Oglesby Council Discusses Solar Array, Continues to Put Off Connecting Point Vote
Whether or not a solar array is approved for a spot just outside the Oglesby city limits is a topic being discussed at Wednesday’s meeting of the La Salle County Zoning Board of Appeals. And it was a topic at Monday night’s Oglesby City Council meeting, as well.
As reported earlier this month, a special-use permit request was submitted to build a commercial solar energy facility on land around Starved Rock Media’s studios. The development would cover about 26 acres and include more than 12,000 solar panels. The petitioner is Solar Generation Projects of St. Louis.
Mayor Jason Curran Monday night noted that the feedback he’s received on the project from residents has largely been negative, but that that’s to be expected. He says the city doesn’t have a direct say in a project like this one, but he’s interested in seeing if the county listens to the voice of a city that surrounds a proposed project on three sides … Curran believes the county’s decision could impact future projects where cities have less leverage than Oglesby has now. The mayor plans to communicate that on Wednesday, and he encouraged residents to also weigh in on the proposal at the meeting.
The Zoning Board of Appeals meets Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the La Salle County Government Complex on Etna Road. You can view the meeting on the county board’s YouTube Channel.
Oglesby’s effort to get a contract in place for outside IT services hit another snag at Monday night’s city council meeting. For the second meeting in a row, a motion approving a contract with Connecting Point of Peru could not get a second. At the last council session, Commissioner Gregory “Mac” McDermott complained that his city emails and online documents had been moved, and he appeared to accuse Commissioner Austin Cullinan of doing it. Cullinan had unofficially taken on online and network-related projects for the city. As if to address McDermott’s concerns, the Connecting Point contract would have included professional IT administration. The issue remains under review.
Commissioners discussed removing lead lines and improving infrastructure along Walnut Street, and applying TIF funds to such a project. Commissioner McDonald will start to work on it.
A year ahead of the event, the council heard a request from the committee organizing the city’s 125th-anniversary celebration. The organization got approval for $18,000 to cover some entertainment costs. And it advises the council that further funding requests will be coming for things like a 5K, a parade, and family activities. The birthday celebration is tentatively scheduled for June 11 through 13 of next year, the week before Summer Fun Fest.
And, speaking of that, this year’s Oglesby festival runs Thursday and through Sunday.