Lake County Gazette

Vernon Hills is advancing plans for a municipal electric vehicle charging station intended for both the village's electric vehicle fleet and public use. An update on the progress was presented at the Vernon Hills Village Board meeting on February 4.

According to a YouTube video of the meeting, Public Works Director Chris Venatta said that the village received two grants for this project. The funding includes a $10,000 grant from Powering Safe Communities via the Mayor's Caucus and a $22,000 rebate from ComEd to install the chargers. These funds will allow for the purchase of two chargers, with four charging ports enabling simultaneous charging for four electric vehicles. Two of these chargers are designated for Village fleet vehicles, while the remaining two are available for public use.

Venatta explained that the policy for public use would align with existing roadway policies restricting parking at the Village from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., with a four-hour time limit set to maximize usage of public stalls. He emphasized that these public charging stations are not intended as substitutes for home charging but rather as facilities for Village Hall visitors during their visits.

Venatta also informed trustees about the need to collaborate with the Police Department to monitor public use and indicated potential adjustments to the Village Code if issues arise. Although chargers can be set to enforce time limits on individual charges, this does not prevent users from staying parked beyond those limits. A survey of other municipalities revealed differing approaches regarding fees, with some imposing charges and others offering free services. Trustee Michael Marquardt remarked that accounting for public user charges might prove more cumbersome than beneficial, likening it to past experiences with vehicle stickers where costs were deemed excessive.