Village to Consider Electricity Referendum, McCarthy Road Improvements

trustees will consider a referendum Monday night that would allow the village to seek cheaper electric rates by aggregating residential and commercial accounts.

During a committee of the whole meeting Nov. 21, village trustees and Lemont Mayor Brian Reaves , an option under state law that allows municipalities to bundle residential and commercial accounts and pursue cheaper sources of power.

In order to move forward with aggregation, the village is looking to place a referendum on the ballot during the March 20 primary election. Should the referendum pass, the village will be able to seek out cheaper rates from companies other than ComEd, which currently supplies Lemont's electricity.

Trustees will consider an ordinance authorizing the referendum during their business meeting Monday night.

Several local communities, including and , have already agreed to referendum on their ballots.

The Will County Governmental League — which has a membership of 32 municipalities, including Lemont — has formed a coalition called the Will Utility Aggregation Group (WUAG) to bid out to electricity suppliers on behalf of its members.

According to Lemont Village Administrator Ben Wehmeier, communities that have implemented the program have seen close to 16-percent savings on residents' electric bills.

Should the village place the referendum on on the March 20 ballot, it will appear in this form:

“Shall the village of Lemont have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial customers who have not opted out of such program?”

For more information on municipal aggregation, visit ComEd's FAQ on the issue.

Also on the Agenda

Engineering Services for McCarthy Road Improvements

The Village of Lemont has received federal funds through the Southwest Council of Mayors for construction and engineering work on McCarthy Road, west of Derby Road to east of Archer Avenue. Work will include pavement widening, resurfacing, intersection channelization, traffic control signals, and all necessary traffic control and restoration.

The estimated cost of construction is about $2.8 million. The project is scheduled for a Jan. 20 bid, with construction taking place all of 2012.

On Monday night, village trustees will consider an engineering services agreement with Frank Novotny and Associates for $373,358, with the maximum village share being $74,672.

The village must also approve a Local Agency Agreement for Federal Participation with the Illinois Department of Transportation in order to procure $2,041,350 in federal funds and $327,660 in matching state funds.

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The Lemont Board of Trustees will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at , 418 Main St.