On Air Now

Galesburg Council considering agreement as part of West Theatre demo, airport solar garden lease

The Galesburg City Council Monday night could approve an agreement with the owner of 156 East related to the upcoming demolition of the West Theater.

The theater’s north wall is connected to 156 East Main, owned by Wil Azer, operating as Azer Medical Supply and the bar and restaurant, 156 East.

Contractors need to anchor the north wall to 156, with workers needing access to the building, hence the need for an agreement.

Shawn Stoneking Corporation out of Macomb was approved to do the demolition last month for a cost of nearly $250,000.

Also tonight the Parks and Rec Master Plan will be on final reading, the broad policy guide for city parks and rec policy for the next few decades.

Houseal Lavigne Associates, the firm that prepared the plan, are expected to be on hand, just like when the City Comprehensive Plan was approved a few weeks ago.

Galesburg Aldermen approved a letter of intent last year to develop three community solar gardens in town.

Now Community Power Group is ready to go ahead with one of those leases, so they can install a solar garden at the Galesburg Municipal Airport and Council can approve that lease tonight.

Council approved a pair of lease agreements for CPG to develop gardens at Logistics Park in June and terms for leasing at the airport will be very similar.

It’s a 25-year lease that will start at $1,200 per acre, rising by 1.5-percent every year.

It’s estimated that approximately 17.5 acres would be leased out, which would equate to $21,000 in rent paid the first year.

The idea is that city residents would also see energy savings since 40 percent of the power generated would be sold back for municipal use.

Council documents say in the near future a power purchase agreement will come before aldermen, which will lock in the reduced rate which the city would receive for the term of the 25-year lease.

Recommended Posts

Loading...

Share Contact

contact-chris-mcintyre-qr-code