Wednesday, June 26

Sewers and landfill top city discussions

[JUNE 26, 2002]  Alderman Benny Huskins heard from Street Superintendent Donnie Osborne that a number of contractors have expressed interest in possibly using the city landfill for their refuse materials, such as concrete and blacktop. "We take our own [blacktop, etc.] to the landfill," Osborne pointed out. His main thought in suggesting this is that fill could bring revenue.

City Attorney Bill Bates responded by saying, "Check with the EPA and see if we can do that. Get it in writing."

 

Osborne said there would be a fee charged to the contractors, since the materials that were dumped would need moving around and there would also need to be an attendant. The materials brought in would be closely monitored. Concerns were raised as to whether there are issues and regulations that might not allow outside companies to use the site because it is already a declared landfill that is subject to specific EPA standards. Osborne responded that he didn’t think there would be a problem since the landfill already has a cap and the materials would go over the cap.

Police Chief Richard Montcalm announced that the department has received a grant that allows them to finish purchasing tactical vests as well as a grant for tobacco enforcement. More grant funds are being sought in order to continue purchases of radio and communications equipment.

The city needs to have a new look at their sewer ordinance, said Grant Eaton of EMC, who manages the waste treatment plant. As part of his job he monitors the sewage coming in from the prison. The agreement with the prison allows their sewage to have 200 BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) and 240 TSS (total suspended solids), with a surcharge added by increments for anything over that amount.

 

The prison agreement has become a concern however because they have a limit of 350 BOD. They exceeded their limit this month. Eaton suspects they will exceed it again next month. He said the current agreement kept the sewage treatment plant upgrade costs down. Bates suggested that he and Eaton get together to discuss what to do and make recommendations.

 

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Alderman Steve Fuhrer announced that he would like to call a committee meeting to discuss itinerant merchant definitions. He has received a lot of material about how other communities handle it. "It is difficult to sort out," Fuhrer warned. The meeting will be from 6:30 to 7 p.m. on July 9.

Bates then addressed the council on the matter of the early retirement incentive proposal that will come to a vote at the next council meeting. He strongly advised them, "Before you vote, be aware of what those total costs will be." A large number of clerical workers may qualify.

 

There have been some concerned neighbors calling about the New Wine building project on Woodlawn Road. Because the grading on the lot has been modified they are concerned about the watershed and potential flooding problems. City Engineer Mark Mathon has been out to look over the lot and assess it for potential problems. He said he did not think the changes would affect the current northwest flow of rainwaters that currently flow toward Brainard’s Branch.

Bates pointed out that a parking lot would accelerate the flow of water. For that and other reasons he stated he felt that they probably need a building permit. He found a statement in the zoning section of the city’s code book, Article 1126, stipulating that "excavation" needs a building permit.

Mathon stated that he has already contacted New Wine, and their contractor will be sending the building plans.

Alderman Michael Montcalm said to City Building and Code Inspector Lester Last, "Stop them till they get a permit."

[Jan Youngquist]


LDC injunction goes to
appellate court today

[JUNE 26, 2002]  A step toward a decision on the future of the Lincoln Developmental Center may come as early as today, when attorneys for the state of Illinois and those representing employees and parents of residents meet in appellate court.

The Department of Human Services, represented by the state, is appealing an injunction by Logan County Circuit Judge Don Behle that has blocked the downsizing of the embattled facility.

 

Behle’s ruling, handed down in March, said that without a permit from the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, Gov. George Ryan and DHS could not move any more residents from LDC. Gov. Ryan had announced a plan to downsize LDC to 100 residents by the end of the state’s fiscal year, June 30. The injunction halted the movement of the remaining 240 residents as well as the transfers and layoffs of another 400 to 500 LDC employees.

The suit was filed by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the union that represents most of the LDC workers; Norlan and Eleanor Newmister, parents of an LDC resident; Don Todd, president of AFSCME Local 425; and state Sen. Larry Bomke of Springfield.

Defendants include Gov. George Ryan, Illinois Department of Human Services Director Linda Renee Baker, state Treasurer Jody Baar Topinka and state Comptroller Daniel Hynes.

 

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Since the suit was filed, Gov. Ryan has made a decision to close the facility entirely, based on four more allegations of abuse and neglect of LDC residents. AFSCME, however, charged that the allegations were for very minor infractions and that DHS and Gov. Ryan had "set up" the facility to fail, in part as a cost-cutting measure for the cash-strapped state budget.

Although the General Assembly restored funding for LDC for the coming year, Ryan vetoed the funding and the Senate failed to override his veto. However, AFSCME and the Lincoln Parents Association, a group of parents of LDC residents, have vowed to fight as long as they can to keep the Lincoln facility from closing.

The injunction must be lifted before the state can begin moving residents from the facility, and, according to an AFSCME spokesman, a public hearing must be scheduled before the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board.

[Joan Crabb]

 

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