Electricity Aggregation: What's Next for Frankfort?

Mayor Jim Holland and Village Administrator Jerry Ducay lay out the decisions ahead for village officials as they embark on negotiating lower energy rates for residents.

It's been just a little more than two weeks since Frankfort voters approved an electricity aggregation referendum, allowing the village to negotiate energy rates for residents. But preparations are already being made by village officials to move the process into high speed. At the Frankfort Village Board meeting April 2, Village Administrator Jerry Ducay told trustees that ComEd and village staffers were going over a preliminary list of accounts to make sure they're within Frankfort boundaries. READ: Want More Background on Electricity Aggregation in Frankfort? Patch Has a Page to Answer All Your Questions So what's next after that? Frankfort Patch spoke with Ducay and Mayor Jim Holland this week to go over the tentative timeline and flesh…

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Electricity Aggregation: Will You Opt Out?

Although a village referendum on aggregation passed Tuesday, Frankfort residents don't have to stick with the program that could lower electric bills. Tell us whether you'll let the village negotiate your rates or if you'll strike out on your own.

Now that electricity aggregation--the ability for a municipality to negotiate better power rates for the public and small businesses--is a reality in Frankfort, village residents are left with a decision to make. Do nothing and see if officials can broker lower electric bills with a different supplier. Or opt out and determine their own electricity future. READ: Voters Pass Electricity Aggregation in Frankfort, Defeat it in Will County That's right. Even though Frankfort voters passed the village's electricity aggregation referendum by a 61.13 percent margin (1,752 votes), residents aren't locked in to the initiative (a similar measure was defeated in Will County, which covered Frankfort Square and unincorporated residents). Under state …

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axa34

1:46 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012

I have yet to read what the negatives are about electricity aggregation. Would you mind pointing out why some people would want to pay 20-30% more on their electric bills? What am I missing? Thank you Joe   more ›

Last Chance to Ask Officials About Electricity Aggregation Referendum

The Village of Frankfort will hold its final public forum about aggregation at an informal open house Wednesday night at the village offices.

With less than a month before the March 20 elections, Frankfort residents will have one final opportunity Wednesday night to talk to village officials about the electricity aggregation referendum on the ballot and what it might mean for them and their power bills. READ: Village Officials Answer Residents' Questions About Electrical Aggregation That's why the Village of Frankfort is holding its second of two informational meetings during an informal open house from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, at the Village Administration Office. Residents will be able to ask questions concerning the possibility of the village negotiating electric rates for residents. READ: What Electricity Aggregation Could Mean to Frankfort Residents also will be able…

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VIDEO: Referendum Was Never Considered for D210

In the third of Patch's video interviews, Supt. Lawrence Wyllie explains that the district needs to live within its means, which is why a referendum wasn't an option at this time.

Recently, Lincoln-Way High School District 210 Supt. Lawrence Wyllie sat down with Patch for a series of video Q&As--with some of the questions provided by Patch readers--about the financial challenges facing the district.  WATCH: Why Wasn't Closing L-W West Considered? In today's segment, Wyllie talks about why a referendum wasn't one of the options on the table during his presentation of solutions to the district's budget issues.  Tomorrow, the superintendent will discuss whether the board has already made up its mind when it comes to how it's going to handle creating new revenue streams and making cuts. WATCH: What About Wage Freezes or Pay Cuts for the Superintendent and Administrators? Wyllie's first video question dealt with closing …

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The Buck Stops Here: Board Ready to Decide D161 Budget Fate

The Summit Hill school board will meet Saturday morning for a workshop to discuss the financial direction the district needs to take to help eliminate a $2.5 million budget deficit for the 2012-13 school year.

The anticipation has been building since late last year for Summit Hill School District 161 parents: What will the district do about a $2.5 million deficit for the 2012-13 school year? It looks like that question will be answered at a school board workshop at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at the district's administration offices. What do you need to know going into the meeting? Patch breaks it down for you. This is where the board will discuss three proposals to deal with next school year's shortfall. The intent is to set up a three-year financial strategy for the district going forward. Yes. The workshop is open to the public. In fact, Frankfort Patch local editor Joe Vince will be live blogging from the meeting to allow readers to follow …

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taxpayer

2:29 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012

HOLY COW.............you just uttered my words verbatim. I whole heartedly agree. People need to realize that just because we close a school or 2, that doesn't mean all teachers and suport staff will be let go. Those teachers most likely will follow the students to surrounding schools. We need these programs for the students. We also need full time kindergarten. Again, these little 5 year olds …   more ›

UPDATED: Teacher Cuts, Referendum Part of D161 Cost-Cutting Proposals

New budget-trimming models were introduced at Wednesday's meeting as a way to make up for a 2012-13 deficit. Find out what it could mean for teachers and taxpayers.

Staff reductions and a possible education fund rate referendum were part of the final cost-cutting models Summit Hill School District 161 Superintendent Barb Rains unveiled Wednesday as proposals to make up for an expected $2.5 million deficit in the 2012-13 budget. The models before the board, which serve as blueprints for the direction the district will take in dealing with the budget deficit, break down three ways: streamlining district operations, closing at least one school or by putting an ed rate referendum on the November ballot. The following gives the highlights of the plans: Details: The biggest effect of this proposal would be a 14 percent staf reduction throughout the district, which would amount to a loss of 35 teachers and a…

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Rose C

10:33 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012

I was there too Ericka and I agree with you whole-heartedly. Hopefully more members of our community can set aside their childish behavior and started listening rather than spreading rumors. I think one of the best things to have come out of these "models" is that the community is showing up. I have been to many a board meeting that the only people in the audience were principals-who I believe …   more ›

Power Trips: Village to Hold Forums on Electricity Aggregation

Frankfort officials will answer people's questions about the upcoming referendum that would give the village the ability to negotiate electric rates for residents.

Even though a referendum concerning electricity aggregation in Frankfort is on the March 20 ballot, that doesn't mean residents don't still have questions about what it might mean for them and their power bills. That's why the Village of Frankfort is holding two informational meetings next month to address questions people might have concerning the possibility of the village negotiating electric rates for residents. READ: What Electricity Aggregation Could Mean to Frankfort The first public meeting is at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at Grand Prairie Elementary School. Village officials will give a presentation and field questions during this forum. A second opportunity to talk about aggregation will be during an informal open house from 4 to 8 p.m. …

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Electricity Aggregation Still Has Juice in Frankfort

Officials agreed to pursue a referendum that would allow voters to decide if they wanted the village to negotiate electric rates for them.

Despite some concerns, the Village of Frankfort will continue to pursue electricity aggregation, something that could net residents lower electric bills.  At Wednesday's Land Use and Policy Committee meeting, Frankfort officials recommended telling the Will County Governmental League that it's interested in joining the nonprofit organization in a plan to collectively bargain electric rates for participating county municipalities. Last month, the league, which represents county governments in regional issues, agreed to pursue aggregation for its members, and bargain with electricity providers other than ComEd for better rates. The idea is that there is strength in numbers, and the league can negotiate a better deal than individual …

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Joe Vince

12:09 pm on Thursday, September 22, 2011

@S Sleeper: The Village of Frankfort had nothing to do with Summit Hill School District's decision to put in its new detention room in the junior high and middle school. Same goes for L-Way North's blacktopping. These are done by the individual districts and have no connection with the village government. Joe Vince Local editor, Frankfort   more ›

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