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          PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

March 23, 2011

 DRAFT

The Planning and Zoning Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on March 23, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room East located in the DeKalb County Administration Building.  In attendance were Committee Members Ken Andersen, John Hulseberg, Ruth Anne Tobias, John Emerson, Jeff Whelan, Pat Vary, and Dan Cribben.  Also in attendance were Roger Craigmile, Mel Hass, Jim Nilles, Mary Murphy, Steve Rosene, Mike Hey (Waste Management) and staff members Christel Springmire, Bob Drake, Paul Miller and Rebecca Von Drasek.

Ken Andersen, Planning and Zoning Committee Chairman, called the meeting to order and noted that all members were present.

Mr. Andersen thanked Mr. Hulseberg for facilitating last month’s meeting in his absence.  He also thanked Mr. Gudmunson for serving on the Committee and welcomed Mr. Cribben to the County Board and the Committee.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mr. Andersen noted that public comments would be added to the agenda.

Mr. Whelan moved to approve the agenda as amended, seconded by Ms. Vary, and the motion carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. Vary noted that the minutes from February 23, 2011 referred to the “DeKalb Land Trust” on page three, she requested that the minutes be amended to say the “DeKalb County Farmland Foundation”.

Ms. Tobias moved to approve the minutes of the February 23, 2011 meeting of the Planning and Zoning Committee as amended, seconded by Mr. Hulseberg, and the motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Mr. Andersen asked the public present if they had any comments for the Committee.

Mr. Hass, Mr. Rosene, Mr. Nilles, Mr. Craigmile, Mr. Kyler, Ms. Murphy, and Mr. Ehrhart expressed to the Committee a variety of complaints associated with the Lee-DeKalb Wind Energy Center.  Mr. Andersen thanked them for their comments.

LANDFILL LICENSE ANNUAL RENEWAL

Mr. Miller explained that Waste Management of Illinois has filed an application for renewal of a

County license to operate the DeKalb County Sanitary Landfill.  The County has been requiring such an annual license since 1964.  The landfill is located east of Somonauk Road, immediately south of the I-88 Tollway, in unincorporated Cortland Township.  The property is zoned A-1, agricultural, with a Special Use to designate the operation of a landfill.  The authority for the County to annually license garbage disposal areas, and establish a fee for such license, is set forth in the Illinois Compiled Statutes, 55 ILCS 5/5-8002 and 8003.  As operator of the landfill, Waste Management annually applies for renewal of the County license.  The period for the requested license renewal is May 1, 2011 to April 30, 2012.  Mr. Miller introduced Mike Hey from Waste Management.

Mr. Hey provided the Committee with a handout which outlined the past year’s operations at the landfill.  He briefly presented to the Committee and noted that no new cell development was proposed within the next year of operation, that the amount of gas extracted from the landfill had fallen (noting that the volume of methane produced is affected by the amount of rain received), and highlighting the efforts to compost materials at the landfill.

Mr. Whelan asked when the expansion of the landfill would begin.  Mr. Hey responded that once the  findings can no longer be appealed, and once the IEPA issues the permit, then Waste Management would begin construction. He thought the earliest shovels would be in the ground would be 2012.

Mr. Whelan asked staff if Waste Management was the only licensee and if the process required a competitive bid. Mr. Miller responded that the landfill was owned by Waste Management and were the only party which would apply for the license.  He also noted that the licensing is allowed by State statue.

Mr. Andersen asked if the annual fee of $50 could be raised to better cover staff’s time.  Mr. Miller said he would research the fee for next year’s application. 

Ms. Vary agreed that the licensing fee should be higher.

Mr. Andersen asked if the wording within the #3 of the license was correct to say “save” harmless versus “hold” harmless.  Mr. Miller agreed to review this language and correct if necessary.

Ms. Tobias moved to recommend renewal of the license, seconded by Ms. Vary, and the motion carried unanimously.

RECYCLING ANNUAL REPORT

Christel Springmire, DeKalb County Health Department, appeared before the Committee to answer any questions regarding the 2010 Solid Waste Annual Report. She noted that the rate of recycling had stayed in line with the 2009 rates.  Ms. Springmire hypothesized that these rates were related to the economy.  She further stated that she has continued to improve her contacts with the waste haulers in the area so that the numbers that they report back are a accurate as possible. She stated that in 2010 the County was able to establish a new recycling center in the northern part of the County and is working toward establishing one in the south.   Also, Ms. Springmire pointed out that approximately 25 percent of the waste generated within the County was ultimately disposed of out of County. 

Ms. Vary asked why so much waste was leaving the County.  Ms. Springmire responded that each hauler takes waste to whichever landfill they have an agreement with, and that price mostly likely is  a the determining factor for property owners.

Mr. Whelan asked if there were upcoming electronic recycling collections.  Ms. Springmire noted that the next collection was scheduled for the end of April.

Ms. Vary stated that in the future she would like to see incentive recycling or a “pay as you throw” system.

Mr. Hulseberg asked Ms. Springmire about the funding for the Natural Resource Education Consortium for the recycling education.  Ms. Springmire responded that staff from the University Extension Offices provide programs for students kindergarten through fifth grade at area schools.  Ms. Springmire noted that the matching funding from the University may be going away and that the County’s funding was very appreciated to continue recycling education.

The Committee and staff briefly discussed the need for and possible location of a southern recycling center.  Bob Drake informed the Committee that someone needed to come forward in the southern area of the County with a property that would meet certain standards before a recycling center could be established.  Ms. Springmire noted that Waste Management had reopened the Simonds Avenue location in DeKalb for recycling. 

MONTHLY REPORT

The Committee noted the agricultural building permits were keeping pace with the 2010 construction values.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Andersen pointed out the upcoming public hearings for the Comprehensive Plan on March 24, 2011, the Hanson Landscaping Amendment Request on April 7, 2011, and the Wassmann Variation on April 14, 2011.

The Planning and Zoning Committee is next scheduled to meet April 27, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room East.

Mr. Whelan moved to adjourn, seconded by Ms. Tobias, and the motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Ken Andersen

Planning and Zoning Committee Chairman

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