The Centralia City Council approved a resolution authorizing a new energy service agreement at its regular meeting on Monday. The current deal with Constellation will expire in December The city of Centralia plans to make its next service agreement with Homefield Energy. According to City manager Kory Smith, the new contract is expected to bring a decreased energy cost of around eight cents per kilowatt-hour, down from the current rate of twelve cents per kilowatt-hour. This agreement will last for eighteen months. As with previous energy agreements, it will include an opt out for residents and retail customers who do not wish to participate.
Mayor Bryan Kuder issued a proclamation for Dog Bite Awareness Week at the start of the meeting, calling attention to the danger posed to city postal workers by biting dogs. Kuder recognized Centralia Postmaster Sherri Andrews, as well as mail carriers Matt Finley and Mindy Nelms, who appeared at the meeting for public comment. Andrews described a previous incident where a carrier had been severely injured by a dog, and told the public that her workers have been instructed not to deliver mail to locations where dogs appear to present a threat to their safety. The council hopes that raising awareness of this issue will help prevent injuries to carriers in the future.
The council approved a bid for seasonal lawnmowing services by Pro Lawn Service, and also approved the bids from the Don Anderson Company for bituminous materials and from Beeham Logistics for seal coat aggregate for the 2024 MFT Oil and Chip Rehabilitation and Resealing Program contingent upon IDOT approval. The council also recognized public works maintenance operator Rodney A. Daniels for fifteen years of service.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both Kuder and Smith acknowledged the total solar eclipse that took place on Monday and thanked members of the community and visitors from around the country who came to Centralia to view the eclipse and participate in events surrounding it.
