The Rochelle City Council recently approved a Municipal Utilities energy action plan, providing a framework for the operation of its electric utility through 2050. This plan, developed with a grant from the EnergySense Resilience Center at the University of Illinois, focuses on energy efficiency, resilience, affordability, and community engagement. It includes a proposal for a community solar system with battery storage and a study on local generation options as the city prepares for changes related to its stake in the Prairie State Energy Campus coal plant.
Additionally, the council authorized City Manager Zeke Jackson to execute a grant agreement for a T-hangar construction project at Rochelle Municipal Airport, amounting to an estimated $1.2 million with significant federal funding.
The council also made two significant expenditures for the RMU water department, waiving competitive bidding for necessary repairs to equipment and generators.
In a vote regarding ordinances, the council amended rules concerning solicitors and food trucks, simplifying the permit process for peddlers while removing local regulations on food trucks, which will now be regulated by the Ogle County Health Department. Mayor John Bearrows expressed concerns about the potential impact of increased food truck traffic on local restaurants.
Finally, Mayor Bearrows presented proclamations for Chamber of Commerce Week, Constitution Week, and Hispanic Heritage Month.
