City of Sparta Illinois

In the picture are (Left to Right) Kelly Bauza, Tina Gibbs, Brandon Lanton, Andy Dahlem, Jim Craig, Mayor Jason Schlimme, Commissioner Mike Kelley, Scott Buckner.

Ameren Illinois donates retired bucket truck to the city of Sparta, Ill. (11/8/19) -- Just in time to hang the holiday decorations Kelly Bauza, Senior Manager with Ameren Illinois, presented Sparta Mayor Jason Schlimme with the keys to a bucket truck. The 2009 Dodge RAM 5500 Aerial Truck was recently retired from Ameren Illinois’s fleet.

“At a time when local municipal budgets are under considerable stress, this is a great way to put a public service vehicle to good use for the businesses and residents of Sparta” said Bauza.

Ameren Illinois has approximately 3300 vehicles, including trailers and equipment, in a fleet that services its 43,000 square mile service territory. Most vehicles are retired after approximately 15 years. Trucks that require minimal repairs or refurbishing are often available for donation to a local municipality or community organization.

“For a community of our size, this is a major asset to acquire,” said Mayor Jason Schlimme. “The bucket truck will make installing and removing the lighted Christmas decorations much easier and safer for our employees. The generosity of Ameren Illinois is greatly appreciated.”

Construction of a replacement of the Sparta Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) is financed by the Water Pollution Control State Revolving Fund (SRF). The SRF program is administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and receives portion of its money to fund these types of projects from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This project includes sanitary sewer system improvements as well as construction of a new wastewater treatment facility consisting of a headworks with grit removal, an oxidation ditch, two clarifiers, a sludge pump station, sludge digesters, sludge handling facilities and lab building. Once complete, it will improve water quality in the environment for area residents and businesses in Sparta by improving the discharge quality from the wastewater treatment facility. SRF programs operate in each state to provide communities the resources necessary to build, maintain and improve the infrastructure that protects one of our most valuable resources: water.