CHICAGO HEIGHTS | The City Council recently approved a consulting agreement that could lead to significant savings on residents' electric bills.
In November, voters approved a referendum that allowed the city to negotiate lower electric rates on their behalf.
The City Council on Monday approved an agreement with the Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Collaborative, or NIMEC, to implement the city's electrical aggregation program.
Chief of Staff Lisa Aprati said residents' overall electric bills could be reduced by nearly 25 percent.
She said the agreement with NIMEC will not cost the city any money.
"They don't get paid by the city at all," Aprati said. "It's all through the bid process and (whichever supplier) is selected."
In other city news:
• The Council approved the purchase of two 2013 Ford F-250 pickup trucks costing a total of almost $56,000.
Jasen Zurisk, director of maintenance, said the new four-wheel drive trucks would replace a couple of two-wheel drive 1996 models.
"We'll have a couple more trucks in our fleet that we'll be able to utilize for snow plowing," Zurisk said.
• The council also approved an agreement that will allow Clear Wire LLC, to add two additional satellite dishes to the top of a water tower at 410 E. 14th St.
Corporation Counsel T.J. Somer said the city has had a contract with the wireless communications company since 2009.
He said allowing the company to add two more dishes to those it already has on the tower will generate $300 more a month for the city.
• Mayor David Gonzalez declared Jan. 7 to be De'Borah Garner Day in Chicago Heights.
The 25-year-old Chicago Heights resident recently made it to the top 20 on the hit NBC singing competition, "The Voice."
Gonzalez said Garner helped put the city in the national spotlight on a positive note.
Garner treated the City Council and those gathered at Monday's meeting to an impromptu rendition of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."
Please Wait…