City's proposed electricity rate hike in the spotlight

Batavia city officials will conduct a public meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday Feb. 24 to discuss a proposed electric rate increase and a possible half-cent hike in the city’s sales tax to cover electricity costs and related obligations incurred through the city’s involvement in the Northern Illinois Municipal Power Agency (NIMPA) and Prairie State Energy Campus in downstate Illinois. 

The meeting should be a good opportunity for Batavia residents and business owners (more on this group below) to learn why the city’s has increased electric rates four times since 2006 and why rates need to be increased in 2014. I think Batavia officials can do much more to share information with the public (the city's website is overdue for an overhaul), but this public meeting is a step in the right direction. 

Proposed sales-tax hike concerns business owners

Friends in the Batavia business community tell me many business owners oppose a possible half-cent increase in the city’s sale tax, as discussed above. I spoke with several business owners during the past — each asked that I not identify them here  — and they shared some common concerns.

The business owners believe a hike in sales tax will make it tougher for them to compete with businesses in other communities. That’s a practical concern.  They fear a tax increase tied to electricity costs will never be rescinded and might be increased in the future. They also think a tax hike, combined with the city’s high electric rates, will make Batavia less attractive to new businesses or businesses looking to relocate to Batavia. They told me they have shared these concerns with city staff and aldermen.

City officials argue a hike in the sales tax would allow them to limit the increase in the electricity rate to 10 percent. Without the hike in the sales tax, the rate increase would be 16 percent, according to city officials. Business owners said combining a tax hike with a rate increase only confuses matters and keeps ratepayers from understanding the true cost of Batavia's electricity. They have a point.

What I found particularly interesting about the concerns the business owners shared with me is how their take on all of this contrasts with the version some Batavia aldermen shared with me in recent days. Aldermen I spoke with told me they have heard few objection about the proposed tax increase from the business community. Makes me wonder why their is such disparity between the two versions.

Research group issues report about Batavia’s energy costs

The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis recently released Overpriced Energy: Why Batavia is Paying so Much for Electricity, an eight-page analysis of Batavia’s contract with the Prairie State Energy Campus. The report offers interesting information and some grim conclusions. I encourage Batavia ratepayers to read the report. 

****

Restaurant Week returns to St. Charles

More than 30 restaurants are set to take part in the annual St. Charles Restaurant Week, starting Monday, Feb. 24 and continuing through Friday, Feb. 28. Diners can receive a 25 percent discount on dine-in meal purchases by presenting a special coupon for the event. For more information, including a list of participating restaurants go to 

www.stcharlesil.gov/restaurant-week

Kane County Chronicle launches Election Central

The Kane County Chronicle recently launched Election Central 2014, a web page containing information about the candidates in the March 18 primary elections and the questions that will appear on local ballots. The Chronicle does a fine job covering state and local races, so be sure to visit Election Central. Get yourself informed about the candidates and the issues they’re talking about during this election cycle. 

— Share news and photos about your business or organization here. Email information and photos to kbotterman@gmail.com. Please include caption information for each submitted photo. Fox Valley Notes is available at Facebook and Twitter.

http://www.ieefa.org/

Batavia to welcome new year with fireworks display

Batavia will ring in the new year and start the celebration of the city’s 180th birthday with music and a mini fireworks display Tuesday, Dec. 31 at the Riverwalk in downtown Batavia. The event will begin at 9 p.m. and will include a performance by the Batavia Community Band, refreshments, a 50/50 raffle, and other attractions.

Forest preserve to offer winter birds program

The Forest Preserve District of Kane County will offer a program about winter birds at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28 at the Creek Bend Nature Center, 37W700 Dean St., St. Charles. The 90-minute program is designed for ages 10 and older. Admission is free, but registration is required. For more information or to register, call 630-444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.com.

Library to welcome author

The Aurora Public Library will welcome Matt Hanley, author of “True Tales of Aurora” at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4 at the library’s Eola Road Branch Library, 555 S. Eola Road, Aurora. Hanley will discuss his book, share writing tips, and take questions from the audience. For more information about the program, call the library at 630-264-3424.

Forest preserve to host scavenger hunt

The Forest Preserve District of Kane county will host a family-oriented scavenger hunt at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 27 at the Bliss Woods Forest Preserve, 5S660 Bliss Road, Sugar Grove. The program is free, but registration is required. For more information or to register, call 847-741-8350 or email programs@kaneforest.com.

In case you missed these items:

• The Batavia Chamber of Commerce recently named James Hanson its 2013 Batavia Citizen of the Year and will honor him Jan. 23 at the chamber’s annual awards event. Hanson, 88, served as an alderman and had a hand in planning the city’s downtown redevelopment effort in the 1960s and 1970s. Hanson volunteered with several community organizations over the years and remains active at the Batavia Depot Museum and at Batavia’s Calvary Episcopal Church. For more information about Hanson’s selection for the award and the chamber’s awards ceremony, go to www.bataviachamber.org.

• Shaw Media, publishers of the Kane County Chronicle, announced Dec. 23 it will purchase The Herald-News in Joliet from Sun-Times Media. The purchase is expected to be completed in early January. Shaw Media, based in Dixon, publishes several daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois, including The Northwest Herald in Crystal Lake and The Daily-Chronicle in DeKalb.

• Officials at Waubsonsee Community College in Sugar Grove said the college’s campus in downtown Aurora is up for sale again after the developer slated to buy the property stepped away from the purchase, according to a Dec. 22 report in The Beacon-News. The transaction was expected to be completed in January. The college will soon begin marketing the building, which is located a 5 E. Galena Blvd., according to the report.

• While most Americans were preparing to celebrate Christmas, the Postal Regulatory Commission quietly approved price increases for the U.S. Postal Service on Dec. 24, hiking the cost of a first-class to 49 cents, up from 46 cents, effective Jan. 26. The decision amounts to a 6 percent increase for most mail, according to a report in The Chicago Tribune. The magazine and direct mail industries opposed the increase, arguing it would drive consumers away from the postal service, cause layoffs and harm the national economy.

— Share news and photos about your business or organization here. Email information and photos to kbotterman@gmail.com. Please include caption information for each submitted photo. Fox Valley Notes is available at Facebook and Twitter.

Elgin church to host farmers market March 25

• The Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin, 39W830 Highland Ave., Elgin, will host a farmers market from 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, March 25. The market is open to all. Shoppers will find fresh greens, cheeses, meats, honey, coffees and a wide variety of other items. For more information about the market, call 847-931-4363 or go to uuce.org.


• The Fox Valley Mixers Square Dance Club will conduct its Spring Fling dance from 8 to 10:30 p.m., Saturday, March 24 at the Baker Community Center, 101 S. Second St., St. Charles. Hunter Keller will serve as the square dance caller. Howard Hoffman will serve as the round dance cuer. For more information about the event, call 847-488-9894 or go to foxvalleymixers.org.


• The City of Batavia will partner with the Conservation Foundation to host the third annual rain barrel sale. The 60-gallon barrels are made of recycled plastic and sell for $75. The barrels are available in three colors — black, gray and terra cotta. Online orders can be made through May 2. In-person orders can be made from 7 to 9 p.m., April 12 at the Batavia City Hall, 100 N. Island Ave. The barrels will be available for pick up from 9 to 11 a.m., May 5 at the Clark Island Skate Park, which is located near 411 S. River St. (Route 25).


—Share news and photos of your organization and events here. Email information and photos to kbotterman@gmail.com. Please be sure to include caption information for each submitted photo.