Alton Postpones Powerline Action Amid Legal Challenge Concerns
Business owner claims Ameren must pay to relocate hazardous powerlines; city officials postpone resolution, fearing potential lawsuit.
City of Alton - Committee of the Whole Meeting
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ALTON – After 15 years of requests from a local business owner for Alton and Ameren officials to address a “public safety hazard” in front of her building, Alton aldermen voted this week to further delay taking action.
Erin Frew, owner of the historic Snyder Block building at 301 Piasa St. in downtown Alton, has consistently called on City Council members to compel Ameren Illinois to relocate bare overhead powerlines hanging less than six feet from the building’s facade. In addition to several code compliance issues, Frew also claims the current conditions are unsafe for any contractor to complete work on the facade.
Alderman Chris Bohn represents Alton’s first ward, where Frew’s building is located. Bohn introduced an ordinance for consideration at Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting which would direct Alton officials to invoke Section 4.2 of the city’s Franchise Agreement with Ameren to “relocate electric facilities for public safety.”
At Monday’s meeting, Frew thanked Bohn for introducing the resolution, but urged “follow-through” from his fellow aldermen. She called on the rest of the City Council to enforce Section 4.2 of the Franchise Agreement, which she said requires Ameren to relocate the powerlines at the company’s expense.
She also stated, as Bohn later agreed, that the city cannot expect to attract new businesses and investment without demonstrating it can maintain its existing infrastructure or address public safety hazards.
“When facilities create a public safety concern, Ameren must relocate these powerlines at its own cost,” Frew said. “Similar clearance conditions exist at other buildings all over Alton – and when hazards in the public right of way go unaddressed for years, it sends a message that Alton tolerates neglect.”
A representative for Alton’s Corporation Counselor, Heidi Eckert, who was not present at Monday’s meeting, said Alton’s legal representatives do not believe the Franchise Agreement provides a clear legal basis for the city to force Ameren to relocate the powerlines at their own expense, which would total an estimated $156,000. She said Ameren would likely respond with legal action against the City of Alton if Bohn’s resolution were to pass.
Bohn said the risk of losing residents and business owners outweighs the risk of a potential lawsuit.
“If we don’t treat our current residents and business owners the right way, who’s going to want to move to Alton?” Bohn said. “I’m sorry that you’re going to have to do your job if it comes down to a lawsuit – that’s what we pay you for … Just because you think it’s going to be difficult, that’s not a reason why we back down.”
Alderwoman Martha Pfister questioned how much the city would be “on the hook” for if Ameren decided to take legal action. She also asked whether the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) had been notified, indicating they may be better equipped to hold Ameren accountable under the Franchise Agreement. Frew later confirmed that the ICC is currently reviewing the matter, with a pre-hearing set for Dec. 10, 2025.
Pfister ultimately moved to postpone the resolution until the next Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. Bohn cast the sole vote against postponing the item, with Alderman Michael Velloff absent and all other committee members voting in favor.
Frew returned at the following City Council meeting to further urge Alton officials to take action and dismiss the concerns which prompted council members to postpone the item.
“A price estimate from Ameren does not rewrite a contract, yet last night, Alderwoman Martha Pfister raised concerns about what the city might be ‘on the hook’ for if Ameren resists relocation,” Frew said. “That reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the Franchise Agreement – the city is not on the hook for anything.
“When [the city] takes no action, hazards sit unresolved for years. Staff should not be waiting on Ameren, Ameren should be following the city’s directive … the ICC is now involved because the city has failed to act. A private citizen should not have to initiate state-level enforcement to compel the city to enforce its own contract, but that is where we are.”
A full recording of the Nov. 24, 2025 Alton Committee of the Whole meeting is available here, while a recording of the Nov. 25 City Council meeting is available here.
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