POWER is an all volunteer 501c3 non-profit corporation which was founded in May, 2004.  Our mission is to increase the awareness of the public and government officials of environmental hazards including those pertaining to landfills.

This will include promoting the use of new and evolving non-polluting technologies that use society's waste to produce low cost energy and helping local citizens fund their need for professional services relating to environment issues.


Funding: All donations to POWER are tax deductible. POWER also does various fund raisers.

Volunteers: POWER welcomes anyone who can volunteer to help in any way.

Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 5:30 PM at Lydia & Groucho's Coffee Shop & Deli located at 150 N. Schuyler Ave., Kankakee, Illinois 60901.  Questions, suggestions and input from anyone is  always welcome at our meetings.

Officers & Board Members:

President Ray Wilson, Kankakee

Vice-President Amy Ciaccio-Jarvis, Kankakee

 Secretary Joan Reed, Kankakee

Treasurer Andrea Taylor, St. Anne.

John Miskell, Kankakee  

Why are citizens groups like POWER so adamantly opposed to the proposed landfill with Fred Barbara and Tom Volini ?

1)The Kankakee River is the source of the metro area water supply and the water supply of other county communities, as well as the future water source for communities outside Kankakee County.

2)The proposed Fred Barbara and Tom Volini landfill is to be situated  directly in the deep aquifer next to Mini Creek.  Both feed the Kankakee and Iroquis rivers as well as the private wells for hundreds of square miles.  Water source for thousands.

3)All landfills will leak toxic leachate containing highly toxic organic volatile chemicals which cause such serious human afflictions as cancer, birth defects, heart disease, respiratory diseases. and other debilitating and fatal diseases.

4)The Illinois State Geological Survey has judged the the proposed Fred Barbara and Tom Volini  garbage dump site  as the least desirable site in the County for landfills. The site is  a direct threats to contaminate the Kankakee and Iroquis rivers.  Water source for thousands.
See full report of the Illinois State Geological Survey

5)The County’s own Solid Waste Management Plan prohibits the siting of landfills on or near aquifers which supply major sources of water: ”Groundwater Geology. The protection of the groundwater is one of the primary concerns of siting a landfill. A site should not be located above or near a groundwater recharge zone or a heavily used water supply aquifer. Pg. 330 County Solid Waste Management Plan”

6)The City of Kankakee approved  Fred Barbara and Tom Volini proposed dump site is to be located right beside Mini Creek and excavated down into the aquifer that supplies our water. Town and Country operator Tom Volini contributed $5000 dollars to Gov. Blagojevich’s election campaign. Fred Barbara contributed $1,000 to Third District Appellate Court Judge William E. Holdridge, one of the three judges deciding the fate of his dump proposal. It is doubtful any independent hydro geologists would approve this site for dumping. This just goes to show how science can be trumped with campaign dollars.
Conclusion: The City has decided to reap short term rewards from a toxic dump while totally ignoring the longer term disastrous effects this dump will wreak on this county’s residents.

The EPA tells us that all landfills will leak-it’s not a matter if but of when. What will those leaks do to our health as they find their way into our water supply? Please refer to Landfill Manual.