BY ANDREW HEISERMAN
Staff Writer

CRESTON – During their monthly meeting on Tuesday, Village of Creston Trustees discussed creating and ordinance that residence would have to abide by if wanting to install solar panels on their homes.
The board heard a presentation from Reid Elliot, a local resident who plans to install solar panels on the roof of his garage and one on the ground. The village does not currently have an ordinance for installing solar panels, but plans to look into surrounding county towns that already have solar ordinances.
Village board president Wayne Williams said he believes the board supports the project, but guidelines need to be put in place.

“Everybody has to abide by the rules and if you don’t have any rules it is a free for all, and I don’t want that,” said Williams.
The board also approved the 2020 fiscal year appropriation Tuesday night. The total is less than previous years due to several projects being completed and no longer in the budget.
“We are still in the black and we plan on keeping it that way,” Williams added.
The sanitary sewer contract with Rochelle Municipal Utilities was also approved on Tuesday. The contract covers maintenance RMU provides to Creston’s lift station and has been in place for many years. It was last updated in 2011.
Other business
The board is searching for a new building inspector after the previous one from Rochelle resigned.
The board also voted to pay for a water main leak that occurred at a residence just after hydrant flushing had been completed. The trustees approved payment for the leak after determining that it could have been caused by the work being done on the hydrant.
“It was discussed that it could have been a problem with slamming the hydrant shut when doing a flow test,” explained Williams.
Village staff is also continuing with the grouting of leaking manholes that was discussed at last month’s meeting. Seven have been completed so far based on need.