In The News
A place where walls teach history lessons
The Henry County Courthouse in
Cambridge, Illinois, will soon be celebrating its 130th year. It is
located at the west end of town adjacent to College Square Park, where it stands
three stories tall. It provides a magnificent view of the town from any window
on any side of the building. The courthouse walls have become a shrine for
local artists willing to donate their work so others can experience the trials
and tribulations that make up the past and present of Henry County.
Construction on the courthouse began in March 29, 1876. Initially, the building
was to cost $68,000, but a very rainy spring caused delays and costs soared to
$77,000. In fact, a windmill and well were built on site to provide a
continuous stream of water. The county board first expressed an interest in
building in 1866, but decided to postpone starting the structure as it was too
soon after the war to undertake such a big financial burden.
The architect hired to design the courthouse was Julian Hinckley from Indianapolis. The county board committee that was first appointed for the building included: James Blish, James Reherd, Thomas Mowers, John Morgan, and Nathaniel Gould. They hired Hiram Dickinson of Galva to oversee the daily work. The heating contractor was Haxtun Steam Heater of Kewanee, which is now Kewanee Boiler.
The foundation is unfinished stone that is 3 feet thick. Originally, Sageston Sandstone was used, but it began to erode away and was replaced with Bedford Limestone in 1942. There are sixteen distinct fireplaces throughout the courthouse at an original cost of $45.00 each. Every fireplace is unique in color and finish. The woodwork used is oak with some trimmed in black walnut. All the offices at one time had a sink tucked away in some small corner of the room. Some have now been removed or replaced with something more modern.
Stone that was used were 4 x 6 feet and 1 foot thick. By May of 1879, the walls were up to the 2nd floor. A large drum in the cellar used horse power to lift the stones into place. Horse drawn carts were used to carry the stones into the cellar. Some construction was delayed while waiting for iron beams.
Help in laying the
bricks came from Philadelphia. Two men were employed from Philadelphia because
the bricks were of a type that local bricklayers were not experienced in
laying. In October 1879, roof work began. In March 1880, Mr. Dirksen of Pekin
was employed to adorn the ceiling of the main courtroom. He was an artist of
some note in frescos and decorative painting. Some were disappointed that the
ceiling was not a dome, but instead was crafted as a lowering of the ceiling in
the middle of the room. Mr. Dirksen did the views of the four villages
including Cambridge, Kewanee, Galva and Geneseo with accurate detail. In the
renovation during the 1950’s, the painting was not touched. However, Mr.
Dirksen had painted corn and flowers on the ceiling in each of the corners.
These were not kept.
Once completed, decorating of the
offices began. The earlier blinds on the windows were made of cherry and
maple. In 1897, electricity supplanted the initial kerosene lamps. A system of
pipes was installed throughout the building for gas lights, but they were never
used.
A wing was added on the west side in 1940, and the west porch was removed at that time. In 1955, the interior was remodeled at a cost of $158,000, and the remaining three porches were removed. Then in 1969, some additional remodeling occurred, which created four new offices and a meeting room on the third floor. The most recent addition took place in 1998, when construction began on a new judicial wing. The expansion contains the jail, two courtrooms and offices for the circuit clerk, court services, states attorney, public defender and sheriff.
The Henry County Courthouse is listed
on the National Register of Historic Places. It remains a pillar in the county
and continues to be the hub of daily trafficking for people to do all sorts of
business throughout the building each day. The clock no longer strikes time and
is in need of some major repair, but its face serves as a reminder of just how
many years this building has provided essential services to the residents of
Henry County.
HENRY COUNTY ANNOUNCES “HOMELESS FOR THE
HOLIDAYS”
AS THIS YEAR’S CHARITY DOOR WINNER
Henry
County Courthouse doors were decorated this holiday season with the “Spirit of
Giving” theme. Each department’s door was adorned with special wrapping,
ribbons, bows and some with lights as if replicating a Christmas card. But, the
message rang clear with heartfelt sentiments and concerns that hung on the
doorways of all those who participated in this year’s contest.
The colorful decorations were carefully chosen and each door reflected a Henry
County charity or non-profit organization. After careful inspection of each
door by staff at the courthouse, one door was a favorite. This year’s charity
door winner was Court Services. Their selected charity was the Geneseo and
Kewanee Humane Society Chapters of Henry County. The Court Services theme this
year was “Homeless for the Holidays.”
According to Court Services Director, Deb Anderson, “members of our department
pulled together and it was a real group effort through and through as everyone
participated in some fashion this year.” As a result, the Geneseo and Kewanee
Human Society Chapters will each receive $235.00. “Adoptions are down this
year, the need is up and the money will aid with costs of sheltering additional
animals this season,” added Anderson.
A special donation made the grand total of $470.00 possible. “Thanks to Steve
Brandau’s personal contribution of $100.00 to the overall winner, we were able
to raise this amount with our own staff donating a total of $370.00,” stated
Anderson. The Court Services department left no doggy bone unturned as their
door included photos of pets waiting to be adopted. Their display even included
a kennel with a pound puppy inside.
Each pet’s name had a story tagged to it and the hope that someone will give
them a new home for the holidays. One kitten was adopted as a result of the
plea for help. Unfortunately, there are many more animals that need a home and
not enough homes to go around.
To learn more about adopting a pet, please contact Bonnie Wick at the Geneseo
Chapter by calling 309-944-4868 or Kellie Wallace at the Kewanee Chapter at
309-852-0040. You may also email
kewaneepets@yahoo.com for more information.
Additional “Spirit of Giving” festivities at the courthouse included the 10’
lighted memorial tree, which stood in honor of the many men and women who are or
have served in the military. Many friends and family members brought homemade
ornaments to hang on the tree during the holiday season. It was a beautiful
sight and many appreciated the opportunity to honor the veterans in Henry
County.
Virgil Johnson, along with other staff members of the Veteran’s office at the
courthouse, dedicated their office door to the Honor Flight in the hopes that
all veterans will have the same opportunity in the future. All money donated
went to the Honor Flight program.
HENRY COUNTY STAFF DECORATE DOORS FOR FAVORITE
CHARITIES AND HONORS ALL VETERANS WITH A MEMORIAL LIGHTED TREE
Each year at this time, department heads gather to
discuss the holiday
door decorating contest. This year it was
decided that a central Courthouse theme should be established.
This year’s theme is the “Spirit of Giving”. As such,
each department
door will represent a separate charity or non-profit
organization that the department has chosen to contribute towards, monetarily
and/or with items the selected charity may use. Employees spend their own money
purchasing decorations for their department’s door and decorate it before or
after work hours.
Christmas
decorating is already underway at the courthouse as this weekend is Christmas on
the Square in Cambridge. The courthouse participates each year by placing
plastic plug-in candles in all the windows throughout the courthouse. The tall
vintage looking candles were also purchased by employees and may be seen at
night when the courthouse is all aglow. It is like a scene from days gone by as
visitors passing through Cambridge are welcomed by the majestic stance of the
historic building.
Department head staff at the Henry County Courthouse decided at their last
meeting to bring back an old tradition of a Christmas tree centered on the first
floor atrium of the old courthouse. The employees recently purchased a 10’
Christmas tree with funds they had collected and set aside for a specific
purpose.
The lighted memorial tree is currently without ornaments or tinsel. It stands
tall and beautiful as it rises to the ceiling. It is intentionally undecorated
as employees felt the decorating theme this year
could be a memorial tree honoring all the veterans
who have served or are currently serving our country in the military, especially
during the holiday season. Henry County residents are invited to help decorate
the tree with an ornament honoring a family member or friend. The memento may
be a photo, name tag or anything that symbolizes the veteran who is or has
served. It is suggested that items of personal or financial value are not left,
as the courthouse is a public building and therefore cannot be responsible for
lost, broken or unreturned items.
Virgil Johnson, a local veteran who has worked in the Veteran’s office at the
courthouse for over five years, hopes that many people from the county will
donate an ornament for their family member. “We are dedicating our door this
year to the Honor Flight because they need a lot of money to keep this program
going,” stated Johnson. He wants all veterans to have this same opportunity in
the future.
Anyone wishing to donate may bring their ornament to the courthouse and leave it
in the drop box located at the security desk at the main door entrance. All
ornaments must be dropped off by noon on Friday, December 11th.
Volunteers from the courthouse will place the decorations on the tree. Please
note that these donated ornaments are to be picked up on Monday, January 4,
between the hours of 12 noon – 4:30 p.m. If unable to pick up on this date,
please call 937.3400 to make other arrangements prior to January 4th.
The public is invited to visit the courthouse beginning Thursday, December 17,
from 8 am – 4:30 pm. Visitors will be able to view the decorated doors
throughout the building and memorial tree located in the atrium on first floor.
HENRY COUNTY ANNOUNCES CITIZENS FOR THE
RENOVATION OF THE HENRY COUNTY COURTHOUSE
A new committee has been formed in Henry
County to address the immediate need for courthouse renovations and repairs due
to the continuing deterioration of the exterior walls and roof of the
129-year-old structure.
The Citizens for the Renovation of the Henry County Courthouse is composed of
volunteers, representing all geographic areas of the county. Harold Ford
and Greg Peterson co-chair the committee. Jerry Meyer is the committee
treasurer, and Bill Philhower is committee secretary. Other citizens serving on
the committee are: Larry Lock, Tim Wells, Bernard Francque, Jim White, Byron
Carlson, Danny McDaniel, Everett Swanson, Tom Weston, Jens Rehder, Judy Rehder,
and Bill Schehl. Working with the committee are county board members Jesse
Crouch, Jim King, and Tom Steele.
Committee members will be available to speak to the issue with community
organizations seeking to learn more about the Public Facilities Sales Tax
Referendum, which is collected by the Illinois Department of Revenue and given
back to the county for this purpose. The public will have several opportunities
to learn about the amount needed for repairs and the one-quarter of one percent
sales tax increase. Any organization that would like a speaker is invited to
contact the committee through the courthouse at 309.937.3400.
Co-chair Harold Ford wants every town in the county to recognize the pros’ of
this temporary tax and what it can mean to the county. “As a group we are
working together to try and present this information to people so that they will
see the need to pass this sales tax increase,” stated Ford. He wants voters to
understand that the committee is unanimous in feeling that this is the best
method available and others from outside the county will help pay for the
repairs to the courthouse. “This is better than a property tax and it is
temporary,” added Ford.
Greg Peterson, co-chair of the committee brings experience based knowledge to
the group. "I inspect a lot of buildings
similar to the Henry County Courthouse in my profession as a structural
engineer. Past experience has taught me that repairs are needed to this
building now to prevent future repair costs from being even more costly or
eventually rising to the point that repairs become cost prohibitive,” stated
Peterson.
Members will be prepared to discuss what repairs
are needed including the areas of asbestos and lead paint abatement, tuck
pointing and mortar replacement for four rooftop chimneys, exterior masonry,
metal components that need to be cleaned of corrosion or replaced, dormer
repair, clock tower windows and seal all open masonry joints as well as roof
repair. Also outlined in the original cost estimate is repair to the clock
tower which includes window replacement, refurbish or replace the iron and slate
roof, replace access steps, repair the sheet metal in the bell enclosure and
inspect the tuck pointing on exterior of courthouse.
Additional information regarding the funding
details of the proposed sales tax referendum will also be presented. The much
needed repairs are now estimated to cost $2.840 million, which is an increase
over the $2.583 million originally quoted, but failed to achieve a majority vote
at the polls in April 2009.
According to Orion resident Jerry Meyer, “as a committee we are looking to this
issue as an opportunity to educate the public on the need for repairs to the
Courthouse. No one wants to approve a tax, but this will only cost the average
couple in Henry County less than $15 annually.”
Voters will be asked once again on the February 2, 2010 ballot to approve the
Public Facilities Sales Tax Referendum. Voting “yes” for a one-quarter percent
increase in the sales tax will provide the much needed funding to begin repair
and the restoration of the historic courthouse. The benefits to passing the
increase are many and the committee members feel that voters need to be
apprised of how it will affect them directly. The following points will be
outlined:
-
The revenue raised by the sales tax is restricted to repairing the courthouse.
-
A one-quarter percent increase only amounts to an additional 25 cents on each $100 of personal retail good purchased.
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Groceries, medical expenses, titled property items, farm equipment and production supplies, and items not sold at retail are exempt from the tax increase.
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Anyone who buys retail goods in Henry County, even people who do not live in the county, will pay the tax.
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There is a sunset provision on the increase that ends it in a 10-year period.
-
If enough money is raised before the sunset limit, the County Board will repeal the increase. It is projected that a one-quarter percent increase in the sales tax should generate enough revenue to pay for the repairs in a 7 to 8 year period, allowing the County Board to repeal the increase 2 to 3 years before the sunset date.
-
If other monies become available for the repairs, the County Board will repeal the sales tax increase prior to the 10-year sunset period.
For more information, please call the Deputy County Administrator’s office at 309.937.3400.
The walls come
to life in the Henry County Courthouse
If the walls in the Henry County Courthouse could talk, they would tell you
about the trials and tribulations that the early settlers came to experience
over 175 years ago. The new artwork that now hangs in the Courthouse does just
that for the many people who pass through the hallways each day.
The assortment of framed paintings that outline the walls offer a glimpse of the
past and a voice of the future for life in the county. They also serve as a
reminder of the life and people who make up Henry County. The art represents
and embodies a true expression of the artists that have donated so much of their
time and talent for future visitors to enjoy.
The most recent addition by Bishop Hill Colony Potter Jeffrey Goard, is a 3-D
cone 10 functional (copper-matte) glaze stoneware platter that he designed in
his studio in Bishop Hill. At the request of Betty Murphy, chairperson of the
committee, Jeff designed and donated a piece that is similar to what he sells at
his studio. “I create functional pottery that people want and can use,” stated
Goard. He receives his inspiration from a great aunt who was an educator and
worked during the summer months doing pottery.
“I enjoyed watching her work and as I got older I emulated her work,” said Goard.
He became the new owner of the pottery shop in Bishop Hill on a chance meeting
four years ago during Memorial Day weekend. “I went to Bishop Hill with my
friend Rose, and during this visit learned that the current owner, Gail Hintze
was retiring.”
On the day of his stop over, he had a conversation with Ella Davidson and she
liked his work. “I began doing pottery during the Mid-Sommer and worked on the
wheel demonstrating and talking about the history and culture of the art,” Goard
said. He has owned and operated the pottery shop located inside the Prairie
Arts Center for three years at the present. The rest is now history for Goard.
“I believe it is a good fit here and I love art history and the utilitarian
society in Bishop Hill,” added Goard. He believes that people come to Bishop
Hill seeking history and culture and it is this experience that is so
important. Goard does not sell his pottery online, but instead prefers that
visitors view his work in the studio. According to Goard, “you can’t box up the
world and send it in the mail; people need to come to Bishop Hill for the fine
dining, culture, history and music.”
Goard’s stoneware piece now hangs on the main floor of this 128 year old
building. He joins 12 other area artists who have donated artwork including
oils and pastels. Their work is the structure and means by which people can
relate and understand the struggle and successes experienced by the people who
live and work in the county.
HENRY COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP (HCEDP) SEEKS VISTA VOLUNTEER TO
FILL FULL-TIME PAID POSITION
During the month of August, the Henry County Economic Development
Partnership (HCEDP) learned that the organization had received approval to
recruit a full-time AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) member.
The person selected to fill this paid volunteer position will assist with
community and economic development as well as support membership recruitment in
Henry County, Cambridge, Illinois.
The AmeriCorps*VISTA program places individuals with private organizations and
public non-profit agencies, allowing the individuals to help the organization
address issues related to poverty and economic development. Applicants are
expected to commit to one full year of service to the organization.
According to HCEDP chairman, Tom Newman, “this is a great opportunity for the
County to benefit from the AmeriCorps program and to start the economic
development process for the HCEDP.” One of the many challenging
responsibilities of this position will be to develop and execute the new
strategic plan of the HCEDP, which focuses on increasing membership to provide
funds for hiring a full-time economic development director in the near future.
“We are seeking candidates who are interested in economic development, community
service and public administration,” stated Newman. This position requires a
self-starter with flexibility, computer skills, and exceptional organization
skills. “Typically, this type of opportunity may be of interest to a recent
college graduate or a retired person interested in serving their community,” he
added. As an AmeriCorps member, volunteers will receive valuable “hands-on”
experience, which normally may not be obtained from a traditional, paying job.
Members will also learn teamwork, responsibility and other necessary skills for
achieving success.
Some of the basic benefits of serving for one full year include a modest monthly
living allowance, health care coverage, paid office expenses including mileage.
There is also the option at the end of service to accept an education award of
$4,725 or a post-service stipend of $1,200. As this is a full-time commitment
the VISTA cannot concurrently hold additional employment, nor attend classes.
For more information about the AmeriCorps*VISTA program, please visit
www.americorps.org.
Anyone interested in applying for the Henry County Economic Development
Partnership AmeriCorps*VISTA position, should contact Gisele Hamm, Illinois
Institute for Rural Affairs VISTA supervisor, at (309)298-4019 or via e-mail at
GF-Hamm@wiu.edu. Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, AmeriCorps, and HCEDP
are equal opportunity organizations.
Growing green at Henry County Courthouse
The lawn outside the Henry County Courthouse has been an extreme challenge this
past summer for Jerry Shannon, maintenance manager, and his staff. Heavy rains
have made the task of trying to plant and grow grass even more difficult with
already soggy soil; however, a recent donation of fill dirt has given the new
seed a home to sprout and grow.
According to Shannon, “the weather has been a problem since spring as it has
been hard to work in mud.” He explains that they have rototilled along the
sidewalks and added three inches of new dirt in areas around the courthouse.
“We have had several really hard rains over the last few months and on one
occasion the tractor sank to its axels because of all the water,” stated
Shannon.
Although a common theme in many communities, the lawn situation has put a strain
on Jerry’s time requiring many more hours than normal. Another problem he has
encountered is that a lot of the water will collect in certain corners of the
courthouse and either washes out or drowns out the new grass seed. “It is also
difficult to grow grass along the edges of the sidewalk due to the type of salt
and amount we may need to use throughout the winter in order to maintain safety
for our many visitors,” said Shannon. The type of salt they have had to use is
called Inferno salt and it has a tendency to burn out the grass each year.
To combat the salt issue and the polluted soil, Jerry has
tried to rototill the old soil in with new dirt. “One month ago, we received a
truck load of sandy creek dirt, which has made a significant difference in the
soil mix,” stated Shannon. The load of dirt was donated by Henry County
Treasurer, Rich VerHeecke.
Over the course of the summer, Shannon and his staff have planted over 200 lbs.
of grass seed and put on 520 lbs. of fertilizer. “It has been a slow process,
but we are making headway,” he added. They have also treated the lawn three
separate times this year with quality products like Escalade for crippling
dandelions and creeping charlie as well as using Roundup for the crab grass and
other weeds
In addition to worrying about the weather Jerry has had to try and stay within
his budget, which has presented additional concerns for him. “Due to the amount
of products we have had to purchase for the grass the dollars and cents have
added up,” said Shannon. But, he hasn’t given up and the lawn is finally taking
shape as they enter the fall mode and the growing and planting period is almost
over.
“I don’t consider myself a lawn expert, but I have tried to learn what others
are using and recommending to cure similar lawn problems,” said Shannon. He is
in the process of purchasing a new brush for the lawn tractor to aid in snow
removal. This will also reduce the need for spreading as much salt on the
sidewalks, while maintaining a level of safety for staff and visitors using the
sidewalks for business in the courthouse. “The brush will keep the sidewalks
cleaner, especially where there is less sunshine and more frozen ice or snow,”
added Shannon.
HENRY COUNTY ASPHALT PLANT PAVES THE WAY
Once only a plan on paper, the asphalt plant is now
complete. After several set-backs including the soggy spring weather and other
unforeseen problems, the new asphalt plant is in full swing. According to
Steve Brandau, Henry County engineer, “all the equipment is here and the scales
have been calibrated. We’re up and running and making mix.”
Members of the Henry County board had an opportunity to tour the Cambridge plant
on Tuesday, September 8, prior to the regularly scheduled monthly board
meeting. Brandau gave details about the entire process from beginning to the
end product along with loading trucks from the silos.
“I am very impressed with the new County asphalt plant,” stated Henry County board member Jim King. “It is so efficient and "green", he added. Other board members agreed that the new plant is long overdue.
Just weeks ago, crews from Almix finished fine tuning the
motors, setting up the computers and wiring up the control house. Brandau
explained that it will take 1,100 amp for all the motors to operate
efficiently. They are set for a soft start, which brings the motors up slowly
to speed. He also mentioned that the new plant expects to do about 5 percent in
recycling of materials. This substance will be added to the mix to get just the
right “recipe” or blend for the asph
alt.
“The new plant operation has a gas recovery system and any unburned odors are collected and ignited and gotten rid of,” stated Brandau. Additionally, the new set-up offers other features at the plant including efficiency in its overall operation, the ability to have more control over speed and proportions and the high efficiency gas burner is much quieter when drying the aggregate.
Following the tour King commented, “We are fortunate to have the staff with the knowledge and expertise to keep it running. It is also good that Henry County was able to provide this new service without new taxes because of efficiency and saving money over the past 20 years in the Highway Department.”
HENRY
COUNTY TOURISM BUREAU REPORTS MARKETING
EFFORTS ARE PAYING OFF IN DOLLARS FOR THE COUNTY
The Henry County Tourism Bureau (HCTB) is pleased to report that the
Illinois Bureau of Tourism (IBOT) has recently released numbers that reflect an
increase in tourists visiting Henry County including areas such as Bishop Hill
and the Hennepin Canal.
To evaluate hospitality trade, IBOT monitors areas of transportation, lodging, food service, entertainment & recreation, and general retail. The HCTB confirms these findings with its own increase in numbers. Reports show HCTB was up 16% in lodging and 4% in food/beverage.
According to recent state statistics, the Illinois tourism industry continues to grow at a record pace, generating billions of dollars in economic impact and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs across the state. The statewide Economic Impact of tourism increased to a record setting $30.8 billion, which was a 3% increase from 2007, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
Additionally, visitors spent nearly $84 million in Illinois businesses every day in 2008. Over the last five years, the economic impact has grown by more than $7.8 billion in Illinois, which is a 34% increase. Although travel-generated jobs decreased in 2008, to 303,500, the state has still added 4,800 new jobs in the past five years. Reports show that state and local tax revenues generated $2.14 billion from travel spending, which is its highest level ever and $33 mission more than last year. Over a five-year period this is an additional $454 million. Other data indicates the total generated tax revenues (federal, state and local) save the average Illinois household over $1,100 in taxes each year.
Henry County economic impact of tourism rose 14% over 2007 with $39.14 million expenditures generating a payroll of $5.81 million, supporting 22,000 jobs in 2008. Most importantly the taxes generated were $2.48 million in state receipts and $840,000 in local receipts. All statistics are provided by the Economic Impact Report on Illinois Counties.
Last year’s negative closing announcements made by the former Governor may have fueled an interest in areas such as Bishop Hill and resulted in a positive outcome for the County. The additional exposure has gained attention to these great historical sites and sparked an interest in the public. Other contributing factors are increased marketing promotional efforts, a statewide distribution of visitors guides, five travel shows in 2008-2009, and marketing efforts in niche print for new markets is aiding in tourism.
According to Cathy Foes, director for HCTB, “tourism is magical and affects every community industry and infuses new money into the community’s economy which in the end may help keep property taxes lower.” Foes also believes the current economic times may be giving local tourism a boost. “The numbers speak for the tourism board’s creative strategic marketing efforts to brand Henry County’s offerings from the unique festivals and events, history/heritage, and recreational opportunities,” added Foes.
Additional HCTB goals for fiscal year 09-10 include internet marketing with new website to be launched February 2010. Also, the Tourism Bureau is laying the foundation to attract motor coach tours which the new website will feature sample itineraries day tripping, overnight tours and motorcycle routes within Henry County. A stronger emphasis on media relations to spread the word of Henry County’s historical communities, heritage travel, recreational opportunities, innovative festivals, artistic charm and eclectic shopping and dining experiences.
For more information on Henry County tourist activities and events, please contact the director, Cathy Foes, at 309-937-1255 or view the website at www.visithenrycounty.com
Grant
helps shed some light on rural historical courthouse
Henry County Courthouse may appear brighter to staff and visitors walking the hallways of this historical building thanks to a recent grant. In spring of 2008, the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation offered a new program for lighting upgrades in historic county courthouses designated as historic by the Illinois Preservation Agency. Henry County was quick to apply to the 2008 Energy Efficient Lighting Upgrade Grant Program.
According to Maintenance Manager for the Courthouse, Jerry Shannon, development of a list of the exact number of each type of lighting fixture to be upgraded, showing the rated wattage of each fixture type currently in use and the wattage of each fixture type after the upgrade had to be compiled for the application process. “We received assistance with this inventory by Galesburg Electric,” stated Shannon. Additional supporting documentation included a list of the projected costs, need for lighting upgrade and estimated timeline was also required in order to be in compliance.
Several benefits of the new Foundation’s lighting program are improved lighting quality for courthouse employees and visitors while decreasing operating and maintenance expenses. The upgrades also save energy and help create cleaner Illinois Communities. Shannon agrees with the Foundation stating, “These upgrades are going to save energy in this building and money for the county.”
The exact amount of the grant was determined by the actual electricity demand reduction achieved through the completed lighting upgrade. It specified payment for energy-saving upgrades to the lamps, ballasts and/or controls in existing indoor lighting systems. “Once we received notification that our project was approved, we began upgrading ballasts and lights throughout the courthouse replacing several thousand bulbs and a couple of fixtures,” stated Shannon. “We did not receive the funding from the Foundation until the work and installation had been completed,” added Shannon. “The grant was received on April 14, 2009, and totaled $10,295, which covered almost everything with a few minor adjustments.”
Article submitted by: Deb VanDeWoestyne, Henry County Public Information Manager