SYCAMORE | Rep. Robert Pritchard, (R-Ill.), spoke at the Sycamore City Council meeting Monday night about education, energy price hikes and a statewide smoking ban.

He showed his support for a bill to prevent property tax money from going toward education.

“I’m part of a group of people that is trying to make a difference in education,” Pritchard said.

After a ten-year freeze on energy rates, the prices are starting to go up. Though ComEd came out with a 20 to 25 percent increase in the cost of energy, some areas have experienced greater increases.

“We’re just hearing from too many seniors that cannot just have that thousands of dollars increase,” Pritchard said. “The companies did not consider some kind of phase in.”

He said a few plans are being considered to remedy this, such as a ten percent increase each year for three years.

Pritchard also said he plans to support a statewide smoking ban that will be heard by the Illinois General Assembly Thursday.

The council discussed some new Sycamore housing plans for the corner of Plank Road and Lindgren Road.

“There’s no more important topic than how we’re gonna grow,” said Sycamore City Manager Bill Nicklas.

The courtyard homes, unlike town homes, would allow for a courtyard in the middle of the complex as well as a seven- to ten-foot side yard. This setup would allow for neighbors living in the homes to interact and would allow for a lot of privacy. Each unit would have three to four bedrooms and a first-floor master bedroom.

The council will continue debating the housing plans at 7 p.m. next Monday during an informal session. The plans will be up for second reading March 5.