Even Marathon has seen its utility bills climb in recent months and the company is doing something about it.
Corey Biggs, engineering supervisor at the Robinson refinery filled in the Crawford County Board Thursday on Marathon’s plans to install banks of solar panels, allowing it to generate its own electricity.
“We’re excited about it and hopefully you’ll share our enthusiasm,” Biggs said.
The local refinery is among Marathon’s most efficient facilities, Biggs explained. It recently earned its eighth Energy Star award from the EPA and is working on reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.
But for all its efforts, the refinery is looking at its electric bill increasing by $50 million a year.
“We’re looking at what we can do to control those increasing costs,” Biggs said.
The oil company has entered in an agreement with Sol Systems to install solar panels on 30 acres south of the refinery on the opposite side of County Road 950N. Marathon owns the land but currently leases it out for farming.
Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-2023 with the facility going online in early 2024. Thirty-five to 40 employees will be involved in building it.
Under the 20 -year contract, Sol Systems will develop, build, own and operate the facility. After a while, Marathon will have the option to purchase it.
Marathon pays Ameren about 10 cents per kilowatt. Power generated by the panels will costs it less than 2 cent per kilowatt.
The county has seen its electric rates climb, too. Board Chairman David Fulling said the contract with the county’s current provider ends in December. Under it, the county is paying 4.29 cents per kilowatt, rather than the 12.73 cents it would pay Ameren.
The county’s price is expected to jump next year and Fulling hopes to be able to lock the contracted rate down before it gets too high.
Property taxes and the election were also topics at the board meeting.
Crawford County Treasurer Twyla Bailey said her office is conducting the year’s second tax revenue distribution this week. About $13 million is being disbursed to local taxing bodies.
Checks are not picked up will be mailed this week, she added.
In a related matter, Bailey’s office will be sending reminder letters to those that have not paid their taxes starting Monday, Sept. 19. Taxes on more than 950 properties have still not been paid, about 50 more than in 2021.
Certified letters to those still in arrears will go out the first week of October.
The annual delinquent tax list will appear in the Daily News Oct. 22. Persons wanting to keep their names out of the paper will need to pay in in full by noon Oct. 19.
The board authorized moving the Honey Creek 2 polling place.
County Clerk Fayrene Wright said the polls have been housed in the township building, which she described as “very rough.” It is not handicapped accessible and voting was moved on an emergency basis to the Stoney Ridge event center for the primary because the townhouse is not air-conditioned.
Starting with the Nov. 8 general election, the polls will be in the Flat Rock Community Center. Honey Creek 1 polls are already located there.
Early voting for the general election will begin Sept. 29, Wright said. Ballots for persons wanting to vote by mail go out about the same time.
Wright added a “surprising number” of local residents recently signed up to permanently allowed to vote by mail.
In other election-related business, members approved Republican and Democrat election judges, as well as the county clerk’s supplemental list of election judges.
Crawford County Development Association Executive Director Risa Shaner updated the board on that organization’s work.
CCDA recently launched the first Crawford County Leadership class in several years. It is also working with Illinois Eastern Community Colleges to connect local small businesses with available resources they need.
The group is also participating in a countywide housing study to clarify what sort of housing is needed and by whom.
Shaner also mentioned ongoing efforts concerning local childcare. The goal is to “recognize and retain existing childcare” while expanding access and establishing second shift care.
A childcare appreciation event for existing care providers is planned for Oct. 4 at the Crawford County Forest Preserve.
“We want the existing providers to know how much we appreciate them and what they’ve been doing,” she said.
Crawford County Health Department Public Health Director Mikayla Gascich told the board local COVID-19 numbers are continuing to drop. This means CCHD can once more turn its attention to other health issues.
For example, the department will host “Seat Check Saturday and Family Fun Day” 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at its offices, 202 N. Christopher, Robinson.
The department will provide free car seat inspections. Inspections will be on first-come, first-served basis. Parents and guardians can also call ahead to 618-544-8798 to reserve a time.
Meanwhile, there will be games and prizes for the kids, as well as face painting.
Road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to children in the U.S., according to the CCHD. Correct use of child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent.
The department is also ready to launch its annual influenza vaccination clinics.
The first clinic for children will be 3 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday inside the office. Adults can get their shots at a drive-through clinic outside the office from 2 to 4:30 p.m. that day.
“We’re excited to start getting back out into the community now that COVID has lessened,” Gascich said.
Sheriff William Rutan said his department sent four women to the Illinois Department of Corrections last month. Another five women and three men are still waiting to go, however, and the average length of stay in the local lockup has increased to 75 days.
It’s uncertain how changes in Illinois laws will affect that. The law banning cash bonds goes into effect Jan. 1.
“It’s going to be very different, but no one knows exactly how it’s going to work out,” State’s Attorney Cole Shaner said.
One thing that is known, however, is that the county’s public defender position will have to become full-time.
In other business, the board:
- Approved a letter of support to extend the duration of the Robinson TIF District from 23 years to 35 years. The district has generated about $1 million for the community over the years.
- Executed a deed of conveyance returning a parcel to the tax rolls.
- Approved keeping closed session minutes closed and minutes previously opened open.
