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Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
West Aurora School District eyes tax credit for solar project
West Aurora School District 129 is looking to install more solar panels, this time at its transportation facility in North Aurora. The school board recently authorized the district's administration to execute documents and invest $250,000 as a 'downpayment' to lock-in the availability of tax credits for a proposed solar panel canopy project at the facility. The Federal Investment Tax Credit for solar projects has a 'safe harbor' provision that permits school districts to secure tax credits by showing 'continuous progress' toward the completion of a project. The proposal is to install a canopy with solar panels at the school district's transportation facility in North Aurora, officials said. 'By investing in equipment and design costs now, we demonstrate how the project is moving forward towards our final install in the summer of 2026,' West Aurora School District Associate Superintendent of Operations Angie Smith told The Beacon-News. 'The solar panels will help offset the cost of electricity needed for our EV buses. The EV buses already will save us operating costs versus gas buses. The solar panels will reduce that cost further,' Smith said. However, to lock-in the availability of tax credits for solar projects, the district is facing a 'compressed timeline' due to incentive changes associated with President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill,' Smith said. The proposed solar canopy project would provide power to the district's EV buses. The school board last year decided to add some electric school buses to the fleet. The plan to bring in 27 electric buses to replace some older diesel models is part of the district's ongoing efforts to be environmentally conscious and reduce energy costs, district officials said. 'In order to maximize our potential credit for the solar canopy project for next summer we need to have made a significant investment by mid-August,' Smith told The Beacon-News. The tax credit is estimated to be more than $525,000, officials said. It is the district's intent to install solar panels at the transportation facility next summer. However, in order to take advantage of the safe harbor provision, the district is required to expend funds by Aug. 15, Smith said. 'I know is a very tight timeline,' she told board members. Part of the difficulty is that there are some different interpretations as to when certain things in the bill take effect. Specifically, do things take effect within a certain number of days after Trump signed the 'Big Beautiful Bill' on July 4, or later than that. In order to be 'completely conservative and protective as possible,' consultants have recommended the district have money spent by Aug. 15, Smith said. 'For this project, the tax credits are roughly $525,000. In addition, the district would be eligible for Illinois Shines solar program tax credits that will be about $35,000 a year and a ComEd inverter rebate of about $65,000 a year,' she said. Smith said when you add together all the credits, rebates and incentives, 'this roughly $1.8 million project will cost the district about $100,000 and that's before utility savings.' 'This is a project that will pay for itself, but we are not in our typical timeline,' she told the school board. 'Typically, I come to you in the fall and say here are the projects we are going to do. Then we come back to you with bids. 'For this one, if we are going to protect the tax credit, we are asking you to give me the authority to sign paperwork necessary to execute a safe harbor plan. We will then come back to you in the fall or spring and review the normal process,' Smith said 'We're basically spending on the front-end for design fees and some of the materials,' Smith said. The administration will come back to the school board to discuss labor and construction-related matters for the project, she said. 'I know it's a little bit awkward but what we are doing is protecting roughly half-of-a-million dollars,' Smith said. The school board authorized the district expend $250,000 towards the project The school board essentially is putting 'a deposit down' to secure solar power for the transportation facility, Smith said. It basically protects the possible tax credit. 'If we didn't do it, we run the risk that by the time we go to apply for a tax credit, it might be nothing,' she said. 'The district is trying to receive the most tax credit.'
Chicago Tribune
25-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
State Sen. Donald DeWitte will not seek reelection in 2026, says current priority is transit fiscal cliff
State Sen. Donald DeWitte, R-St. Charles, will not be seeking reelection in 2026, according to a recent announcement from the legislator. DeWitte, elected to the state Senate in 2018, is currently serving out his second term representing Illinois' 33rd District. He also previously served as mayor of St. Charles. He told The Beacon-News he's not planning to retire, but wants to 'redirect (his) energy' to some other opportunity in public service. He said he wouldn't definitively rule out running for another office, but said he wasn't seeking anything currently. But, for now, he said the mass transit fiscal cliff is 'number one on (his) plate right now' as he finishes out his term in the General Assembly in Springfield. Chicago area transit agencies are currently facing a $771 million budget shortfall, according to past reporting. Illinois lawmakers recently adjourned their spring legislative session without passing legislation that would avert the fiscal cliff. The Regional Transportation Authority, which oversees the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace, has said that riders could experience a 40% reduction in transit service if the budget shortfall isn't dealt with, according to past reporting. Nearly 3,000 workers could lose their jobs. DeWitte is currently the minority spokesperson for the state Senate's Transportation Committee, and previously represented Kane County on the RTA board. He said previous legislation seeking to avert the fiscal cliff is 'virtually dead in the water,' and that there's 'really no legislation for any of us to consider.' Lawmakers can still return to Springfield to try and pass legislation to fill the budget gap, but it would need a three-fifths majority in both chambers, rather than a simple majority, to pass. Transit service cuts are not set to start until January, or even later into next year, according to past reporting. But the RTA has said that transit agencies will have to make their budgets for next year assuming they're not going to be getting any more funding. DeWitte said he hopes to see the budget gap filled by reallocating funds cut elsewhere in the budget, rather than finding a new source of revenue via increasing taxes — like the $1.50 retail delivery fee that was previously proposed to generate additional revenue. As for the hopeful successors to his seat in the 2026 election, DeWitte said that he announced his plans to step down when he did to make a 'clear runway' for other candidates for the seat to begin circulating nominating petitions, which they can start gathering signatures for on Aug. 5 'I just think it's time for some fresh energy in the Senate,' he said. DeWitte said he won't be making any endorsements in a Republican primary, but thinks a moderate pick is necessary to win the seat, particularly as many suburban communities are experiencing a shift away from the Republican Party. 'I've always believed that taking a moderate approach is the way to get anything accomplished in Springfield,' he said. 'It has served me well for seven years. … Anybody coming in is going to have to realize that, because of the makeup of the district and the shift from red to blue, they're going to need to start moderating on a number of issues.'
Chicago Tribune
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Despite planning challenges, officials count Aurora fireworks show a success
Undeterred by the closure of RiverEdge Park, thousands filled parks and parking lots near downtown Aurora last Friday night to watch fireworks whiz, bang and boom over the Fox River. The annual Independence Day fireworks show put on by the city of Aurora typically uses RiverEdge Park as one of its official viewing spots, but the park is closed for renovations this year, which made planning for the event more difficult, Aurora Director of Community Events Mike Nelson told The Beacon-News. However, despite the planning challenges, Nelson considers the fireworks show a success. 'Kids and families loved it, so that to me is just a win,' he said. In place of RiverEdge Park, the city closed down the Aurora Transportation Center's parking lot to use as one of two official viewing locations. City staff weren't sure what kind of turnout to expect since that lot is where people typically park for the fireworks show, but Nelson said he was happy to see about 2,500 people in attendance. Nelson was also happy to learn that the other official fireworks viewing spot, McCullough Park, saw 5,000 attendees. That's roughly double the amount of people who typically watch the fireworks show at the park, he said. On Friday evening, before the show began, adults could be seen lounging on lawn chairs or picnic blankets across McCullough Park's lawn while children ran around and played, some trying to catch fireflies that lit up like miniature versions of the fireworks to come. Nelson said that city staff had a feeling more people would show up to the park this year, so they 'simplified' operations by not putting up the typical inflatables and other activities for kids. 'I'm so glad we did because we had an overwhelming number of guests there,' he said. People also found other, unofficial spots to watch the fireworks. Nelson said Northgate shopping center's parking lot also filled up with those looking to see the show. 'Even when you throw a big curveball like shutting down the train station parking lot and eliminating that source of parking, Aurorans still show up,' he said. 'They love the Fourth. They love the fireworks.' Those fireworks this year cost around $46,000, according to Nelson. The city has been working with fireworks company Pyrotechnico for over a decade, he said, and it is currently at the start of a new three-year contract with them. Planning for the annual Independence Day fireworks show, which Nelson called one of the greatest around, starts at the very beginning of January, he said. Both the fireworks and the Fourth of July parade are planned at the same time, he said, since it is sort of like one event spread across two days. The two Independence Day celebrations take place on different days for manpower reasons, according to Nelson. 'Each event takes so much in terms of resources and whatnot, and it's just gotten too complex for us to be able to pull both off in one day,' he said. It took 'an incredible amount of city staff and resources' to pull off the switch from RiverEdge Park to the Aurora Transportation Center's parking lot as an official fireworks viewing location, Nelson said, especially since it contains a Metra stop that is very busy. It was a big operation to inform Metra riders, work with Metra and work with various city divisions to get the parking lot cleared and shut down appropriately and safely, he said. On the night of the fireworks, both official viewing locations had food trucks and DJs who played a special soundtrack created to accompany the show. But there were many more people working that night. Nelson said around 50 police officers were on-duty, as were other city employees, including the six people on his own team, maintenance crews, the train station team, the communications team and staff from the mayor's office. When asked how much more difficult planning for the fireworks show was this year compared to past years when RiverEdge Park was open, Nelson called it a 'night and day' difference both because they were inconveniencing Metra riders and because they were basically removing their main source of parking for the event. To help with the parking issue, the city this year beefed up the event's shuttle ride service and pushed that service in messaging about the fireworks show, he said. Change might be hard, Nelson said, but 'you pull it off no matter what.' However, he is looking forward to next year, with RiverEdge Park renovated and able to hold even more people than it did in years past. 'I can only imagine how awesome its going to be,' he said. Just days after the Independence Day celebrations, Nelson's team is already on to the next project: planning for the holidays. He said on Monday that all the chaos of planning for those events was set to begin the very next day at 10 a.m.
Chicago Tribune
03-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Foreign Exchange opens brewpub, restaurant in downtown Aurora
After years of brewing and selling beer, the award-winning Foreign Exchange Brewing Company now has a physical location in downtown Aurora. While the company's beer is of course for sale on-site at the new location, and patrons can see the brewing area through windows in the seating area, the brewpub also serves food that fuses Mexican and Indian cuisine. But beyond that, owner Ricky Cervantes said he wants the newly-opened space to first and foremost be a community hub, a place where people can come with their family and friends. 'The reason we were able to succeed these last five years is by building community, and we hope to build a community here within Aurora, within downtown Aurora, and be a beacon for Aurora,' Cervantes said during an official grand opening ceremony on Wednesday. After the ceremony, Cervantes told The Beacon-News that it is exciting to be able to open up a brewery within a historic building in the town he grew up in. Plus, being able to contribute to the revitalization of downtown Aurora 'means the most to us,' he said. Ald. Jonathan Nunez, 4th Ward, said in a speech at the grand opening that he is glad to see someone who also grew up in Aurora stick around, reinvest in the community and 'offer to us what we have now in Foreign Exchange.' Those who haven't tried their products, Nunez said, are in for a treat. Foreign Exchange hopes to use its existing fan-base and following to bring more people from outside Aurora to discover or rediscover its downtown since it has changed so dramatically over the past decade, Cervantes said after the ceremony. And he is no stranger to downtown Aurora. In fact, Cervantes said it was at his apartment in Leland Tower where he first started brewing beer. What originally got Cervantes into brewing, he said, is just that he had a lot of fun ideas. He started brewing and bottling beer to share with friends, and then he started going to beer releases and sharing with other beer drinkers in the Chicago region. That built him a following, he said. But it wasn't until he did a large-scale batch with the help of the former Oswego Brewing Company, and 450 people lined up to get some, that he realized, 'maybe I've got something here,' according to Cervantes. Foreign Exchange commercially launched the next year, he said, with distribution starting in February 2020. The company's beer is now distributed across Illinois, he said. 'I want to just thank everyone that's followed us over the years,' Cervantes said. 'People who have bought our beers off the shelf are the reason why we now have a brick and mortar, and we hope to continue growing for years to come.' Foreign Exchange's new physical location in Aurora currently serves 15 beers, according to the menu on the company's website. Of those, one is a 'guest tap' from Blind Corner Brewery and one, the Gratification, is the company's first from the new downtown brewery. Alongside the grand opening ribbon-cutting, the company also released its newest beer: the Barrel-aged Between Two Parallels. According to a Facebook post, it is made with a blend of imperial stouts that were aged between 25 and 31 months in Four Roses and Wild Turkey Distillery casks and conditioned on Madagascar vanilla and marshmallow. The restaurant and brewpub is located at 110 Cross St. in Aurora and is open 3 to 9 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, noon to 9 p.m. on Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Chicago Tribune
10-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Contract extension approved for West Aurora School District superintendent
The West Aurora School District 129 board recently approved a one-year extension of Superintendent Michael Smith's contract. 'Dr. Smith has the full support from the school board, as can be seen by the unanimous consent to extend his contract with the district another year,' West Aurora School District Board President Richard Kerns said in a response to questions from The Beacon-News. Smith had spent more than two decades with the district when the board selected him in November of 2022 to be the eventual replacement for Superintendent Jeff Craig, who retired June 30, 2024. Smith stepped into the role of superintendent once Craig retired. Kerns said that Smith made a 'smooth transition' and has done a 'great job of achieving' or making 'great progress' on goals that were established last year. Smith's contract was due to end on June 30, 2027, West Aurora Associate Superintendent of Operations Angie Smith said. The board's vote extends the contract to June 30, 2028. The superintendent's new extended employment agreement is for the years July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028. During the first year of the contract, the superintendent will receive compensation of $280,000, which includes the required contribution to the Teachers' Retirement System. His 4% salary increase for the 2025-26 school year under the agreement is the same as for the majority of the district's other administrators, Angie Smith said. The school board reviews the performance of a superintendent annually and decides when and for how long to extend the contract, she said. The board will discuss the superintendent's goals for the 2025-26 school year next month, West Aurora School District officials said.
