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 Land Rezoning Doug Muck was present at the meeting to
present information on a proposed rezoning of land from Special
District to M-3 Extraction. The land in question is located near the
intersection of 900E and 1500N on the north side of Salt Creek. It
measures roughly 169 acres in size.
In 2012, Muck applied for, and was granted, a rezone request on land
near the property of the current request. Since that time, the
application of the first approval has been held up in the state
court system due to ongoing legal conflicts over said request.
"We're confident that lawsuit will be finished by the end of the
year, if not quicker," said Muck.
Muck said there are verified limestone deposits in that area, and
the limestone is estimated to be very close to the surface.
Additionally, Muck pointed out that other parcels nearby are also
zoned M-3.
Muck also said that due to breaks in the levy in the area, the land
is prone to flooding. Muck also said that the area is farther away
from the Mahomet Aquifer than the previous application in 2012.
During the previous request, the location of the aquifer was a
concern raised by members of the public.
 Glenda Downing, a citizen of Lincoln, said that she is worried about
living near such an operation. Downing, who lives on 5th street
north of the proposed area, also said she is worried about the dust
and dirt that will get kicked up by the plant and the trucks driving
by. Downing cited health issues as the reason for her concern, as
well as the possible loss of well water and property values. Downing
also said Muck has no company in line to run the operation, and that
there needs to be conditions protecting nearby residents in place
before anyone mines in the area.
"I need to have assurances that it's going to be a safe environment
and it will be protected," said Downing.
Muck responded saying, currently there are no solid plans on who
would operate a new mine. Muck said he has spoken with several
companies, as well as considered opening the business himself. One
of the companies he has spoken to is Hanson, the mining company
previously operated a mine in Logan County. Muck also said that he
would look to rehire the miners that worked for Hanson.
Muck also said he has been talking with nearby landowners over the
past few months to make sure concerns are addressed, and will
continue to do so for several months, and that he is willing to
include Downing in future discussions as part of the conditional use
application process.
Due to recent changes in the county ordinances, mining is now
applied for as a conditional use permit in addition to rezoning.
Under permitted uses, Muck would only be allowed to dig borrow pits.
As a result, he would have to come back at a later time to gain
conditional permission to operate a mine. At the current time, the
county board is only considering rezoning the land, and a
conditional use permit would still need to be approved.
In addition to proper zoning and a conditional use permit from the
county, Muck would have to apply for several permits at both state
and federal levels. “Mining is probably the most heavily regulated
industry I can find,” said Muck.
Muck also said the presence of a mining company is irrelevant to the
application to rezone land. Bateman agreed, saying that this issue
focuses on whether or not the land should be used for extraction,
and not the definite presence of a company. In addition, in a
previous ZBA hearing, Muck stated that if there is more land
available for mining, a company may have more incentive to mine for
stone.
 Pat O’Neill said that limestone is a necessity for people living in
the county. Limestone is used by farmers, and it is also needed for
roads and highways, as well as construction projects. Anyone that
needs limestone has to pay to have it brought in to them from
Athens, Pontiac, St. Louis, or other areas. Muck said that he
feels the presence of a quarry is consistent with county directives
for economic growth. Muck pointed to previous economic plans that
advised officials to mine the limestone deposits found in that part
of the county.
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The Planning Commission recently voted unanimously to recommend the rezoning of
the land to M-3. The Zoning Board of Appeals by a unanimous vote of three
members also voted to recommend that the land be rezoned. The county board is
expected to reach their decision later this month at the Regular meeting.
Comments from county unions
Before the end of the meeting, a citizen addressed the board on behalf of unions
in the county. Eric Harris, President of a local union, said he had been asked
by several residents who were union members to approach the board and ask for
the county to consider rescinding their support of the Governor’s Turn-around
Plan.
"It is just not right for union workers. We stand very union-proud in Logan
County," said Harris. "We'd like you to rescind your support on it."
Smoke-Free Parks
REALITY, a group working with the Illinois Department of Public Health, has
requested that the county board consider establishing Scully and Latham Parks as
smoke-free parks. Both of these parks are owned by the county.
One of the reasons for prohibiting smoking in these parks is for the health of
children playing on the playground equipment. According to studies on the
effects of cigarette smoke, being outside does not reduce the risk of side
effects due to second-hand smoke. Another reason would be to reduce the
littering of cigarette butts.
The results of a survey were also provided to the board. According to the
survey, 113 people surveyed would like to see the parks smoke-free, 14 would
not, and 8 chose not to answer. A grant provided by the Department of Public
Health would pay for signs to be put in place in the two parks notifying people.
“It is more a suggestion and thought, and when signs are put like that, most
people do obey them,” said Kevin Bateman. It was also mentioned at the meeting
that the board would need to adopt an ordinance to officially make the parks
smoke-free.
The board is expected to vote this month on whether or not they will allow for
the signs to be put up in the parks.
County Website
Under the Executive Committee, Jan Schumacher said the committee is looking into
having a new website built. The current website has been in place since the
county decided to have a presence on the web. Schumacher also said the current
website is “barely satisfactory.”
Schumacher said a vote will be brought forward at the regular meeting to approve
of a proposal from Microchip Computer Solutions to build a new website. The
County Health Department is currently working with the same company to build a
new department website. “They’ve been very pleased with them [the company] so
far,” said Schumacher.
Schumacher said the estimated cost would be $5,760. A cost of $250 would be paid
annually for hosting, which is $50 lower than the current website hosting.
Board members present at the meeting were Chuck Ruben, Gene Rohlfs, Robert
Farmer, David Blankenship, Pat O’Neill, Andy Anderson, Emily Davenport, Kevin
Bateman, Jan Schumacher, David Hepler, Rick Aylesworth and Scott Schaffenacher.
[Derek Hurley]
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