The Weekly Post
Thursday August 21, 2014 Vol. 2, No. 26 Hot news tip? Want to advertise? Call (309) 741-9790
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Farmington to vote again on energy supplier By MICHELLE SHERMAN
FARMINGTON – Farmington residents soon may see savings on their electrical bills if they pass a referendum proposed for the second time this year. The measure, which will be on the November ballot, was considered by residents of Cuba and Farmington in March. If passed, the city would enter into a collective of municipalities and small busiFor The Weekly Post
nesses that would allow them to purchase electricity in bulk, resulting in lower prices. The Farmington City Council waived the second reading of an ordinance to place the measure on the ballot on Aug. 4. The ordinance passed unanimously. “We are pretty proud of the fact that we have brought to our communities some of the lowest rates,” Reg Ankrom of SIMEC Illinois told the council. “People really are guaran-
Inside
• The Farmingon City Council had a busy agenda at Monday’s meeting. See Page 7
teed the lowest price that the market provides in Farmington.” SIMEC, an energy consulting firm in Quincy, approached the city in late 2013, said Farmington City Manager Rollen Wright. The council considered pro-
posals from two other firms, but chose SIMEC. When voters went to the polls during the spring election, Cuba residents passed the referendum to join the electrical aggregate. The Farmington vote, however, ended in a dead tie, so the measure failed. “We had to go with the no votes,” Wright said. Should the referendum pass in November, SIMEC will seek alternative energy suppliers for the residents and small busi-
nesses of Farmington to find the lowest price. While the city may, under this measure, no longer purchase energy from Ameren, Farmington’s participation will not affect local Ameren employees. Ameren still will provide distribution services to the city, and also will perform maintenance and respond to electrical outages. Since 2010, when Illinois lawmakers passed legislation Continued on Page 3
Peoria County EMA changes costing staff
LODGING AT A LANDMARK
By BILL KNIGHT
BRIMFIELD – The 17-year Weather Spotter who first saw the 2010 tornados that ripped through the area, called the National Weather Service to issue a warning, and initiated local sirens is one of several who have recently resigned in a dispute with Peoria County and its Emergency Management Agency. Bill Atwood of Elmwood said he quit in response to changes in EMA leadership, the apparent suspension of the 14-member Underwater Rescue Team, and uncertainty ahead. “I just got tired of the rumors and worried about its funding and leadership and what’s going to happen,” said Atwood, 62. “It’s drug on and drug on. The direction it’s going is not good. The whole thing’s crazy.” Atwood is one of several resignations or sudden early retirements tied to a shakeup in the County’s EMA, which includes the all-volunteer Underwater Rescue Team – the “Dive Team” – and Weather Spotters. “We have received resignations from Weather Spotters,” said County Administrator Lori Curtis Luther, “and I am unclear about the rationale since the only change was to direct staff to seek input from the Weather Spotters to develop standard operating procedures for activation under the threat of severe weather.” For The Weekly Post
Janet and Eric Windish have opened the Parkside Bed & Breakfast at 215 W. Market Street in Yates City. The building first opened 110 years ago as the American Hotel. Photo by Keith Butterfield.
Stars aligned for new Yates City B&B By KEITH BUTTERFIELD
YATES CITY – Janet Windish would agree with the old saying that sometimes the stars align. She might also add: “If a cardinal appears.” The somewhat mixed-metaphor bottom line explains how Janet and her husband Eric culminated a dizzyingly busy five months with their mid-May opening of the Parkside Bed & Breakfast at 215 W. Market Street here. For The Weekly Post
First, the stars aligning part: The opening returned the 110-year-old Yates City landmark to its hotel and hospitality roots, and for Janet, work she thoroughly enjoys. “I really liked meeting the guests and the whole experience,” she says of her several years of managing another nearby Yates City B&B – the Sister House B&B west of town. “It was great to meet people from so many different places, get to know a little about them, and cook for them
and see their faces as they enjoyed the food and hospitality.” Aligning the stars also required alignment between the Windishes and another Yates City resident, Lee Lopeman, who recently purchased the building often referred to as “the old hotel” by long-time residents. The purchase came after years of private ownership during which the two-story brick building served as private residences and apartments. Continued on Page 8
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