Ameren urges LaSalle County to OK site for downtown courthouse transformers

LaSalle County property committee members met Aug. 28 to consider a request from Ameren to relocate electrical transformers now housed in the basement of the downtown courthouse.

Chris Covert, introduced to the committee as Ameren's representative, said the company wants the equipment removed from the basement to an approved outdoor location because the existing busing and wiring “is very close and very hazardous to work with in that area.” He said Ameren can move the transformers once the county selects an approved site and provides conduit, wiring and proper metering at the new location. “We would love to have those relocated outside of the courthouse,” Covert said.

Committee members pressed staff and Ameren on coordination needs and outage planning. One member warned the transformers feed much of the east side of Ottawa, including the high school, and asked whether the work would require school coordination. Covert said Ameren has multiple circuits and that outages can be minimized with staged work and switchgear; he added that some preparatory work could be done in advance to reduce disruption.

Staff said drawings tied to the county's generator project already show possible transformer locations, but the most recent approved plan is still under review and will determine whether the transformer and generator work are combined or staged separately. Members discussed access (alleys and conduit runs beneath LaSalle Street), potential road openings and the additional wiring and panel work the county would have to fund.

Ameren told the committee lead time for equipment is likely short — transformers may be in stock regionally — but that larger costs and any items above Ameren thresholds would require senior management approval. Covert noted that if the required design exceeds roughly $100,000 on Ameren's side, it will need higher-level review.

Next steps: staff will circulate the most recent drawings to Ameren and the committee will identify a preferred site and determine a budget line for the work before forwarding the matter into the capital or finance process.