Life Safety
Meeting
June 7th,
2005
Village Hall
Commission Members Present: Gene Meyers (chairman), Adele
Benck; Mike McElroy; Sue Murawski; Jeanette Fefles; Sue Villalovos (Cascio),
and Village of Worth Liaison: Becky
Alcala
The second meeting of the Life Safety Committee of the
Village of Worth was called to order at 7:10 p.m.
Review of minutes:
Discussion
of terminology; toxic versus polluted; minutes accepted.
Business:
Continuing
discussion regarding the need to prevent the dredging and dumping in the
Lucas-Berg pit.
- How to
mobilize public to get involved in prevention of dumping the dredgings.
- We
must educate the public so that we present our case in an informed way.
- Discussion
of dredging at the “Little Calumet” area.
- Army
Corps may not have funding to start this dredging project.
- We
should involve the local colleges.
- If we
prevent the dredging what will be done with the land?
- If you
fill with sediment nothing can be built there.
- Currently
what is there is usable property.
- They
plan to put 30 feet of fill spanning over 40 years without a cap.
- It
will be open and dumped in for forty years.
- Will
clay liner hold?
- The
original clay liner was not made to specifications.
- California
has many strict regulations; can we make them follow standards of
California for a new clay liner?
- Although
it is very clear that we DO NOT want the dredging at the Lucas-Berg Pit we
must have several plans to fight this.
- Turn
dredging into bricks?
- We
must b able to respond to the Army Corps.
We must develop individual strategies.
- We
must mobilize the public.
- “Save
our Village”
- We
should consider making the area a “wetland” it has some
characteristics. But we cannot
only depend on that angle.
- Solid
waste versus hazardous waste may also make a difference.
- Discussion
of the pit. Specifics such as
orthostatic pressure and water.
- Some
residents of our village and surrounding villages still have wells and
filling the pit might cause contamination to the drinking well water.
- There
are fish in the water in the pit.
- We
need more public interest. Sue
Murawski has volunteered to draft a letter to the editor.
- It
will be a sentimental call to action.
- Discussion
of contacting environmental attorney.
Northwestern professor may involve students.
- Discussion
of clay liner not built to specs and is leaking, not functioning like it
should.
- If
they fix it they must drain it. If
they drain it, the fish etc. will die.
- Can
anyone take action against the Corps?
- They
will have to do an EIS before progressing. They may destroy wetlands.
- We
should plan to visit the site. Boy
Scouts go in to clean up annually.
- The
public should view the area.
- Metra-easement?
- Corps
must negotiate a lease with Metra and MWRD.
- Catch
Phrase: “Don’t dump on us” “Don’t hedge; fight the dredge”
- EIS
report from 2002 missing plates.
Critique of report, done by EPA for Army Corps.
- Wetlands
versus 404 permit.
- Consider
the impact on real estate
- Keep
as a nature preserve.
- Village
attorney regarding ordinances that we may use for our fight.
- Sue
will contact Keith.
- Next
meeting is planned for July 6th, 2005.
Meeting ended at 9:30.