The Perry City Council recently set a public hearing regarding an amendment to the franchise agreement with Interstate Power and Light Company that will see extra funding used for various projects. 

The amendment would change the electric service franchise fee from two-percent of the bill up to four-percent which City Administrator Sven Peterson says the increase in revenue will be used for important programs. 

“That increase in revenue from that first off will be a tree trimming program where previously it’s always been the responsibility of property owners to trim trees in front of their home above the street and above the sidewalk. With this we will be able to have a program where we hire a contractor to come through and trim up a third of the community each year to compliance to get all of the trees up to where they are not hitting vehicles or in site lines.”

Peterson tells Raccoon Valley Radio other ideas for the extra funding includes looking at ash tree removal along with replanting other trees as well as a sidewalk repair or installation program. Peterson explains about how the extra funding will be created.

“If you have a $100 energy bill from Alliant that’ll be about an extra $2 on that bill. So, hoping to keep that impact low but the return on that over the years of having all of those street trees taken care of and then having that benefit of that sidewalk program will really be a good benefit.”

Peterson says the initial plan is to begin implementing these programs sometime this fall. For more information you can tune into today’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County Program on 94.3 and 99.7FM and 1310AM KDLS.