•February 20, 2019•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

At the Sullivan City Council meeting Commissioner Mike Kirk explained the city was in need of a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) System update.
It is a monitoring system for the city’s generators. The old one was installed about 18 years ago and it won’t operate on the newer computer systems. Kirk also mentioned that there wasn’t any security on the older system which leaves it open to possible security attacks.
A new system would cost around $150,000 and have the ability to be monitored on other devices such as a tablet and be compatible with the upcoming NextGrid system that Sullivan is in the process of installing.
The commissioner said cost for the new system is mostly for the software, maintenance and warranty which also includes five years of upgrades. It is 80% eligible for TIF funding which could provide a third the costs. The city council voted approved Kirk’s request and look into TIF funding options.
Lee Beckman from Milano and Grunloh spoke with the council about the plans to upgrade the city’s water treatment plant. He estimated that it would cost the city about $8.5 million for a new plant and encouraged the city to apply for a grant through Rural Development to help fund the project. There were a variety of factors that would calculate the amount of grant money that Sullivan would be eligible for. Some of those factors included percentage of poverty, population and employment. The city voted that they would move forward to receive the preliminary report to see the possible amount that they could be eligible for through Rural Development Grant.
Mayor Short spoke briefly about the city’s plans to put up “Looking for Lincoln” signage. It is a historical project that points to places that Lincoln worked, traveled and lived during his 30 years in Illinois. The signs cover about 42 different counties within the state. Short informed the council that one sign will be placed at the court-house and the other in the city’s park.