BY Todd Wineburner

A consultant for Pontiac’s proposed electrical aggregation plan was selected at last night’s Pontiac City council meeting. The Farnsworth Group in partnership with ICCAN got the approval of the council. Mayor Bob Russell told council members that he and City Administrator Bob Karls were very comfortable recommending the company because of the city’s past relationship with Farnsworth, and because of the personnel assigned to aggregation issues. One member of the team is a former director of the Illinois Power Agency. An aggregation plan could save residential and small business ratepayers 20 to 35 percent, depending on rate negotiations. Virtually all costs for the consultants will be paid by electricity providers.

In other action, the council also heard a presentation from a group working to develop a dog park in Pontiac. Council members applauded the effort and felt that a dog park would be a quality addition to the community, but they stressed that funds for such a complex would have to rely on private donations, with a minimum of financial and in-kind support from the city.  Mayor Bob Russell also issued a proclamation praising Mosaic on their 30 years of serving the developmentally disabled in Livingston County, and noting that the time in Pontiac is just a portion of the organization’s 100 year national history.