BLUFORD — One area town is an essential site for Ameren Illinois’ operations statewide. The utility partners with Bridgewell Resources Utility & Construction Group, a national distributor that operates pole yards around the country. They operate a yard in Bluford where nearly every power pole installed in Illinois by Ameren passes through before being put into use.

Jerry Schierbaum with Bridgewell Resources says it’s a team effort to make sure the power stays on all over Illinois.

The facility in Bluford carries 5,000 power poles at any given time, and Ameren officials say it plays an essential role in getting power restored after a storm.