Water plant project, electrical service at Anna City Park highlight discussion

The Anna City Council this week voiced support for a new water treatment plant and looked at some major concerns regarding electrical service at the Union County community’s park.

The two issues were on the agenda at Tuesday night’s regular meeting of the city council. The meeting was at Anna City Hall.

Water Plant Project

The city council unanimously passed a resolution voicing support for construction of a new plant operated by the Anna-Jonesboro Water Commission, AJWC.

The commission supplies water for the City of Anna and other local customers from a plant located west of Jonesboro.

AJWC chairman Brad Rendleman attended Tuesday night’s Anna City Council meeting. Steve Guined is Anna’s representative to the water commission. Guined also was present at the meeting.

Rendleman said the water commission has considered two options regarding the future of its plant, which is 40 years old.

Renovation of the existing plant was one option. Renovating the plant could cost in the range of $3.5 million, Rendleman said. And even if the plant were to be renovated, then the facility likely would have to be replaced in 10 years.

The other option, the one chosen by AJWC, calls for the construction of a new water plant at an as yet undetermined location. Construction of a new plant is expected to cost in the range of $9.5 million to $10 million, Rendleman said. A new plant would be expected to serve the area for 40 years.

“The plant is in bad shape,” city administrator Guined told Anna Council members.

AJWC is seeking a long-term U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development loan for the project. To help pay for the project, local water systems which are supplied by the commission would pay an additional $1.25 per 1,000 gallons used. The rate is now $2.75.

The commission provides water to the cities of Anna and Jonesboro, the Lick Creek and Shawnee Valley water districts, Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna and the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna.

Electrical Service Concerns at Anna City Park

Electrical service at the Anna City Park was the focus of a presentation by the city administrator. Concerns about the matter surfaced last year and were followed by an analysis conducted for the city by an electrical engineer.

The city also worked with AmerenCIPS on the analysis. AmerenCIPS provides electricity to the city.

Guined shared highlights from the analysis, which began last fall, with the city council Tuesday night.

Ultimately, he said, the city may be looking at spending up to $725,000 or more to fix the problems found at the park.

The analysis focused on topics which included determining the condition of existing facilities and the need to develop a long-term park improvement plan.

The analysis showed that some components of the electrical service at the park are very old and that failure of the system “could take place at any time.”

The analysis found that several wood utility poles are rotting, either at the base or at the top. A few transformers at the park are “in very poor condition” and may contain PCBs, which are an environmental hazard.

Denny Field appears to be one of the worst problems at the park. Short circuiting in wiring at the field while lights were in operation caused the system to be turned off last year. The entire lighting system at the field needs to be replaced.

Kiwanis Field, E Field, the Kiwanis building, the Shriners building, a new band shell and pavilions at the park all appear to be in good shape.

Guined said the analysis shows that both short- and long-term issues need to be addressed. And, he noted, the electrical service is only one component of improvements which are needed at the park. Restrooms and a concession stand are other concerns.

Guined said the city council “needs to decide how much, from a dollar standpoint, to tackle each year.” Council members, he said, “have to decide what’s most important.”

As the council looks ahead to determining priorities for work at the park, city officials will be looking at how to pay for what needs to be done. State grant money  is one option, and has been secured in the past for improvements at the park.

However, seeking state grant money is an extremely competitive process, Guined cautioned. He said “there are always more grant applications” than there is funding. Grants also require matching funds from the applicant.

The challenge facing the city is significant. “It’s a huge problem, but it can be managed effectively if we break it down into small problems,” Guined said.

“We’re just going to have to make up our mind on which way we’re going to go,” Mayor Steve Hartline said.

Council member Cindy Swope noted that the concerns with the park tie in with a goal of gaining passage of a sales tax increase in the upcoming Feb. 2 primary election. Anna voters are being asked to approve such an increase. “This is exactly why we need” the increase, Swope said.

The city’s new fiscal year begins May 1. As the city drafts a new budget, one focus will be on the most pressing needs at the park, particularly those which are a safety concern.

Council member Swope said she would like to see a list of concerns which need to be addressed immediately which can be reviewed by the council.