MINUTES
OF
LIFE SAFETY COMMITTEE
APRIL
18, 2007
Call
to Order: The Life Safety Committee was called to order by Gene Meyers at 7:15
PM.
Roll
Call: Present: Adele Benk, Fenwick Taylor, Gene Meyers, Therese Cislak, Sue
Cascio
and Joan Silke from The Good Neighbor Committee of South
Cook
County
Absent:
Mike McElroy
Review
of Minutes: The minutes of the March 21, 2007 were reviewed and approved. Adele
Benck moved, seconded by Therese Cislak to accept the minutes as
presented.
Roll call: Ayes 5, Nays 0, Motion carried.
Unfinished
Business: The letter to Senator Obama should be ready to send by the next
meeting.
Gene
reiterated that his letter would go not only to Obama, but also to Durbin, thus
getting support from both representatives and senators. Since the Democratic
Party has control of Congress and they’re touting
environmental
issues, now is the time to act.
Adele
discussed her meeting with President Guzdziol and reiterated the
concern
that we do not want all of the 72 acres designated wetlands
because
we want to get this land on the tax rolls.
Adele
Benk also asked for the possibility of a meeting with Representative
Lapinski
to discuss the status of the dredging.
New
Business: Joan Silke discussed the possibility of developing the south half
with a
hotel
resort development for both property tax and perhaps a luxury tax.
That
would help with tax income and also lend credence to an integrated
use
of commercial development and a protected wetlands.
Therese
discussed the concern of the people and questioned the residents’
acceptance
of such a project.
Gene
said the economic viability of the Village must be taken into account
here
either from development or from a tax increase and he thinks the
citizens
will choose development.
Joan
offered her support and contact with the Lake Michigan Alliance to
help
with developing background for wetlands designation.
Sue
Cascio’s class will be working on a special project to debate the
dredging
issue pros and cons; with the issues of chemical contaminants,
and
with the issues of clay liner integrity and design. In addition air
quality
will be discussed. From comments made in her discussion with the
EPA,
they are assuming that this dredging is going to happen regardless of
what
we do.
Therese
had some pictures of people on the causeway, but none of
wildlife.
Adele and Fen will be taking some photos to identify wildlife.
The
committee discussed the requirements of a wetlands.
Adele
said she felt we had wide support from all the candidates.
Adjournment:
Sue Cascio moved, Seconded by Therese Cislak to adjourn the meeting at
8:30
PM. Roll call: Ayes 5, Nays 0, Motion carried.