UPDATE 12/11/09: The PJStar reports that the County Board has agreed to keep this haz waste out of the landfill. See the story at: http://www.pjstar.com/news/x962894882/Peoria-Board-OKs-landfill-pact
PEORIA -- The Peoria County Board's Health and Environmental Issues Committee, meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thus., Dec. 10 in the County Board room, in the courthouse at Main and Jefferson, may be the last stand for the latest landfill fight. It may also play out at the meeting of the entire board, at 6 p.m.
Environmental activists hope to keep delisted hazardous waste out of the Peoria City/County Landfill No. 3, when Peoria Disposal Co. takes over its management.
A close vote failed to stop it at the Dec. 8 meeting of the Peoria City Council. Here's an account of that meeting by Tracy Meints Fox, used with her permission:
"The landfill contract was introduced by Ryan Spain outlined the process to date (emphasizing the many opportunities for public comment), the special benefits of PDC's proposal (real estate donation, recycling drop-offs, household hazardous waste, perpetual care fund) and then spent most of his time talking about the revenue streams coming to the city under the new contract.
Tim Riggenbach did not add anything to the discussion. Clyde Gulley asked about the lack of revenue projections on the landfill gas (which does seem strange given that they can predict everything else out to 25 years).
Barbara Van Auken asked about the delisted wastes. Dave Barber then announced the landfill committee intended to discuss it at their January meeting and the discussion circled around a bit with Gary Sandberg asking several pointed questions about approvals of delisted wastes in the past (which I think he may have been confusing with special wastes) and then stating that he was against both delisted and special wastes going into the landfill at all. Tom Edwards, Joyce (Harant), Joyce (Blumenshine) and I as well as a very articulate new Sierra Club member then addressed the council. Brian Meginnes spoke for PDC, reiterating that they did not intend to put the delisted waste into the landfill and were fine with the amendment.
Ryan Spain interjected a bit about the EPA having approved it and reiterated the landfill committee's intention to take the issue up in January with representatives from the IEPA there to explain the situation. The discussion then circled back to how to ban delisted wastes and we provided copies of the county's resolution. Randy Ray compared the copy I provided to one he had in his folder before it was distributed to the council.
After a bunch of paper shuffling, making copies, etc. Van Auken introduced the resolution as an amendment to the contract and Sandberg seconded. Clyde Gulley voiced the opinion that he would not be voting for the amendment because he didn't know enough about delisted, special and non-special wastes but indicated he supported the idea in theory.Discussion then went to other problems with the contract. Sandberg pushed especially hard on the lack of the trigger for the transfer station option. Dave Barber emphasized that the committee retained all control and there was a bit of arguing over the word "shall" in the context of building the transfer station. Randy Ray the city attorney weighed in but no one other than Gary was convinced it was a problem.
When the votes came in, the amendment failed. Voting for were Van Auken, Eric Turner, Jim Montelongo, Tim Riggenbach, and Bill Spears. Voting against were Mayor Jim Ardis, Sandberg, Spain, Gulley, Dan Irving, and George Jacobs. The contract itself passed 10-1 with only Sandberg voting against.
After the meeting, Chris and Brian were like "do you even know what happened in there?" and "see you Thursday." They must have laughed their butts off all the way home."
-- Tracy Meints Fox
And what's with the PCC, when PDC is agreeable to banning this waste anyway?
-- Elaine Hopkins
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