Ronald Silkaitis: 2025 candidate for St. Charles City Council Ward 1

Bio

Office sought: St. Charles City Council Ward 1

City: St. Charles

Age: 68

Occupation: Quality control specialist

Previous offices held: St. Charles 1st Ward Alderperson, 1997-2009 and 2013 to present

What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the city council respond to it?

The most serious upcoming issue that our community will face is the renewal of our contract with the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency. IMEA supplies all of our electrical needs, primarily from a coal plant in southern Illinois. We need to reduce our reliance on coal and look at new technology in renewable energy sources.

The current contract with IMEA expires in 2035, but IMEA wants St. Charles to renew it before April 30, 2025, which is 10 years before its expiration date. The new contract would have a duration of 20 years, meaning it would not expire until 2055. This is unacceptable to me.

St. Charles needs to gather more information on our energy options and seek other possible suppliers. We need to get comparative bids. The city needs to consider more sources of renewable energy than what IMEA has to offer. Employing renewable eco-friendly sources where possible and working with experts in the electric field should be our goal.

How would you describe the state of your community's finances? What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years? Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed?

St. Charles is on financially solid ground. With a Moody’s credit rating of Aa1, we rank very high on fiscal management. The city council set a target of having a minimum of 25% in our reserve fund. Currently, we have 40%. We are financially sound.

We will prioritize essential city services such as electricity, water, police and fire protection for our residents. Reliability of these services is necessary for the quality of life in our community.

We will need to take a deep look into what is really needed in the city and what projects can be postponed. This would entail projecting our future expenses and future revenues. Currently, the city is going over the 2025-26 budget process. Until we have preliminary budget numbers, I cannot say what projects might be affected. Also, due to the uncertainty at federal and state levels, we are unsure of future funding for city projects.

What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

In the coming years, St. Charles will need to add another water well. With the growth of the population and added businesses, more water will be needed. Currently, St. Charles has seven water wells.

With increased consumption, the new water well will be able to meet our needs for years to come. This will be a multiyear project with construction starting between 2028 and 2029. To fund this project, we will seek federal and state grants, if they are available.

We can also apply for a loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Another possible funding source is to have developers of new projects contribute to the cost proportionately as they will be direct beneficiaries of the new well.

With uncertainty at the federal and state levels, we would need to do an extensive study of our upcoming projects and our budget. The city council would need to evaluate and determine which projects can be delayed without major effects on residents and businesses.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your city council.

It is important to listen to every council member and hear their thoughts and opinions on issues concerning the city. Being respectful is vital.

We were elected by the residents and it is our fundamental duty to listen to other council members and listen to what the residents have to say. It is essential to have the residents give their input and provide sufficient opportunities for their opinions and suggestions to be heard.

It is important to listen to opposing views and try to come to a consensus, as we can learn from others and develop better solutions.

My style is to listen respectfully to all opinions from the council, residents, city staff, and others, and collaborate. It is a good thing to have differing views.

We should not rush through important decisions that will affect the city for many years. There are instances when we should table an issue, until the council has received enough information to make an informed, well-thought-out decision.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

What I bring to the city is integrity, passion and experience.

Integrity. I always work for what is in the best interest of our residents and our city. I value the input of our residents.

Passion. I always do what I can for the well-being and the future of St. Charles.

Experience. My years on the city council have given me the ability to make informed decisions, propose viable solutions, collaborate, and to learn what works best for our city.

Over the years, I have served the community in a variety of roles including:

• Chairman of the St. Charles Government Operations Committee

• Chairman of the St. Charles Government Services Committee

• Member of the St. Charles 708 Mental Health Board

• Member of the St. Charles Liquor Commission

• Member of the Tri-City Ambulance Board

• Member of the Tri-Com 9-1-1 Service Board

• Member and President of St. Patrick Catholic School Education Commission

With my experience, passion and integrity, I believe this makes me the best candidate for the 1st Ward Alderperson on the St. Charles City Council, where I will serve my constituents with honor and respect.

What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

The former St. Charles police department site would be a great place for a project like the Batavia Boardwalk Shops. A few years ago, this suggestion was brought up and I would like to explore the viability of it. This project would be a place to support small business startups.

With a fabulous location on the Fox River, this would be a wonderful way to draw people to our downtown area. This in turn would help bring in visitors to our other downtown businesses.

We could also add other community enhancements such as a parklike setting with a children’s playground and splashpad area, a small band shell for outdoor concerts, or an area for local art shows showcasing local artists, crafters and musicians.

This would encourage residents and visitors to come to our downtown, and the city would use this site in a responsible, environmentally friendly way.