City gets electrical aggregation update, hires a communication specialist

QUINCY — The City of Quincy’s electrical aggregation consultant told the City Council Monday night that current utility costs with Ameren remain lower than long-term contracts from other suppliers, despite recent reports of upcoming Ameren rate hikes.

Reg Ankrom, president of SIMEC, called the market “unfavorable”, noting that the best rate currently is 12.18 cents per kilowatt hour from Ameren. He said one short-term rate of 10 cents per kilowatt hour for six months was found but is not yet available.

Ankrom added that the city has 56 electric accounts and is receiving a commercial rate of just over 9 cents per kilowatt hour, saving about 30 percent and, over 12 months, the city saved over $250,000. He said he would continue to monitor the market and provide pricing updates to the city when more favorable rates become available, possibly in the fall.

Mayor Linda Moore did get approval from the council on the hiring of Kristin Niemann as a communications specialist for the city. Moore said Niemann’s role would include social media engagement and messaging not only for the mayor’s office, but for all of city government.

The 10-month contract will cost the city $65,000 and run from July 1 through April 30, 2026 and Niemann will be an independent contractor, meaning she will have no health insurance or other benefits.

Alderman Greg Fletcher (R-1st Ward) asked what the position would bring to the taxpayers and Moore said she found the money in the budget in the savings of Dan Brink’s salary as director of operations as opposed to the higher salary the director of administrative services received as well as other savings, including the mayor opting not to take a pension or health insurance from the city.

The vote was 9-4 in favor of the hire with Jeff Bergman (R-2nd Ward), Mike Adkins, (R-3rd Ward), Tony Sassen (R-4th Ward) and Glen Ebbing (R-5th Ward) opposing. Ben Uzelac (D-7th Ward) was absent.

Aldermen also approved:

• A new five-year contract for service from Kroll Responder for Endpoint MDR. James Pioch, the city’s IT director, said the city would save money by locking in a five-year deal as opposed to a three-year contract as the rates will be lower. Kroll has been monitoring the city’s systems since they were hit with a ransomware attack in 2022.
• A low bid of $28,000 from R.D. Shaffer Trucking to demolish three structures under the city’s Fix or Flatten program at 304 Elm, 310 Elm and 830 N. Fourth.
• Spending $67,517 to renew Microsoft 365 for one year.