Civic Center, Library, Nelson and Fairview Parks will host new EV chargers

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Decatur City Council passed vote to approve a purchase order for the installation of public electric vehicle chargers across the city at Monday night's meeting. The entire project totals around $821,913.

The project calls for the installation of two Level III Electric Vehicle Chargers at the Civic Center, two Level III Electric Vehicle Chargers at the Decatur Library, 5 Level II Electric Vehicle Chargers at Fairview Park, and two Level III Electric Vehicle Chargers at Nelson Park.

This project is just another step to get Decatur on the same level as it's regional peers, as it lacks in providing publicly accessible charging stations.

"According to our electric vehicle readiness plan and the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center, we are behind our regional partners like Springfield, Champaign, and Bloomington in deploying public chargers." said Lacie Elzy, Transportation services Director for the city.

Elzy says construction on the stations at the Civic Center could start as soon as this week.

The project will be completed using grant funding secured from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), Ameren Illinois, and the Illinois Department or Transportation (IDOT). The purchase was originally approved as a part of the 2025 City Budget.

The installation at the Civic Center will not exceed $208,989 plus a 15% contingency. The installation at the Decatur Library will not exceed $201,895 plus a 15% contingency. The installation at Fairview Park will not exceed $187,788 plus a 15% contingency. The installation at Nelson Park will not exceed $222,241 plus a 15% contingency.

The entire projects gets a combined discount of $116,013 from an Ameren incentive.

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