Metro East

Business Leaders, Public Officials Talk Transportation Funding

Tim Lloyd and Chris McDaniel — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:26:14 +0000

Updated: 4/1/13 at 4:12, after the meeting took place.

Transportation advocates say that by 2018, 1 out of every 3 miles of roads in Illinois will be of unacceptable condition, unless there are new sources of revenue. The Transportation for Illinois Coalition held a meeting with business leaders and state lawmakers in O’Fallon Monday to discuss what can be done.

Election Could Affect Electricity Costs In Metro East

Maria Altman — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 21:19:16 +0000

Several Metro East communities want to negotiate electricity supply costs for their residents and businesses.

A 2009 law allows Illinois cities and counties to contract with suppliers in order to negotiate prices with electric utilities.

It’s called "municipal aggregation" and referendums are on the ballot in Belleville, Collinsville, and Edwardsville. Click here for a complete list.

Nearly 250 Illinois municipalities already have done so, including Alton and Glen Carbon.

Corps Sued Over Access To Information About Metro East Levee Repair Project

Véronique LaCapra — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 22:38:40 +0000

A Metro East environmental advocacy group is suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over access to information about the Southwestern Illinois levees and plans to repair them.

In the suit filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, the American Bottom Conservancy (ABC) said the Corps had repeatedly failed to respond to federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

The suit is seeking an injunction from the court to compel the Corps to comply with the Act.

Corps gives green light for Metro East levee upgrades

Véronique LaCapra — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:27:05 +0000

The US Army Corps of Engineers has given the green light to start levee upgrades in the Metro East.

The Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District Council will start the first phase of levee construction next month.

The project supervisor for the council, Les Sterman, says the goal is to get the levees to a 100-year flood protection level by the end of 2014.

That would meet the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s accreditation standard.

Council warns Corps over delays in Metro East levee project

Joseph Leahy — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:47:05 +0000

The Southwestern Flood Prevention District Council says too much is at stake for any more delays in fixing levees in Metro East.

Les Sterman, the project's supervisor for the Council says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has so far taken too long in approving plans to work on the levees.

He said their latest plan approval was six months late.

“Essentially we're doing our part," Sterman said. "All we're asking is for the federal agency to do its part in helping us get this project moving.”