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DeKalb County, Illinois |
Minutes of thStormwater
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STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES May 31, 2012
The DeKalb County Stormwater Management Planning Committee (SMPC) met on May 31, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. in the DeKalb County Administrative Building, Conference Room East, in Sycamore, Illinois. In attendance were Committee members Norm Beeh, John Laskowski, Bill Lorence, Joel Maurer, Paul Miller, Joe Misurelli, Ken Andersen, Roger Steimel, and Donna Prain. Also in attendance were Rebecca Von Drasek, Deanna Doohaluk, Jim Sparber, Paul Borek, and Anita Zurbrugg.
1. Roll Call -- Mr. Miller noted that Committee members Tom Thomas, Pat Vary, and Mark Biernacki were absent.
2. Approval of Agenda – Mr. Laskowski moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Mr. Lorence, and the motion carried unanimously.
3. Approval of Minutes -- Mr. Misurelli moved to approve the minutes of the March 1, 2012 meeting, seconded by Mr. Laskowski, and the motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Beeh and Mr. Andersen arrived.
4. Watershed Study
Mr. Miller explained that the Stormwater Management Planning Committee discussed at its March 1, 2012 meeting the idea of working with the DeKalb County Community Foundation to seek funding for a watershed study. The Committee and Community Foundation representatives agreed that a Section 319 grant should be sought to fund a study of the headwaters of the East Branch of the South Branch of the Kishwaukee River. This is the watershed identified by the Stormwater Management Committee as the first one for which a study should be produced. Following a model from Winnebago County, it was agreed that the Community Foundation would produce a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to be sent to area engineering firms, with the idea that the chosen firm would take the lead in writing a grant proposal. If the Section 319 grant were subsequently obtained, the firm would be the prime candidate to then undertake the actual watershed study. Mr. Miller noted that the Community Foundation subsequently produced an RFQ and sent it out to a number of engineering firms, one proposal was received, from Hey and Associates with participation by Baxter Woodman.
Ms. Zurbrugg introduced representatives from Deanna Doohaluk of Hey & Associates and Jim Sparber of Baxter Woodman.
Ms. Doohaluk thanked the Committee and detailed her involvement with similar applications for 319 funds in Winnebago County and within the City of Rockford. She informed the Committee that 319 funding is a matching grant which requires additional funding or in-kind work for 40-60% of the project. Ms. Doohaluk asserted that the IEPA would pay Hey Associates and partners for their work if the 319 funds were approved. She noted that the in-kind work could include the stakeholders providing staff support, preparing paper work, providing equipment, etc. She emphasized that the stakeholders should include not only the County and municipalities, but also drainage districts and other entities that are effected by the water quality of the East Branch of the South Branch of the Kishwaukee River. Ms. Doohaluk suggested that planning is a funding priority because the Federal government would like to have the states creating these plans.
Ms. Zurbrugg informed Ms. Doohaluk that she had been contacted by other firms and told that the State is funding implementation projects not planning projects at this time. Ms. Doohaluk responded that implementation is being stressed within the seven metro counties of Chicago because so many plans have previously been approved. She noted that in DeKalb County and neighboring areas there are no approved 319 plans to fund and implement.
Ms. Doohaluk highlighted that the entire Kishwaukee watershed basin benefits from such a study and ties in to previously approved plans, which is what the Federal government is looking for with these plans.
Ms. Zurbrugg inquired about the need for a “recognized assessment” of the waterways. Ms. Doohaluk responded that planning for the “assessment” can be included within the planning grant match by asking a local water treatment plant, or the biology department at Northern Illinois University, or the Soil Water Conservation District to assist in the bio-assessment. In addition, she emphasized that preventing pollution from getting into the headwaters saves from having to remove the materials downstream.
Ms. Zurburgg asked if the 319 funds can be used for monitoring, Ms. Doohaluk noted that it was unlikely because of the complexity of the application to satisfy the IEPA standards for monitoring.
Ms. Doohaluk estimated that the grant would be approximately $80,000-$100,000 for the creation of a watershed plan, which could include a list of projects, a model of the watershed, suggested regulation changes, flood control measures, and educational programs. She also pointed out that Hey & Associates / Baxter Woodman would receive compensation from the IEPA funding.
Mr. Maurer asked if the Committee were to approve the bid by Hey & Associates/Baxter Woodman what would be the next step. Ms. Doohaluk noted that the deadline for submissions is August 1, 2012 and that the next step would include requesting the County Board authorization to pursue the grant and gathering stakeholders to outline the plan specific needs and concerns.
Mr. Miller asked the Committee members for feedback regarding the proposal from Hey & Associates / Baxter Woodman. The Committee noted their support for moving forward with seeking the grant and their confidence in the firms capabilities to seek the funds.
Mr. Maurer motioned for the Committee to accept the proposal from Hey & Associates/ Baxter Woodman in drafting an application for 319 funding, seconded by Mr. Lorence, and the motion carried unanimously. The Committee briefly discussed who should be included in the initial “working” group meeting.
The Committee decided that the initial working group meeting would include the entire Committee plus other stakeholders (i.e. Drainage Districts, Cortland, Maple Park, SWCD, NRCS). The meeting was scheduled for June 18, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. in the Gathertorium of the Legislative Building.
Ms. Prain offered to assist with the onsite survey and field visit prior to the Committee meeting.
Mr. Miller volunteered to put together the resolution for the County Board to authorize the process for pursuing the grant.
The Committee was asked by Ms. Von Drasek for any input regarding the annual NPDES report, no comments were provided.
Ms. Doohaluk noted that in-kind services provided for the 319 funds by the communities may not overlap activities dedicated to MS4 reporting.
5. Next Meeting:
The Committee decided that the initial meeting of the “working” group would be June 18, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. in the Gathertorium.
6. Adjournment -- Mr. Lorence motioned to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Laskowski, and the motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul R. Miller, AICP Chairman, DeKalb County Stormwater Management Planning Committee
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