4-25-2013

 Joan Reed Memorial in Lieu of monthly POWER meeting

 Joan Reed, political activist, environmentalist, passed away recently April 11th. Since services were held in her hometown of West Chicago, POWER would like to invite all who were touched by this wonderful lady to attend a memorial, Tuesday, May 7th  5:30pm at River North restaurant in Kankakee (formerly Sully’s).

Joan was on the POWER board, the Kankakee River Round Table and spearheaded many causes in her short 20 year history in Kankakee County. For all those touched by her activities in the community, please join us.

4-3-2013

For immediate release:

The board of directors of Protecting Our Water Environment and River, NFP (POWER) announces the appointment of Kankakee resident Dr. Douglas J. Cork, Professor of Biological Sciences, Chemical & Physical Sciences at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago to the POWER board of directors.

Dr. Cork’s expertise and leadership will be very helpful to POWER’s opposition to any and all future attempts to site a garbage dump within Kankakee County since we are a county located in the watershed of the Kankakee River. 

Darrel W. Bruck Jr., President

2-26-13

Dear  Daily Journal staff members,
 
Many of us citizens of Kankakee County, who worked for years fighting against a landfill, were appalled at Lee Provost's recent article resurrecting this issue. He was upset the City/County did not receive the money the dumps  would have potentially brought in. Does he not remember the studies and public outcry against this environmental disaster? Is money more important than protecting our precious Kankakee River not only for us now but for future generations? What a shame that this County has come so far to even consider taking another step backward.
 
Respectfully,   Amy Ciaccio-Jarvis, Vice President of POWER

 

6-19-12

5-14-12

 POWER would like to publicly thank the Kankakee County Rotary Club for inviting us to participate in their Friday May 11 silent auction fund raiser to benefit  Kankakee area nonprofits and the Rotary.  The fund raiser took place at the Hilton in Kankakee.

5-10-12

At the May 8 Kankakee County board meeting, the board approved a 5 year update to the  Kankakee County Solid Waste Plan. 

A presentation was given by Mr. Mike Van Mill at the March 27, 2012 Regional Planning Commission meeting. The presentation can be found here: Solid Waste Plan Presentation

 The 5 year update will run from now until 2017.    The plan states Kankakee County will not consider siting applications for a new or expanded landfill facility within the county for a period of five years.  Instead, the county will rely on transfer stations and out-of-county regional landfill facilities for waste disposal.  Siting applications for additional transfer stations will be considered. 

However, the plan also states landfill siting applications for anywhere in the county may be considered within the five-year period if the county board determines that :  regional landfill capacity is not sufficient for Kankakee County waste disposal, unacceptable increases in disposal costs within the county has occurred or unacceptable decreases in transfer station capacity within the county has occurred.  POWER believes this part of the plan update is very vague and worrisome.  

The Solid Waste Management Plan update did not include any current information on the garbage-to-energy technologies even though the chief executive officer of Waste Management recently stated at a Wall Street Journal’s ECO:nomics conference the garbage now going to dumps can be turned into fuel and soon all landfill material will be recycled within 10 years, meaning no more land filling.  Read No Landfill Disposal in 10 Years.  

2-1-12

A new Illinois law effective January 1, 2012 authorizes the Department of State Police to use moneys in the Household Pharmaceutical Disposal Fund to make grants to local law enforcement agencies for the purpose of facilitating local prescription drug disposal programs. HB2056    

1-16-12

The Kankakee County Board Solid Waste Management Plan Committee will be holding a Public Hearing Tuesday January 24 at 6:00 PM for the purpose of taking public comment on what should be written into the County plan.  Both written and or public comments will be taken. The hearing will take place at the County Administration Building, 4th floor board room at the corner of Schuyler and Court Street, Kankakee.  If you can’t be there, please send written comments to Chairman Mike Bossert, 189 E. Court Street Kankakee, 60901 or administration@k3county.net   815-937-3642.

A key part of the proposed language change to the Solid Waste Management Plan is whether our county will allow a garbage dump to be sited and if allowed, where.  This is important as what they decide will be in effect 2012 through 2017.

We need to fill up the room as a show of support for opposition to those who would invite garbage dump developers back to Kankakee County with no regard for the Kankakee and Iroquois Rivers or the aquifers which feed the rivers and water wells.  We already have hundreds of wells polluted in Limestone Township from the Shell pipe line spill.

 Most of the County is in the immediate watershed of the river making the area not suitable for dumping thousands of chemicals that will percolate together when garbage is dumped into a mountain which is what a landfill is, a mountain of garbage which will leak. This is serious especially when you consider thousands of people get their water from wells and the Kankakee River, not to mention the wild life. Besides, there are superior high tech garbage-to-energy technologies that are being pursued elsewhere, including by our neighbors 30 miles to the east in Lake County Indiana.

POWER will be meeting at 5:30 in the 4th floor hallway before the 6:00 PM Public Hearing.

Please stand up and be counted!  Apathy is not the answer!

The POWER board of directors oppose any language in this plan that would allow a garbage dump to be sited in Kankakee County. 

11-24-11

POWER's long time friend and attorney Ed Vogt passed away on Monday, November 14.  Ed's last legal work was representing Byron Sandberg pro bono against the garbage dump proposed by developers Fred Barbara and Tom Volini.   Byron was a long time supporter of POWER's  fight against the proposed dump and Ed agreed to come out of retirement and represent Mr. Sandberg.

Ed's case ultimately did win at the Appellate Court.  The Appellate Court ruled the garbage dump developer’s second application for their proposed garbage dump with the City of Kankakee failed to wait the required two years after the Illinois Pollution Control Board ruled against their first application for failure to prove protection of the health and safety of the community.  Kankakee County also won their case which proved the proposed dump was noncompliant with the Kankakee County Solid Waste Management Plan.

Ed will be greatly missed!

 Scroll down below to read some of the pass postings on Ed’s fight against the proposed garbage landfill dump. 

11-1-11

The Kankakee County Planning Department is working on updating the Kankakee County Solid Waste Management Plan .  To see the Planning Department's Solid Waste Management Plan Approval Process,  click here.  They are at the first step which is the Subcommittee Meeting Review.

 Many things are on the table for discussion including the three landfill (garbage dump) options below.

1)  No further landfill development and rely upon transfer stations.

2) Keep Solid Waste Management Plan wording as is which targets Otto Township as a dump site.

3) Open to private industry on "suitable land"  for a garbage dump.

There are two garbage transfer stations in the county, Allied in Momence and United in Bradley.  They are hauling our garbage to dumps outside of the county.  This system has been working with no problems for several years since the old Waste Management dump south of the fair grounds and the airport closed after failing to get approval for a 302 acre expansion.  Another dump proposal in Otto Township west of the fairgrounds was also  defeated after an 8 year battle.

Unfortunately there are a few people at the county level who still want to make our community a mega garbage dump site.  It is their idea of economic development.  POWER could not disagree more.  Garbage dumps are not positive economic development and they create few jobs.

Over the coming decade garbage dumps are going to be a thing of the past do to the new high tech garbage-to-energy technologies.  It takes hard work and cold calling to bring in quality economic development to the area.  Putting out the welcome sign to garbage dump developers yet again  is  taking the easy way out because garbage is always looking for a place to be piled up into mountains with few takers.

The next County Solid Waste Management Plan subcommittee meeting is Tuesday, November 15, 6:00 P.M. at the county administration building on the corner of Schuyler Ave. and Court Street in Kankakee.  The meeting will be in the 4th floor board room.   POWER supports landfill option One which is "No further landfill development and rely upon transfer stations."

6-24-11  

A draft update of the Kankakee County Solid Waste Plan  is posted on the county website.  It is posted as a "Patrick Engineering work in progress"  Read it here! 

June 16, 2011

PRESS RELEASE

Public Service Announcement:  Event, Saturday, July 30, 2011

How should you dispose of  medication that has expired or has been replaced when  your doctor has changed a prescription?  The common practice of flushing pills down the toilet has a harmful effect on waterways and their ecosystems.  The safe option is to participate in a medication take-back program. 

POWER (Protecting Our Water, Environment, and River) and KAMEG (Kanakee Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group) will sponsor a medication take-back program to be held on Saturday, July 30, 2011, between 10:00 a. m.  and 2:00 p. m., at the Kankakee County Municipal Health Department at 2390 West Station Street, Kankakee.  This is a “no questions asked” prescription drug collection.  The drugs will be collected and turned over to the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) for proper disposal. 

For public health and safety, dispose of your prescription drugs this way.  Also, drop boxes are located in the lobbies in the municipal police stations, which are open 24 hours a day.

For questions, contact Joan Reed at 815-932-7763 or joanreed100@yahoo.com.

February 14, 2011

 Illinois EPA cites Kankakee River Metropolitan Agency (KRMA)  for improper operational conditions leading to plant explosion and clean water violations.

http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=18&RecNum=9213

Illinois EPA February 9, 2011 Press Release:

Springfield---The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has issued a violation notice to the Kankakee River Metropolitan Agency (KRMA) for violations of the Environmental Protection Act and Illinois Regulations.  The agency alleges that an illegal release into the waters of the state occurred as a result of a December 27, 2010, explosion that damaged the KRMA waste water treatment plant.

According to information gathered during Illinois EPA's post-explosion investigation, methane gas accumulated in the digester, causing the explosion and damaging the waste digestion facilities.  This resulted in a discharge of biosolids to the Kankakee River.  The violation notice alleges improper operational conditions leading to the methane build-up, as well as for the discharge of biosolids to the river.

Shortly after the explosion, the Illinois EPA inspector discovered that biosolids from the digesters, diluted with clean waster from a broke water line, were being discharged via a 10 inch sewer line to the Kankakee River.  Discharges of sludge to the river resulting from the explosion have since been halted.

In the violation notice, the Illinois EPA asks KRMA to endure that discharge of any contaminants that cause or threaten to cause water pollution have ceased and establish and implement procedures to assure that further discharges of contaminants do not occur.  Compliance is expected to be pursued immediately.

KRMA has 45 days to respond to the Agency's allegations.  They may also request a meeting with Illinois EPA staff to discuss the allegations and/or potential resolutions.

February 11, 2011

The garbage-to-ethanol industry holds summit in Chicago. Some of the big names in the industry are scheduled to attend, including Waste Management, Cascadia, Coskata, Covanta and Ineos Bio.   One of the featured speakers will be Earl Powers, the principal owner of Powers Energy of America, the company that is building a plant just across the state line from Kankakee County in Schneider Indiana. 

It is our hope the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County has a representative at this summit.  We are not holding our breath on that one.

Post-Tribune    http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/3737192-418/trash-to-ethanol-industry-to-meet-in-chicago.html

Trash to ethanol industry to meet in Chicago

BY DIANE KRIEGER SPIVAK

 Feb 10, 2011

CHICAGO — Powers Energy, the company planning a $285 million trash-to-ethanol plant in Schneider, is slated as one of 20 featured speakers at Municipal Solid Waste to Biofuels Summit 2011, a how-to event focusing on the emerging biofuels industry.

The two-day summit, set for today and Friday at the Wyndham Hotel, is drawing 120 attendees from around the country and internationally, said Oliver Saunders, international event director for Eye For Energy, organizer for the summit, based in London.

For more information go to  http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/3757767-418/biofuels-summit-has-lake-link.html

February 11, 2011

Great news!  Read the press release at  http://www.ineosbio.com/76-Press_releases-15.htm .  The global British company, INEOS has started construction of its garbage-to-energy plant in Vero Beach Florida.  INEOS has license their technology to SMC LLC, the company building a plant just across the state line in Schneider, Indiana.  The INEOS U. S. headquarters is in Lisle, Illinois. 

These plants will take garbage at the half the cost of a landfill and sell the resulting fuel creating hundreds of good paying jobs while paying a host fee to the local community similar to what a landfill pays.   It’s a win, win for any community who gets one of these plants.   The technology was invented by the University of Arkansas and purchased by INEOS which is now building plants and licensing the technology to other companies.

February 1, 2011

KRMA, Kankakee River Metropolitan Agency  waste water treatment plant U.S. EPA compliance report shows significant non-compliant effluent violations.  Full report here!  Explosions prevented at plants elsewhere with proper safety devices in place.  Details here!  Here is what KRMA should be doing with the bio-solids produced at the plant.  http://enertech.com/facilities/sitedevelopments/rcrf.html

January 26, 2011

Alliance Federated Energy based in Milwaukee,  http://afe.excitestaging.com/index.php is the second garbage-to-energy company seeking to build a plant in Gibson City Illinois.  The first company is Eco Manufacturing based in Massachusetts.  See the articles below.  Both companies use Westinghouse Plasma gasification technology.

The News-Gazette:  Serving Central Illinois

Gibson City mayor optimistic on recycling plant

December 8, 2010

The News-Gazette:  Serving Central Illinois

For the rest of the story click here http://www.news-gazette.com/news/environment/2010-11-30/deal-works-ford-county-waste-recycling-plant.html

October 14, 2010

Press releases

http://www.ineosbio.com/57-Welcome_to_INEOS_Bio.htm

http://www.inpbioenergy.com/

INEOS Bio secures key permits for BioEnergy Center in Florida

Vero Beach, Fla. INEOS Bio’s first commercial project in the United States has secured key permits to build its waste to bioenergy facility in Indian River County, Florida. The INEOS Bio joint venture has obtained its final air permit and environmental resource permit from the State of Florida, its wetlands permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (Finding) from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

The BioEnergy Center will be developed entirely within the existing footprint of a former agricultural processing facility. The DOE Finding and Environmental Assessment established that the BioEnergy Center would have no adverse impacts with respect to sound, traffic, air quality, water quality or to threatened or endangered species. The assessment also found that no changes to land use, planning or zoning were necessary and will not result in any significant change to the existing visual quality of the site and surrounding area. As part of the extensive assessment, the DOE requested input from various entities including Federal, state, local agencies, elected officials, tribal interests, businesses, organizations and members of the general public.

"We are very pleased that the State of Florida, the Army Corps and the DOE have issued these permits and findings for our project, said David King, President of JV. We have spent considerable effort to design a state of the art facility to not only ensure compliance but also to minimize our impact on the environment."

The BioEnergy Center will generate eight million gallons of third-generation bioethanol each year from renewable biomass including yard, wood, agricultural and vegetative wastes. The Center will also generate six megawatts of renewable electricity. The facility will be the first to use INEOS Bio’s advanced BioEnergy technology, the world’s leading feedstock flexible technology for advanced biofuels. The technology breaks the link between food crops and ethanol production.

At the heart of the INEOS Bio technology is a patented anaerobic fermentation step, through which naturally occurring bacteria convert gases derived directly from biomass into bioethanol.

Unlike other technologies that rely on one primary source of feedstock, the INEOS Bio process can produce bioenergy from numerous feedstocks, including forestry and agricultural waste, sustainable energy crops, construction waste and municipal solid waste. This flexibility allows facilities to be built anywhere that a renewable biomass feedstock is available, providing jobs and locally sourced energy for urban and rural communities. The Indian River facility is scheduled to begin construction in 4th quarter of 2010 and begin production in 2012.

ENDS

Contact:

Dan Cummings
(w) 630-857-7165 (c) 630-328-3916

Note to editors

INEOS New Planet BioEnergy (www.inpbioenergy.com) is a joint venture between INEOS Bio and New Planet Energy. In December 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected the INEOS Bio JV to receive a $50 million grant to help lay the foundation for full commercial-scale development of the biorefining industry in the United States. This project is part of the ongoing effort to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, spur the creation of the domestic biorefining industry and provide new clean tech jobs throughout the country.

INEOS Bio (www.ineosbio.com) is a BioEnergy company working to commercialize and license a highly innovative thermochemical and bio-chemical technology for the production of renewable biofuels and renewable power from a wide range of low-cost carbon materials. Its initial focus is the commercialization of the world’s leading third generation bioethanol technology process to serve the global renewable transport fuels market and the renewable energy market. 

INEOS (www.ineos.com) is the world’s fourth largest petrochemical company and a leading manufacturer of commodity chemicals, specialty chemicals, biofuels, and oil products. Comprising 15 businesses, with a production network spanning 51 manufacturing facilities in 13 countries (15 sites are located in North America) the company produces more than 40 million tons of petrochemicals, and 20 million tons per annum of crude oil refined products (fuels). INEOS employs over 3000 people in the US, 2000 of which are based at facilities in Texas. INEOS had sales in 2009 of $28.6 billion.

New Planet Energy (www.newplanetenergy.com) is engaged in the development and

July 23, 2010

Area residents report seeing a brown scum on the Kankakee River, upstream from the Kankakee damn. 

Anyone who sees anything unusual in the river should fie a complaint with the IEPA at http://www.epa.state.il.us/pollution-complaint/. This link is the Illinois EPA  citizen's complaint webpage.  Once there, click on "completing and submitting" to go to the online complaint form.

It has also been reported in The Daily Journal, state environmental and conservation officials are investigating a fish kill on the Iroquois River.  POWER has learned the University of Illinois is testing water samples.

The Iroquois River empties into the Kankakee River upstream from the Kankakee damn near Aroma Park.  Aqua Illinois's water intake pipe is also in this area.  Aqua Illinois provides water from the Kankakee River to thousands in Kankakee County and outside of the county..

July 15, 2010                      8-13-10 IL AGO follow up Motion to Compel Answers

Fred Barbara and Tom Volini sell most of their proposed dump land to area farmer.  The Illinois E.P.A. illegal dumping case No. 07 CH 303  against Volini still on going.

March 25, 2010

The Illinois Supreme Court has declined Fred Barbara & Tom Volini's request to appeal  the 3rd District Appellate Court rulings against their proposed dump!

Great News!! POWER has learned the Illinois Supreme Court has declined  Fred Barbara and Tom Volini's request to appeal the 3rd District Appellate Court rulings against their proposed Chicago regional garbage dump with the City of Kankakee.  This means the 8 year battle against this dump proposal is over.  Click here to read the Illinois Supreme Court denial.

February 19, 2010

River Valley Recycling (RVR) and Kankakee VFW Post 2857 have teamed up for inaugural "1^st Saturday” paper drive.

 Kyle Bruno, President of River Valley Recycling (RVR) and Commander Mike Pitts, Kankakee VFW Post # 2857 have teamed up to conduct the  inaugural "1st Saturday" Paper Drive.

This "1st Saturday" concept envisions providing a standard day on which RVR will place containers at designated sites around Kankakee County that have been coordinated by the Veterans Service Organizations, Task Force Hammer, for the convenience of area citizens to donate recyclables in support of Rebuilding Together.

As this concept develops, area citizens will be able to "stockpile" their recyclables monthly and then bring them to their local site on the "1st Saturday" to make their donation. 100% of the receipts from these materials will go to repairing the homes of our seniors and Veterans. This is a great way to provide our young people the opportunity to become involved in making a difference  monthly through a very worthwhile community project.

On the "1st Saturday" in March, March 6th, RVR will place a container in the parking lot at the Kankakee VFW Post #2857 located at 756 West Jeffery Street. This "trial" container will be available for only newspaper and other paper products from 8:30am until 11:30am. Based upon response and demand containers will be added for other materials on future "1st Saturdays." 

For more information contact James A. Ryan.
815.935.1936 (Office)
815.931.0628 (Mobile)
jar-ryconserv@sbcglobal.net

December 5, 2009

Good News!!

Illinois Appellate Court Rules Against Fred Barbara's Second Chicago Regional Landfill Application.

Retired local attorney Ed Vogt, who represents the POWER sponsored case (Byron Sandberg) against the second application for the proposed Fred Barbara Chicago regional landfill and the other petitioners which include Kankakee County,  received notice today from the Illinois Appellate  Court of their findings. 

This decision comes after the Illinois Supreme Court, in March, ordered the Appellate Court to vacate their decision in favor of the Fred Barbara second dump application.

The March Illinois Supreme Court Supervisory order reads as follows.

 "In the exercise of its supervisory authority, the Illinois Supreme Court has ordered the appellate court to vacate its prior order and ordered it to reconsider the issues". It stated: "The appellate court will not be flippant in its decision, but will act with the utmost decorum and give the issues the attention and consideration they deserve. The appellate court will address the issues thoroughly and completely." The court has given the current panel the option of reassigning the case to another panel, and stated: "Failure to comply with this supervisory order in all respects will result in the appellate court's decision being summarily vacated and the cause remanded to a different panel of justices." The underlined portions are the Illinois Supreme Court's emphasis.

Fred Barbara does have the opportunity to appeal the Illinois Appellate Court decision against his proposed dump to the Illinois Supreme Court.  It is also very possible, the Illinois Supreme Court will not hear the case, give the fact they have already ruled against the first Fred Barbara dump application, ruling it failed to prove protection of the health and safety of the community.

Fred Barbara may also choose to not appeal since the FAA recently got involved with this issue after OUTRAGE informed the FAA the proposed dump would be less then 10,000 feet from the airport runway.  Furthermore with the just announced decision to construct a National Guard base on the airport’s west side, it is likely the National Guard would also object to a huge bird attractant in its immediate air space. Details here.

August 21, 2009

Fred Barbara has reached a settlement with the IEPA in the illegal dumping case against his company, Kankakee Regional Landfill LLC.

Please click settlement document  to read the details.  This document was obtained from the Kankakee County Circuit Clerk's Office.  Take note of the very last page where Fred Bruno Barbara has signed as manager of defendant company, Kankakee Regional Landfill LLC.

Other defendants, Tom Volini  as an individual and his company Town & Country Utilities, Inc., have not settled.  The case against them will continue 9:00 a.m. Tuesday  November 17 at the Kankakee County Court House, room 204.

One other defendant in the case, a former partner in the land, Edward F. Heil had the case against him dropped by the IEPA because he sold his interest in the land.

To read the full case brought by the IEPA, click read the law suit here.  To get background information on Fred Barbara and Tom Volini, click on their names.

 Lawsuit background:

Fred Barbara's company, Kankakee Regional Landfill, LLC, Tom Volini  as an individual and his company Town & Country Utilities, Inc., the developers of the proposed Chicago regional garbage dump with the City of Kankakee,  are being sued by the Illinois EPA over illegal dumping near their proposed dump site.  Also being sued is their former partner in the land, Edward Heil.  Case   No. 07 CH 303 which is being heard at the Kankakee County Court House.  The IEPA is represented by the Illinois Attorney Generals Office.  Protecting Our Water Environment & River, NFP. POWER obtained pictures of  illegal dumping of semi-truck loads of construction debris and other garbage and turned them over to the IEPA which resulted in this suit. 

August 19, 2009

Great News! The U.S. Dept. of Transportation, FAA has responded to a letter with supporting documents from the local citizens’ group OUTRAGE.  They are going to do a new review of the proposed Fred Barbara garbage dump.   They say the  minimum 10,000 feet distance from the airport runway to the proposed dump is a requirement. 

The letter was about the proposed garbage dump and the danger it poses to aircraft flying in and out of the Kankakee Valley Airport.  It will be a major water and food source for thousands of birds and will be less then 10,000 feet from the runway as measured by GPS.   OUTRAGE sent the letter in response to POWER’s request of the Kankakee Valley Airport Authority to rescind any and all ordinances supporting the construction of the proposed Fred Barbara and Tom Volini  garbage dump.  The letter was sent to  the National Director of the FAA, Regional Administrator of the FAA, Secretary Ray Lahood of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Representative Debbie Halvorson and the Illinois Department of Transportation, Aeronautics Division.  Click here to read the OUTRAGE letter, supporting documents and the FAA response!

Great news!!!

March 26, 2009

The Illinois Supreme Court took action today. They ordered the Appellate Court to vacate their decision in favor of the Fred Barbara and Tom Volini second dump application.

Here is what they said. "In the exercise of its supervisory authority, the Illinois Supreme Court has ordered the appellate court to vacate its prior order and ordered it to reconsider the issues". It stated: "The appellate court will not be flippant in its decision, but will act with the utmost decorum and give the issues the attention and consideration they deserve. The appellate court will address the issues thoroughly and completely." The court has given the current panel the option of reassigning the case to another panel, and stated: "Failure to comply with this supervisory order in all respects will result in the appellate court's decision being summarily vacated and the cause remanded to a different panel of justices." The underlined portions are the Illinois Supreme Court's emphasis.

What does this mean? It means the recent Appellate Court decision to reverse their previous decision to stop the second dump application is not being allowed by the Illinois Supreme Court. The Illinois Supreme Court is ordering the three Appellate Court judges involved in this case to go back and do their job instead of ignoring most of the issues argued against the dump. If they fail to do so the Illinois Supreme Court will send the case to three different Appellate Court judges who will do the job. This is a big set back for dump developers Fred Barbara and Tom Volini.

Lake County Indiana Solid Waste Officials Speak At Local Public Forum About The Privately Funded Garbage-to-Ethanol Plant Being Built In Their Community.

February 20, 2009

On February 9, two Lake County Indiana solid waste officials traveled to the City of Kankakee to speak at a public forum about the privately funded garbage-to-ethanol plant breaking ground in the next few months in their community. This public forum was organized by Tim and Karen Schmidt and was held at the Community Resource Center.

The garbage-to-ethanol plant will create 400 construction jobs and140 plus jobs to run the plant at $18.00 per hour and up. Waste Management and Allied have requested to take garbage to this plant because the plant will only charge $17.50 per ton to take garbage while garbage dumps cost up to three times that much. Chicago is also signing an agreement to railroad some of their garbage to this plant and purchase the ethanol produced for their fleet of vehicles. The technology is very clean and is well below all Federal EPA requirements. Far cleaner then any dump. They will pay $2.50 per ton in host fees and 3 cents per gallon of ethanol produced to local government generating 10's of millions dollars. Garbage removal cost for residents and businesses will be reduced by 66%.

To watch the meeting, please click here http://blip.tv/file/5048538

For a copy of the handout sheet you can print out, provide by the Lake County officials, please click here Lake County Indiana garbage-to-ethanol.pdf

In addition to the hand out, they are also making available thousands of dollars of research material they did on the business plan and science being used by this company. A major accounting firm studied the business plan and Purdue University did a study of the science. Both organizations gave a glowing report. A plant in Arkansas is available for touring. See it here http://www.ineosbio.com/80-Video.htm
 

Kankakee County Board Will Appeal The Proposed Garbage Dump

January 13, 2009

The Kankakee County Board voted 23 to 2 in favor of appealing the proposed Fred Barbara and Tom Volini garbage dump to the Illinois Supreme court at today's county board meeting. Only two county board members opposed appealing to the Illinois Supreme Court. They were county board member Karen Campbell (who recently retired from working for the city of Kankakee) 932-1803 and county board member Leo Whitten, 929-0792. They believe the proposed Chicago regional garbage dump should be allowed to dump garbage directly into the aquifer, in the immediate water shed of the river, next to Minnie Creek which drains directly into the river upstream from the Aqua Illinois water intake pipe. Three other county board members were absent.

This is a huge victory for the community. Thanks to all who got involved and a big thank you to the Kankakee County Board!

Did former State Rep. Phil Novak sell out the area's clean water source to boost his salary and pension by participating in Governor Blagojevich's "Pay for Play"? You be the judge!

December 14, 2008

In the summer of 2002, Fred Barbara and Tom Volini submitted their first application for a 236 acre Chicago regional garbage dump to the City of Kankakee through their company Kankakee Regional Landfill, LLC. The site they chose is a very flood prone area next to Minnie Creek which drains directly into the river two miles away, up stream from the Aqua Illinois water intake pipe. The city council held a hearing and gave their OK to the proposal after being promised millions in garbage host fees.

From there the application went to the Illinois Pollution Control Board. The IPCB had a different opinion; they turned it down on the grounds the proposal failed to prove protection of the health and safety of the community. Barbara and Volini responded by appealing the decision all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court where they lost. While the appeal was going on, they filed a second dump application with the City of Kankakee in the summer of 2003 for the same 236 acre location. This was during the first year of the first term of the newly elected governor, Rod Blagojevich. The city council once again approved the dump proposal.

Coincidentally local State Representative Phil Novak resigned his state rep seat and the newly elected governor appointed him to the IPCB as chairman, effective December 1 of that year. According to an April 27, 2008 Chicago Tribune front page story, titled, "The governor's $25,000 club" Phil Novak threw a fund raiser for Blagojevich in July, 2002 which raised $19,000. It also stated that on July 9, 2002, he personally donated $25,000 to Blagojevich campaign fund  bringing his total donations to $26,000 and was appointed to the Illinois Pollution Control Board as chairman on December 1, 2003 at a salary of $102,800. The Tribune article says this was a substantial boost in salary for Mr. Novak and a substantial boost to his state pension, when he retired in 2005. It is very unusual for a new person on the IPCB to be appointed chairman.

When the second Barbara and Volini dump application was sent to the IPCB under Phil Novak, it was approved even though the previous IPCB had ruled the opposite and was backed up by the Illinois Supreme Court.

Did Phil Novak get a significant boost to his salary and his pension for a short term appointment to the IPCB in exchange for campaign donations and the promise to approve a dump for friends of the governor and Mayor Daley? Has our water supply i.e. the river and deep aquifer, been sold out through one of the governor's Play to Pay schemes? Will the Kankakee County board appeal the Phil Novak Pollution Control Board decision in favor of the dump to the Illinois Supreme Court? They will be voting at the January 13, 9:00 AM board meeting to either quit or to continue the fight by appealing.

Attorney Edward R. Vogt offers free representation to the county to fight the proposed Fred Barbara and Tom Volini garbage dump. See his letter below.

Mr. John J. Boyd

Kankakee County States Attorney

450 E. Court St., Kankakee, Il 60901

12/11/08

Dear Mr. Boyd:

As previously discussed, I will be happy to represent the County, pro bono, in the Illinois Supreme Court, to assure continuation of the County's fight against the proposed water polluting Barbara/Volini landfill.

This letter confirms my earlier oral offer to represent the County.

Your failure to respond to my request, in writing, will be deemed to be a denial of my request.

Yours Very Sincerely,

Edward R. Vogt

Attorney at Law

Kankakee, Il 60901

POWER Petitions The Illinois Supreme Court To Have The Fred Barbara/Tom Volini Garbage Dump Approval Overturned.

November 5, 2008

Through its attorney Edward Vogt, POWER filed a petition with the Illinois Supreme Court, asking the Court to overturn the 3rd. District Appellate Court's approval of the city sponsored Fred Barbara/Tom Volini garbage dump.

POWER has been fighting for nearly 5 years to protect the public's health, safety and welfare from the toxic ravages of a proposed water contaminating garbage dump.

The petition is highly critical of the location of the proposed dump, which if built, will be blasted down into the aquifer, which supplies water to our rivers and our water supply. The petition is equally critical of the proposed theoretical architecture of the landfill, which is fatally flawed

The Illinois Supreme Court previously overturned the first Barbara/Volini application for its failure to protect the public's health, safety and welfare. The present application, under appeal, is substantially the same as the one previously denied by the Illinois Supreme Court.

POWER needs financial assistance to continue its work. If the appeal to the Supreme Court does not result in a denial the group is prepared to sue the City, the Applicant and the State of Illinois for violating the Federal Clean Water Act. Other such suits have been successful and resulted in denial of other water threatening garbage dumps.

POWER is a tax-deductible 501C3 charitable organization. All donations are fully tax deductible. Please send all donations to POWER P.O. Box 169 Bradley, Illinois 60915 or if using a credit card, please click on the PayPal donate button on the left.

Illinois Supreme Court Orders The Third District Appellate Court To Vacate Their April 24 Decision.

June 6, 2008

POWER has learned the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the The County's motion for a supervisory order. As a result, the Illinois Supreme Court, in the exercise of its supervisory authority, has directed the Third District Appellate Court to vacate their April 24 decision to reverse their 2006 denial of the second Barbara/Volini landfill application. The Appellate Court is directed to reconsider the case including all the other issues raised by the parties to the appeal which the Appellate Court failed to rule on. The parties to the appeal are the County of Kankakee and POWER through Mr. Byron Sandberg. Several issues have been argued including protection of the health and safety of the community.

Kankakee County Board Votes In favor Of Continuing The Legal Battle Against The City of Kankakee Backed Garbage Dump.

May 14, 2008

POWER would like to publicly thank the 22 Kankakee County board members who voted yes to go forward with the legal battle against the proposed Fred Barbara and Tom Volini garbage dump near Minnie Creek which dumps directly into the river upstream from the Aqua Illinois water intake pipe. This proposal would literally dump garbage directly into the deep aquifer by blasting out several feet of bedrock to form the base of a 200 feet high mountain of garbage. The IEPA refused to stop this travesty after they were pressured by a Cook County lobbyists, Larry Suffredin hired by Barbara and Volini, all politically connected to Mayor Daley and Governor Blagojevich.

Action by the Kankakee County Board was needed because the Appellate Court decided to reverse their 2006 decision against this proposal thereby allowing it to go forward. This was the case sponsored by POWER through Mr. Byron Sandberg with the help of local retired attorney Ed Vogt. The County also argued their own case at the Appellate Court at the same time which resulted in the County's landfill attorney and Mr. Vogt supporting each other's case against the proposed dump. At this point the Appellate Court has failed to rule on the issues the County's attorney argued.

Sadly County Board members Kelly McLaren and Karen Campbell voted No and therefore support the dumping of garbage directly into the deep aquifer next to Minnie Creek. They have consistently supported this dump proposal. Karen Campbell is a City of Kankakee employee and should have abstained from voting on this issue because of her conflict of interest. Kelly McLaren is running for Recorder of Deeds this coming November and is seeking local Union Bosses support. Local Union Bosses have been huge supporters of the Fred Barbara/Tom Volini dump.

Watch the Attorneys and the Kankakee County Board discuss the County's legal battle to stop the Fred Barbara/Tom Volini proposed garbage dump which is backed by City of Kankakee Mayor Green and local Union bosses.

Garbage-To-Ethanol Plants Are Being Built Elsewhere. Why Not Here?

May 1, 2008

Please click on this link http://www.brightcove.tv/search.jsp?query=coskata It will take you to some very informative short video clips on Coskata, Inc. www.coskata.com. This is the company General Motors is in partnership with in Warrenville, Illinois which is building garbage-to-ethanol plants. Warrenville is near Aurora. They are planning to build these plants on a global basis. There is no reason why we can't get one here.

Even if Mayor Green and Barbara -Volini win their dump, it will be cheaper to process garbage into ethanol then dumping it. Don't forget all the jobs that these plants create.

Lake County Indian projects a savings of $12,000,000 per year in garbage removal costs for their County with the building of two garbage-to-ethanol plants by two other companies within their county and the creation of 250 jobs and hundreds more in construction jobs. See article here http://www.nwi.com/articles/2008/03/21/news/lake_county/doc1a0efe9ecdc9fbe086257413000d5e12.txt

Why can't this be done here? If City of Kankakee Mayor Green and our Kankakee County economic development leaders made the same effort to get a garbage-to-ethanol plant as they have for garbage dumps, it would happen!

POWER Fundraiser A Success!

February 11, 2008

Protect Our Water, Environment, and River (POWER) wishes to thank the 60 attendees and 24 local merchants or donors who helped make our February 10 Valentine's Dinner, Dance, and Silent Auction a truly elegant evening and a smashing success.

We extend our gratitude to: Andrea Taylor and Family, AnteUP Productions, Applebee's Restaurant, Aurelio's Pizzeria, Brickstone Brewery and Restaurant, Car Care Auto Center, Cracker Barrel Restaurant, Fifth Avenue Car Wash, Groucho's Coffee Cafe, Jeff Jarvis and Family, Hampton Inn, King Music, Love Shop, Oberweis Dairy (Happy Cows LLC), Paramount and Meadowview Theatres, Papa John's Pizza, Romer's Bakery/A Piece of Cake, Skinney's Pizza, TGIFriday's Restaurant, The Chicago Dough Company, Tholen's Landscape and Garden Center, TrendSetters College of Cosmetology, TriStar Martial Arts Academy, and Village Home Furnishings. Thank you for helping protect the water supply and health of Kankakee Valley citizens and the health of the Kankakee and Iroquois rivers against potential toxic leachate from the two proposed landfills.

The Illinois Pollution Control Board will hear Waste Management's appeal of the 2003 Kankakee County Board rejection of their proposed 302 acre, 200 feet high Chicago regional garbage dump which would be located within walking distance of the river and upstream from the Aqua Illinois water intake pipe.

IPCB will hear the case in Chicago and make a decision by January 24. If Waste Management wins their appeal, under the law, the IPCB would remanded the dump proposal back to the County Board for another vote. In their appeal, Waste Management contends the County board members, who voted No to three of the 9 criteria required by law to win approval, did not base their decision on evidence presented by Waste Management during their garbage dump hearing. Waste Management has been asking for delays since 2003.

This is one of two proposed Chicago regional garbage dumps to be sited in the immediate water shed of the Kankakee and Iroquois Rivers. The other garbage dump is being proposed by Town & Country Utilities owned by Tom Volini and Fred Barbara. Fred Barbara was recently implicated in a Chicago mob trial and according to Chicago newspapers, is a close friend of Chicago Mayor Daily. If both dump proposals happen, a total of 600 acres, 200 feet high in garbage would be dumped by as many as 600 semi-trucks daily.

Fred Barbara and Tom Volini are being sued by the Illinois EPA.

August 5, 2007

Fred Barbara's company, Kankakee Regional Landfill LLC and Tom Volini's company, Town & Country Utilities, Inc., developers of the proposed Chicago regional garbage dump with the City of Kankakee, are being suited over illegal dumping near their proposed dump site.  Read the law suit here. Pictures obtained by POWER of the illegal dumping of semi-truck loads of construction debris and other garbage were turned over to the IEPA which has resulted in this suit. The case has been filed with the Circuit Court in the Kankakee County Court House. It is scheduled to be heard September 27, 9:00 A.M. room 204. An answer to this case by Mr. Barbara and  Mr. Volini are due by August 29.