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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-12-2013 Clerical Committee minutes CITY OF CANTON CLERICAL COMMITTEE Tuesday March 12, 2013 6:30 p.m. Donald E. Edwards Way 50 North 4`h Avenue Canton IL 61520 Aldermen in attendance: Dave Pickel, Justin Nelson, Jeff Fritz, Gerald Ellis, Craig West, Jeremy Pasley, Eric Schenck, Jim Hartford Aldermen absent: Staff in attendance: City Attorney Chrissie Peterson, City Administrator Jim Snider, City Treasurer Nicole Marter, Comptroller Caty Campbell, Fire Chief Keith Frank, Police Chief Dan Taylor, Public Works Director Bill Terry, City Engineer Keith Plavec, Executive Director Spoon River Partnership Missy Towery Joe Ginger Video Services. In the audience: News Media- Daily Ledger PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Canton Lake Support- Joyce Blumenshine-Heart of Illinois Sierra Club, Brian Perbix, Brenda Dilts Joyce Blumenshine-Chair person for Heart of Illinois Sierra Club addressed the committee regarding the Canton Lake. The Sierra Club is an international environmental organization. The motto of the organization is to protect the environment for their families and their future. The local group consists of inembers from Fulton County and 17 other counties in central Illinois. The group has approximately 800 members. The main focus is on water quality, habitat and environmental issues. Joyce explained that she is at the meeting to specificatly discuss Canton Lake and its watershed. The watershed supplies Canton Lake in many ways. A map was distributed that illustrates the streams that connect to Canton Lake. Key parts of the watershed are the environment which supports those streams. A source water protection area map was also distributed. The source water protection areas are designated by our state as critical for public water supply. You can see Canton Lake in the lower area of this map. The area above it is the central area which is proposed for the North Canton Mine permit. A hearing took place on February 28, 2013 where the state gave their interpretation of the denial for the permit. An open comment period will take place within the next month on the North Canton mine permit. The watershed of Canton Lake is in the permit area. Joyce further explained that she wanted to point out some concerns for protecting the watershed and to let people know that the comment period will be opened. Brenda Dilts explained that she receives phone calls frequently from people asking about CACEI. Brenda said they are preserving and protecting Canton Lake because it is very important to the community. The purpose of the group is to foster awareness for an appreciation of our environment and the Canton Lake its watershed and protection of its water resource. Many of the group's members grew up in coal mine families. They remember the frequent layoffs, they also remember when the coal mines left behind polluted wells, wells that went dry and they lost tax base to maintain schools and roads. According to a Brownfield study done in 2009 Fulton County has been particularly impacted by mines. Why would the City of Canton want more of this kind of land? Brenda further explained that a watershed is very important. Most of the communities that have been heavily mined now have to pay water and buy water from the City of Canton. It's difficult for communities to grow when water costs are high since these communities must pay double for water. Water is one of the most important assets that Canton has right now and we must keep it. CACEI is committed in doing its part in conserving and protecting the water resource of our area. CACEI encourages people to take advantage of the areas of the lake. The annual lake cleanup is scheduled this year for Saturday morning, April 20, 2013. Brian Perbix with the Prairie Rivers Network- an Illinois nonprofit organization advocates for the protection of Illinois streams and rivers. Over the past few years Brian has worked with CACEI on their campaign to save Canton Lake. Brian explained that he is in the battle to keep strip mines out of Canton Lake and its watershed. The DNR hearing officer recently found in favor of CACEI and the Illinois chapter of the Sierra Club. The hearing officer affirmed that the permit for the North Canton mine should not have been approved because it did not accurately characterize the water resources on the site. The hearing officer denied the permit because the largest stream on the mines was inadequately characterized. This is one of the streams that feeds directly into Canton Lake. Brian explained that this is a tremendous development. For the first time in decades, an IDNR officer overturned this issued by the department itself. Because this decision did not go far enough Canton area citizens for environmental issues and the Illinois chapter for the Sierra Club have appealed this decision in Fulton County Court. The hearing officer failed to find that the department failed in not requiring the mining company to account for the impact for water quality and quantity in Canton Lake as the proposed mining operation. The success or failure of this appeal will determine whether or not Canton Lake will be protected from the impacts from strip mining. Last week he learned that instead of properly implementing the hearing officer's decision IDNR decided to take a step of its own to exercise discretion that it simply does not have. Instead of having the mining company submit a new and revised permit application the DNR has decided instead to continue to process the renewal application on what has now been declared an invalid permit. They have effectively drawn a line across the surface of the permit area to carve out the area that the hearing officer found was not appropriately approved. There are good reasons that the department is not allowed to do this. IDNR is charged with insuring that the coal mine does not adversely affect the hydrologic balance of the area- which includes protecting both the quality and quantity of ground water and surface water and how these things fluctuate seasonally. The department's decision to draw a line across the area of the permit ignores the complex interlocking system of surface and ground water that is currently providing clean and recharged water to Canton Lake. Any changes in the mining permit must be routed through a formal permit revision process rather than a renewal process. This is brought to everyone attention because the actions of IDNR are currently putting Canton Lake and the community that rely on it for water at risk. Last fall Brian explained that he found out (after years of litigation) before the Illinois Pollution Control Board- the board found in favor of Prairie Rivers Network, The Illinois Sierra Club and the Environmental Law and policy center. The board affirmed that the industry coal mine which is owned by the same people who own the proposed Canton North Coal Mine. The industry mine violated its water pollution discharge permit 624 times over a period of 8 years. These violations included unlawful discharge of iron, manganese, sulfate, acids in quantities that were large enough to cause serious threats to water quality. Until these groups took action, nothing had been done to correct these problems by the department of natural resource or the environmental protection agency to stop the pollution or hold the mine owners accountable. To Brian's knowledge the industry mine still has not come into compliance with its permit. On the contrary the group has learned that rather than working to address these serious violations, the mine owners have decided to appeal this decision in circuit court. Brian said he is asking the City of Canton for their help because IDNR is continuing to process this renewal application for the north canton mine and the public comment period is opened until the end of March. Brian encourages the committee to submit a letter withdrawing support of the proposed strip mine. Greg Arnett wanted to give an update on the mining project proposed just north of Canton. The US Army Corp of Engineers have reviewed the project and issued a permit to mine this site because it was an environmental contentious project that complied with their regulations. The IEPA reviewed this project and issued a draft discharge permit for this project. They determined that the procedures proposed in this project are compliant with the regulations and the mining process would be compliant with its discharges into the streams. These two agencies both approved the project. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources issued permit 385 approximately 4.5 years ago. Their review process showed this project was compliant with their regulations. This was challenged by a local group and it went through a lengthy hearing. The results of the hearing revealed that atl allegations that were made by the group opposed to the project were dismissed. This area was a small stretch of the stream according to the decision it was a 200 yard stretch of the stream. This was the only thing that the hearing officer did not agree with. He found that the opponents to this project had proven their case and it was an intermittent stream. The department is making their determination because in this particular instance the decision said it was partially denied and partially approved. The department made the decision on what part was approved and allow the process to continue. All of the people that are supposed to be taking care of the environment and protecting the public water said it's a good project. FINANCE ALDERMAN CRAIG WEST, CHAIRMAN BILLS A semi annual payment to the IPEA for the water and wastewater project in the amount of $78,350.25 is reflected on this bill list. The interest disbursement in the amount of $26,492.00 was also made this month. A payment to Layne Christian Company for repair work to the pumps in the amount of $32,000.00 is reflected on this month's bill list. The legal services for Claudon, Kost in the amount of $2400.00 is for finishing up the arbitration with the police department. Alderman Fritz asked for an accounting of the total charges for the police department contract settlement. Motion and second were made by Aldermen West/Fritz to send to Council for consideration. The motion carried by voice vote and was unanimous. TREASURER'S REPORT The month ending in February reflects the total cash at 2.3 million dollars. The total investments are at 4.4 million dollars. The general fund had a month to date gain of $118,888.00 with a year to date gain in the amount of $146,752.00. The water/sewer fund had a month to date gain in the amount of $161,256.00 with a year to date gain in the amount of $1,242,142.00. Fuller Jewelry is current with their loan payment and they are now setup with auto draft for future payments. Motion and second were made by Aldermen West/Pickel to send to Council for consideration. The motion carried by voice vote and was unanimous. SPRINGBROOK UPDATE A representative from Springbrook has been in Canton since last week working with Caty Campbell and Nicole Marter on the financial module. The City is on track to go live with phase one with all of the financial modules at the end of March. The City will be going live with accounts receivable and the special assessments modules which are from phase three at the end of this month. LOCAL DEBT RECOVERY REPORT The public notices have brought a totat of $15,213.82 to date for the local debt recovery program. The total amount of $780.73 in taxes for a total of $15,994.55 has been collected on past due water and sewer debts. APPLICATION FOR PAYMENT NO 7 FROM ALL SERVICES CONTRACTING FOR THE WTP FILTER NO 1 AND 3 IN THE AMOUNT OF $73.467.00 Motion and second were made by Aldermen West/Pickel with no recommendation. The motion carried with voice vote and was unanimous. LEGAL & ORDINANCE ALDERMAN JEFF FRITZ, CHAIRMAN NOTICES REGARDING POOL PERMITS/FENCING/ROOFING CONTRACTORS AND LICENSING The pool and roofing contractors licensing notices will be included in upcoming water bills to remind residence of the permit regulations. Any pool containing more than 24 inches of water must be completed enclosed by a fence. These apply to all pools including in-ground and above-ground pools. The notice regarding roofing contractors performing work in Canton must be licensed. Mayor Meade reported that more discussion will take place regarding the State license requirements vs the City license requirements at a future meeting. COMMUNITY & INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ALDERMAN JEREMY PASLEY, CHAIRMAN UPDATE FROM MISSY TOWERY SRPED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Update will be sent to the next Council meeting. CRUISE IN SPECIAL EVENT The annual Cruise In is scheduled for June 14, 2013 in Canton. Last year the event brought in more than 300 cars and hundreds of people making it a very successful event. The request this year includes street closures as previously presented with the addition of part of the parking lot behind the City building and from 15t avenue down 2"d avenue on Elm Street. Motion and second were made by Aldermen Pickel/Fritz to send to Council for approval. The motion carried by voice vote and was unanimous. FARMERS MARKET SPECIAL EVENT Last year the City held a farmers market in Jones Park that turned out to be very successful. The request is to hold the event again this year with access to the parking lot across from CEFCU. This would allow vendors to bring in produce in trucks. The events would be held Saturday's in June, July, August and September. The Spoon River Partnership has included this event on their insurance policy and has named the City of Canton as additional insured. Motion and second were made by Aldermen Pickel/West to send to Council for approval. The motion carried by voice vote and was unanimous. SOCK HOP SPECIAL EVENT The request is to hold a Sock Hop Special Event on September 10, 2013. The request also includes closure of South Main from Pine to Elm Street. A certificate of insurance will be required prior to approval. Motion and second were made by Aldermen Pickel/West to send to Council for approval. The motion carried by voice vote and was unanimous. NEGOTIATIONS, GRIEVANCE & PERSONNEL ALDERMAN DAVE PICKEL, CHAIRMAN POLICE CONTRACT REVIEW A copy of the draft agreement was distributed for review. The wage increases are 4.0% for the first year and 2.5% for the following three years. The first year is 2010-2011 and follows a four year agreement. The Martin luther King holiday was added along with bi-weekly payroll starting in May 2013. This will be further discussed at next week's meeting. Retro pay calculations are currently being figured. ADJOURNMENT Motion and second were made by Aldermen Pickel/Nelson to adjourn for personnel and potential l'~nd sale.,- ' . ~ il ~A ~ Dian`a Pavley City Clerk