 million in Illinois Transportation Enhancement funds for the shared-use path.

• A $10,519 contract with Knight and Associates Surveying of Paris to perform surveying work for the proposed Danville High School shared-use path.
• The sale of a 1992 Gillig Phantom bus for the scrap value price of not less than $2,000. The city will offer the spare parts for the bus to other Illinois transit providers and sell them for the highest bid. This is the last bus of its type in the fleet, so spare parts will no longer be needed.
• Disposal of equipment and vehicles for sale or scrap. The equipment includes a 1998 International Harvester Vactor truck, 1992 grader, 1981 John Deere end loader, 2005 windrow turner and 2003 transporter/winch sewer televising equipment. They will be advertised on eBay and/or trade equipment magazines.
• Purchasing an emergency diesel generator for the public works facility on Voorhees Street. The sole bid was submitted by Cummins Crosspoint, LLC of Normal for $79,180.
• A $77,473 contract with Advanced Wayne Cain & Sons Roofing of Urbana for a new roof at Harrison Park Clubhouse.
• Entering into a five-year agreement with Comcast to provide telephone and Internet services for the city. The cost to the city is $4,558 per month.