Mary Hansen
The State Journal-Register
The deal Mayor Jim Langfelder struck with a Houston-based company looking to build a $1 billion natural gas power plant near Pawnee hit its first hurdle Wednesday night. The Springfield City Council failed to agree on a routine procedural move, potentially delaying by two weeks a final vote to approve the package that includes tax incentives the company, EmberClear Corp., has said it needs to pursue the project.
Included are payments to the city to compensate for the negative impact the new plant could have on Springfield’s City Water, Light and Power, as well as promises from the company to buy water from the utility, according to the mayor.
Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin petitioned to slow the process to approve the deal.
Since EmberClear has pushed hard for the Pawnee site, McMenamin argued the city has the upper hand. He said the council should take its time considering the deal, pointing out that a study commissioned by the city found that the natural gas plant could lead to $20 million in lost revenue for CWLP over the next 20 years.
“This deserve a great deal of examination,” McMenamin said, adding that the delay would give council members two additional weeks to study the agreement and seek outside advice if they wish.
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Ordinances that aren’t filed at least three days in advance of the council meeting need a supermajority vote to place them on the agenda for the following week.
McMenamin and DiCenso voted “no,” while Turner, Ward 1 Ald. Chuck Redpath, Ward 4 Ald. John Fulgenzi, Ward 5 Ald. Andrew Proctor, Ward 9 Ald. Jim Donelan and Ward 10 Ald. Ralph Hanauer voted “yes.” Ward 2 Ald. Herman Senor voted “present,” while Ward 8 Ald. Kris Theilen was absent.
MacArthur Boulevard
Representatives from the Illinois Department of Transportation presented their findings from a study on seven options to improve South MacArthur Boulevard.
Alternatives range from simply resurfacing the road between Wabash and South Grand avenues to adding bike lanes and replacing curbs, gutters and sidewalks, with costs between $2.5 million and $26.3 million.
One potential hurdle to making needed improvements is that businesses along the boulevard would have to agree to give up property that includes signage, lawns and even some parking spaces to make way for expanded lanes or sidewalks, McMenamin said. He represents the area along South MacArthur.
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Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 