Oglesby council to fix rest of Dickinson House roof

The last portion of the Dickinson House roof in need of repair will be fixed.

The Oglesby City Council accepted a bid Monday from R.B. Crowther Co. of Morris that totaled $53,575.

“It will be all done,” Mayor Dom Rivara said. He said the repairs will keep storm water out of the sanitary lines.

Separately, the city entered an intergovernmental agreement between it and Oglesby schools to streamline security and share information, but with privacy provisions.

City Attorney Pat Barry said the agreement was required under the Illinois School Code and that it would ensure open lines of communication during emergencies such as an active shooter situation.

Finally, Rivara pushed back against social media complaints about the costs of city power.

“The city isn’t raising rates,” Rivara said. “It’s costing us more to purchase the energy.”

Rivara explained generating plants are being closed as the industry inches toward a goal of producing 30% of power through green energy by 2030. That goal is nowhere in sight, he said, and the resulting higher costs are being passed along to consumers.

In other matters, the council also:

• Granted variances to Ameren for construction of a substation
• Approved a proposal from John Pohar & Sons Inc. to demolish the house located at 121 E. Walnut St. for $8,400
• Proclaimed the month of May as Motorcycle Awareness Month
• Tabled a request to close a portion of Walnut Street on Aug. 28 for a Cops 4 Cancer fundraiser. The city approved the closure in principle but detailed several logistical questions.
• Announced the annual pork chop dinner fundraiser for the ambulance department will be Monday, June 7. Tickets are $12.50 and may be purchased in advance at City Hall.