Manhattan Township

Solar Developer Commits Up to $800,000 for Smith Road Improvements

February 11, 2025/Comments Off on Solar Developer Commits Up to $800,000 for Smith Road Improvements
Spread the love

Summit Ridge Energy, a solar farm developer, has committed to providing up to $800,000 for the engineering and construction of improvements along Smith Road, Manhattan Township officials announced Tuesday.

The significant financial contribution is part of a road use agreement negotiated between Highway Commissioner Jim Baltas and Township Attorney Cass Wennlund. The funds are intended to subsidize upgrades needed to accommodate the developer’s project.

According to the meeting minutes, the $800,000 commitment is not sufficient to cover the entire scope of the planned project, which involves widening Smith Road from Cedar Road to Kankakee Street. However, officials stated that the funds will “subsidize the majority of the project.”

The agreement provides a substantial boost to the township’s infrastructure efforts, leveraging private development to fund public road improvements. Details regarding the timeline for the Smith Road project and how the township will cover the remaining costs have not yet been announced.

Latest News Stories

REPORT: 2M Illinoisans face $500 cut as Social Security faces cliff

REPORT: 2M Illinoisans face $500 cut as Social Security faces cliff

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – New data and reports from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget have shown that if no...

Illinois Quick Hits: Cook County announces $20M in CVI spending

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has announced $20 million of taxpayer funding for community violence intervention....
Rising prices growing concern in Illinois, U.S.

Rising prices growing concern in Illinois, U.S.

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As voters express growing concern over inflation, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says federal policies are to blame....
Peoria school safety director faces criticism over social media post

Peoria school safety director faces criticism over social media post

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A social media post by Peoria Public Schools' Director of School Safety is drawing criticism from...
Illinois Quick Hits: Rockford to fill budget gap with reserve funds

Illinois Quick Hits: Rockford to fill budget gap with reserve funds

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Rockford officials are planning to spend reserve funds to close a $9.4 million revenue shortfall. The Rockford...
Feds seek to join case to halt Evanston black ‘reparations’ payments

Feds seek to join case to halt Evanston black ‘reparations’ payments

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square The Justice Department is jumping into court against the city of Evanston, lending the heft of the federal government to a lawsuit...
Hern projected to win Oklahoma GOP Senate primary

Hern projected to win Oklahoma GOP Senate primary

By Caroline BodaThe Center Square U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., is projected to win the Republican nomination for Oklahoma’s U.S. Senate seat in an effort to succeed recently installed Homeland...
Pan criticizes Kiley as California congressional race heats up

Pan criticizes Kiley as California congressional race heats up

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square The race for California’s Congressional District 6 is a “priority race” for Democrats. That is according to Dr. Richard Pan, the Democrat who appears headed...
U.S. Department of Justice investigates Newsom's associates

U.S. Department of Justice investigates Newsom’s associates

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Justice has been investigating people close to California Gov. Gavin Newsom over the past year for reasons that have not been...
Advocates say price transparency alone won’t fix healthcare prices

Advocates say price transparency alone won’t fix healthcare prices

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square Letting patients see hospital prices can help, but it will not fix the high cost of health care by itself. That's what witnesses told members...
Social media platforms challenge Chicago tax; Pritzker confident in statewide plan

Social media platforms challenge Chicago tax; Pritzker confident in statewide plan

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago faces an ongoing lawsuit over a tax ordinance on social media platforms that was imposed four...
Feds move education programs to other agencies

Feds move education programs to other agencies

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The Trump administration announced Tuesday it is moving civil rights and special education programs to other federal agencies in efforts to continue the dismantling of...
Feds name five individuals charged in UFC terror plot

Feds name five individuals charged in UFC terror plot

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Federal court records made public Tuesday reveal the identities of five individuals in the alleged terror plot to disrupt the Ultimate Fighting Championship event at...
Central Ohio man linked to foiled terror plot at White House UFC event

Central Ohio man linked to foiled terror plot at White House UFC event

By J.D. DavidsonThe Center Square A rural Central Ohio mother apparently reported her son’s actions to local police, leading to the arrest of a 19-year-old man in connection with what...
WATCH: Senate panel OKs limits on protests near worship

WATCH: Senate panel OKs limits on protests near worship

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square Protesters outside churches, synagogues and other religious places will have to keep a certain distance from places of worship if the California Legislature passes a...