UTILITIES

Electricity

Ameren IL

 

Our service territory spans 43,700 square miles, or about three-quarters of the state. Every day, we deliver electricity to 1.2 million electric and 816,000 natural gas customers in central and southern Illinois. We deliver safe, reliable energy to more than 1,200 communities. Our complex delivery system includes about 4,500 miles of electric transmission lines, 46,000 miles of distribution lines, 18,200 miles of natural gas transmission and distribution mains and 12 underground natural gas storage fields with a total capacity of approximately 24 billion cubic feet.

Norris Electric

 

The Touchstone Energy Cooperatives brand represents a nationwide alliance made of more than 740 local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives in 46 states. Touchstone Energy co-ops collectively deliver power and energy solutions to more than 30 million members every day. Electric cooperatives distribute power for 75 percent of the U.S. land mass over 2.4 million miles of power lines.

 

Electric cooperatives were established to provide electricity to rural America, and now make up the largest electric utility network in the nation. Touchstone Energy is the national brand identity for that network.

 

Did you know Electric Cooperatives …
• Are located in 80% of the nation’s counties
• Are the largest electric utility network in the nation
• Total more than 900 local systems in 47 states
• Have 42 million member-owners
• Distribute power over 2.5 million miles of line
• Serve 75% of the U.S. land mass
• Own $130 billion in generation, transmission, and distribution assets
• More than 88% of all local electric co-ops offer electricity generated from renewable sources.

 

What Makes Our Cooperatives Different

Touchstone Energy co-ops are owned by the members they serve and are committed to providing reliable electricity at the lowest price possible. In short, co-ops “look out” for the members they serve.

Touchstone Energy co-ops provide high standards of service according to their four core values: integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community.

 

Touchstone Energy co-ops rank well ahead of their industry counterparts when it comes to customer satisfaction. Recent data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (A.C.S.I.), one the nation’s most recognized measures of customer satisfaction, gives Touchstone Energy cooperatives an average score of “83” out of a possible 100, outclassing utility industry satisfaction score of “77.”

Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative

 

Founded in 1937, Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative has provided affordable electricity to consumer members in parts of 11-counties in southern Illinois. The counties include portions of Wayne, White, Hamilton, Jefferson, Clay, Edwards, Richland, Franklin, Marion, Gallatin, and Wabash counties. With offices in Fairfield and Enfield, WWCEC currently provides service to 13,490 consumers. WWCEC currently energizes 3,324 miles of line, with roughly 4.14 members per mile of line. WWCEC currently operates with a total of 54 employees, which includes 5 employees at Wayne-White Propane.

Gas

Illinois Gas Company

 

Illinois Gas Company was incorporated in the State of Illinois on August 30, 1916. The primary purpose of the company was to provide natural gas service to residents and commercial business. The first gas meter was purchased on May 21, 1916 and is retained in our offices for display.

 

During the first part of the year 1936 the company was purchased by Arthur S Dewing. Mr. Dewing served in various capacities primarily as CEO/President during his tenancy. He served from 1936 to his death in 1971. Lloyd Morain, husband of Mary S. (Dewing) Morain, daughter of Arthur S Dewing, served as Vice President of Illinois Gas Company from 1950-1971, and as CEO/President of Illinois Gas Company from 1971-1988. Mr. Morain served as SEO/Chairman of the Board of Directors until his death in 2010. In 1978 Mr. Roger C. Avery (grandson of Arthur S Dewing ) became Vice President of Illinois Gas Company. He then became President/CEO of Illinois Gas Company in 1988, in July 2010 Mr. Avery became President/CEO/Chairman of the Board of Directors and continues in this capacity today.

 

Illinois Gas Company provides natural gas service to the communities located in Richland, Lawrence and Jasper Counties in SE Illinois.

Water/Sewer

City of Olney

 

Water – The Plant was constructed in 1949-1950. It was then expanded to its present size in 1979. This plant serves an average population of 14,200 people. The average daily consumption of water use is 1,700,000 gallons. The raw water supply comes from East Fork Lake and has a 5.5 billion gallon capacity. The three largest water users are: 1) Prairie Farms 2) National Vinegar and 3) Richland Memorial Hospital.

 

The City of Olney has four elevated storage facilities with a total capacity of 2.8 million gallons. The Water Plant capacity is 2.2 million gallons per day. The average daily consumption is 1.4 million gallons with a peak consumption of 1.8 million gallons per day.

 

Sewer – The City of Olney WWTP (Wastewater Treatment Plant) consists of a preliminary, primary, secondary (activated sludge with single stage nitrification), and tertiary (sand filters) filtration system.
The percent efficiency of nutrient removal is consistently in the 98 to 99.5 percent range. The treatment plant discharges to an unnamed ditch to Fox River.

 

The sewer collection system consists of approximately 45 miles of sewer lines ranging in size from 8 inch to 36 inches. There are at present nineteen sewer lift stations.

 

Staffing at the sewer plant consists of six permanent operators with one additional person in the collection system.

 

The City of Olney Wastewater Treatment Plant is 1 of 7, out of 166 state wide, up for nomination for “Plant of the Year” by Illinois EPA.
• Average Design Flow: 2.2 million gallons per day
• Maximum Design Flow: 5.5 million gallons per day
• BOD Loading: 5142 lbs. per day Suspended Solids Loading:
• 4972 lbs. per day Population Equivalent: 30,000

Allen served as the Mayor of a municipality in Tennessee for 16 years before accepting the position of City Manager of the City of Olney in 2015. Allen has extensive experience in industrial recruitment and retention of existing industry. In Tennessee, he served as a City Council member for 2 years, County Commissioner for 4 years, Board of Public Utilities for 18 years, as well as numerous state boards and committees. Allen also served as President of the Tennessee Municipal League. Allen believes in the positive effects of partnering and regionalism.

Assistant General Manager for Illinois Gas Company
Worked at IL Gas Company 34 years
Olney native. Graduated ERHS 1983
Happily married 25+ years
Has 1 stepdaughter and 3 grandchildren
Enjoys traveling

I began my school years in Lawrenceville Illinois. I moved to Olney in 1974 and graduated from East Richland High School. After that I graduated from Olney Central College with an associate’s degree. I then received a bachelor’s degree from McKendree University. I started working for the First National Bank in Olney in February of 1981. I have served on numerous committees and Boards and am currently involved with, R.C.D.C., Illinois Workforce Innovation area 23 Board, Trinity Lutheran Church Council, Olney Elks P.E.R. Association, and the Richland County CEO Program. I have been married to my wife, Cindy, for the past 33 years.

Born and raised in Olney. My brothers and I are the fourth generation to own and operate our car dealership. I currently serve on RCDC board and TrustBank board.

I graduated from Northern Illinois University with a major in Finance. I began my banking career as an Associate Bank Examiner and then went on to work for a family owned banking group in the Chicago area. I held various positions for over 19 years within the bank group. Before leaving the Chicago area, I held the position of EVP Senior Loan Officer and was a member of the Board of Directors. Since arriving in Olney and becoming President and CEO of TrustBank, I have enjoyed the people and opportunities in Richland County. I am blessed with a wonderful wife Rhonda and three amazing children.

Harry Brockus has been in the healthcare field since 1993 when he first began as a respiratory therapist. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Calumet College of St. Joseph and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Indiana University.

 

Brockus has been the CEO of Carle Richland Memorial Hospital since May of 2018, first serving in interim capacity before accepting the position permanently in August 2018. Before coming to Carle Richland, Brockus served as the CEO for Carle Hoopeston Regional Health Center for 10 years. In addition to his CEO duties, he is also Carle’s system VP for regional health. He is very involved in the management of Carle’s rural sites throughout Illinois, including clinics designated as rural health by Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. He is passionate about healthcare and serving rural communities.

 

He is active within the Illinois Hospital Association, Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network and the American Hospital Association. He is considered a state and national expert on Rural Health Transformation through Collaboration, having recently served as a speaker for the 2018 American Hospital Association National Rural Health Conference.

 

Brockus has volunteered extensively and served on many community boards.

Olney Mayor Mark Lambird is currently serving in his second, non-consecutive term, which began in 2017. He had previously served from 2009-2013.
Lambird is a Richland County native and 1998 graduate of the former East Richland High School, where he was active in the FFA organization. He would later attend both Olney Central College and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale where he would receive a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agriculture.

 

While in Carbondale he was a reporter at the Daily Egyptian, covering the City of Carbondale, University Affairs and later went on to be Managing Editor and to work on the copy desk. Later he would work at the Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale and become publisher at the Clay County Advocate-Press.

 

He currently works for Nutrien Ag Solutions as a crop consultant.

 

Lambird is a member of the St. Joseph School Board of Education, Olney FFA Alumni and an active member of the Olney Elks Lodge 926.

 

During his first term as Mayor Olney established the Illinois Route 130 TIF District, which led to the redevelopment of the Richland County Mall and worked to develop Musgrove Park’s sports complex. He also serves as the co-chair for the U.S. Route 50 Four-Lane Coalition that stretches from Lawrence County in the east to the Mississippi River in the West.

 

He is married to Caitlin and has three children, Aubrey, Asher and Andrew.

Michael McKinney is President and co-owner of A.M. Transport Services, Inc. in Olney, Illinois. Michael also serves on the Board of Directors of Summit Bancshares, Ltd. and First National Bank in Olney. He is active in the Richland County community, serving on the Richland County Development Corporation Board of Directors, as a Mentor for the Richland County CEO Program, and in the past has served on the board of directors for the Richland County Recreation Council, Richland County CEO, and Richland County Chamber of Commerce.

 

Michael resides in Olney, Illinois, with his wife, Brandy, and their three daughters, Madeline, Chloe, and Dorothy. He has a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

I was elected to the Richland County Board in November of 2016. Some of the committees I serve on are: Richland County Development Corporation, Finance Committee, Road and Bridge Committee, Technology Committee and Animal Control. I also am the current Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee for the City of Olney. My wife Jenna teaches first grade at Richland Elementary school in Olney. I own and operate my own media production company in called MHP Media Group and we specialize in the health care industry.

Assistant General Manager for Walmart DC 6059.
Been with Walmart 21 years.
Originally from Pennsylvania. Have resided in Illinois for 6.5 years, 5 years in Olney.
Married for 19 years.
Enjoy hunting and fishing.

I am a Certified Professional Community and Economic Developer with 6+ years of experience in consulting local governments and working one-on-one with private businesses to expand operations; promoting economic development while creating and retaining employment opportunities. I possess a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, have 10+ years of managerial experience, and am a Master of Business Administration candidate at the University of Illinois.