Sandwich latest city to let voters decide on electricity

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Updated: January 19, 2012 10:59AM

SANDWICH — A question asking whether the city of Sandwich can have authority to arrange for a supplier of electricity will be placed on the spring election ballots following action taken by the Sandwich City Council at a recent meeting.

City staff is suggesting an ordinance that would allow voters to decide if Sandwich should establish an electricity aggregation program for the city’s residential and small commercial retail customers. The goal of the program is to allow local governments to offer residents a cheaper energy supply.

In January 2010, Illinois completed the process of deregulating the power industry in the state, allowing for municipalities to shop for their residents and small commercial businesses in the aggregate. The deregulation opened the door for competition between providers.

In other action, the council voted to buy two refurbished laptop computers for police squad cars. Purchased were two Panasonic Model 30 Toughbooks from CDS Office Technologies of Addison for $4,856. The price also includes three-year warranties and docking stations.

An ordinance failed that would have decreased the number of city patrol officers from 11 to 10, and would have increased the number of sergeants from two to three.

Four large planters were purchased from Doty and Sons of Sycamore for a maximum of $1,100. The planters are to be placed where trees were removed on the south side of the parking lot at the northeast corner of East Railroad and South Wells Streets.

Discussed at the meeting was the one-month bill from the Sandwich Veterinary Hospital that totaled $1,240. Alderman Harold Dannewitz said the bill was for the care of four dogs and six cats taken to the facility by police. The bill stated it was for boarding the animals to see if owners would claim their pets, for flea control, and for cremation after the holding period had expired if the pet wasn’t picked up.

The council voted to cancel its second regular meeting of the month, Dec. 26, and didn’t add a make-up meeting that week.