Observations and comments about state government by State Representative Robert W. Pritchard.

News from the State House

February 22, 2010

To the casual observer, this past week’s House debates may have seemed brief and surprisingly dull.  Many people from around the state came to Springfield hoping to see some debate on the budget and our fiscal crisis.  The conductor of the session calendar (Speaker Madigan) isn’t going to let that happen.  Days are full of committee meetings so bill sponsors have to run from committee to committee to present their legislation and are preoccupied.

In reality, this time of year in Springfield is all about meetings and presentations to committees.  This process, hopefully, ensures that the legislation that is eventually brought to the House floor has been discussed thoroughly and improved through amendments and negotiations with affected parties.

Sale of State Asset Legislation Advances

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PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Dan Kenney
Chair of Stop the De Kalb County Mega Dump

Stop the DeKalb County Mega Dump citizens’ group is outraged by the attempt of the county board and of the county administration to circumvent the democratic process.

The group has a copy of an email sent from DeKalb County Administrator Ray Bockman to the elected County Board members. The email states: “Unlike the windfarm, the hearing process for the landfill expansion forbids not only any contact with the applicant (Waste Mgt.) but also with any other interested parties. Whether they are for or against the application, whether they are your constituents or not contact with them is prohibited.”

“If this is legal, the citizens of the county should be told who created these rules and when.” Dan Kenney, chair of the citizens’ group stated. “Did our county board members create a process that prevents elected representatives from talking with their constituents, and if so why?”

The Stop the DeKalb County Mega-Dump group calls for a full accounting of a process that prevents citizens from talking with their elected officials about a matter that will affect De Kalb County for generations to come.

The proposed landfill expansion will bring 90 semi-truck loads of garbage from 16 northeast Illinois Counties dumping over 2,000 tons of garbage per day. The landfill will double in size to over 500 acres. It will eventually be over 50 feet high for 2.5 miles. It will be filled to capacity in 46 years. At our present rate, and allowing for projected population growth, if we just took care of our own garbage the landfill capacity at the projected expansion would last our community over 160 years.

“Why is the county willing to saddle the next generation with a mountain of garbage from surrounding counties and force them to look else where for places to dispose of their garbage?” Dan Kenney, asked. “I guess we won’t know what our elected government officials think of this expansion until its too late, because they are prohibited from having any contact with us.”

“If you are upset by a county board that would enter into an agreement that prevents democracy or concerned about the proposed landfill expansion you are urged to attend a public meeting this Thursday night, February 25^th , 7pm  at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 153 North 4^th Street, De Kalb.” Dan Kenney said.

For more information call Dan Kenney 815.793.0950 or visit Stop the DeKalb County Mega-Dump on line or on Facebook.

Incumbents are in bold print.



On Saturday, March 12, 2005 the following letter appeared in the Daily Chronicle.

Editor:

I can see the sign now: “Cortland – The Garbage Capital of the Suburbs!”

Picture lines of 18-wheelers as all roads lead to Cortland. More trucks will be crowding onto already busy local highways. It will mean a destruction of farmland as more acres are gobbled up for major landfill expansion. It will mean the ever-existing danger of groundwater pollution and the many other possible dangers to our environment. It will present a real challenge to the quality of life in DeKalb County!

You see, Waste Management, owner of the DeKalb County landfill, is salivating at the opportunity to annex to Cortland. Then the two could apply to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for a major landfill expansion permit and become designated as a regional landfill facility with the ability to bring in garbage from anywhere. Today, the landfill is restricted to no more than 10 percent of total volume from out of county, with about 14 years of capacity remaining at the present site.

There is major money in the garbage business, and Cortland will be offered sweet incentives. The county also can be offered a piece of the action. The temptation will be great.

During the past months, we have observed questionable leadership on the part of the town of Cortland, as uncontrolled growth is about to be unleashed. Cortland does not have the financial resources needed to provide the infrastructure and the services for thousands of homes that are on the drawing board. The town will be headed toward serious financial difficulty.

It just so happens that a Cortland town election is scheduled for April 5. A mayor and three trustees will be elected. They will have a majority vote to make a decision on these huge issues. I ask the residents of Cortland and DeKalb County to give serious consideration to these issues. Make your opinions known to these candidates in the upcoming days.

Is this what we want for DeKalb County? Since when is it our responsibility to provide a home for Chicagoland’s garbage? Do we want a huge permanent landmark, dwarfing what we have already built along Highway 88, as the gateway to DeKalb County? Let the debate begin. The stakes are high. Shall Cortland become the “Garbage Capital of Chicago and the Suburbs”?

ROGER STEIMEL
Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee DeKalb County Board