Champaign County Environment and Land Use Committee Met March 4.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
Committee Members
| Present | Absent |
| Aaron Esry (Vice-Chair) – via Zoom | |
| Stephanie Fortado – via Zoom | |
| Mary King – via Zoom | |
| Kyle Patterson – via Zoom | |
| Jacob Paul | |
| Chris Stohr – via Zoom | |
| Eric Thorsland (Chair) – via Zoom |
Others Present: None
MINUTES
I. Call to Order
Committee Chair Thorsland called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.
II. Roll Call
A verbal roll call was taken, and a quorum was declared present.
III. Approval of Agenda/Addendum
MOTION by Mr. Esry to approve the agenda, seconded by Ms. King.
Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously to approve the Agenda.
IV. Approval of Minutes
A. February 4, 2021
MOTION by Mr. Patterson to approve the minutes of the February 4, 2021 meeting, seconded by Mr. Esry. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.
V. Public Participation
Brad Ash was present to be available to speak to Agenda Item VIII. A. Zoning Case 999-AM-21.
Champaign County Board
Environment and Land Use Committee 1 March 4, 2021
VI. Communications
There were no communications to be shared with the committee.
VII. New Business: For Information Only
A. Champaign County Solid Waste Management – Information Series (Part 3 of 5)
Ms. Monte presented Part 3 of 5 of the Champaign County Solid Waste Management – Information Series. Tonight’s presentation focuses on recycling as a material management option for construction and demolition debris, metals, aluminum, cardboard, paper, glass, plastics, and batteries. An important key consideration is how to estimate or measure recycling, which is a County responsibility. Current provisions of state legislation require that a county must report on a recycling program, serving the county, designed to recycle 25% by weight of the municipal waste generated in each county. That is subject to a viable market for the recycled materials.
There are two major ways to do the estimating. One is a closed system whereby the estimated weights of recycled materials are tracked. Both the City of Urbana and the City of Champaign use this method. They each require their licensed waste haulers to report this estimated data quarterly. The County presently does not require this of waste haulers licensed by the County. Ms. Monte shared some examples of recent recycling estimates based on City of Urbana reports. The example showed the tons and percent recycled and also showed, maybe more interestingly, the percent diverted from the landfill. The material amounts that can be diverted from the landfill seems to be the more important figure, and the upward trend of materials diverted is a good trend.
A second option to potentially use to estimate the percentages of recycled materials is to use the Illinois Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Model. This method is available to counties who do not have resources to conduct their own needs assessment with measurement estimates. It’s based on population characteristics and data.
Our current 5-year updated Champaign County Solid Waste Management Plan lists eight recommendations, many of which relate to recycling. These recommendations will be reviewed at each five-year update of the Plan.
Ms. Monte shared some current data from U.S. EPA that shows items with high recycling rates. Lead acid batteries from vehicles is a top recyclable item listed. That was followed by corrugated boxes, steel cans, aluminum beer and soda cans, tires, selected consumer electronics, glass containers, White goods, translucent bottles and PET bottles and jars.
Recycling does lead to jobs and economic development. It’s an important activity to pursue, not only because it saves natural resources but also because of the economic impact.
C & D (Construction and Demolition) is a large component of the waste stream. Concrete from road projects is a huge proportion of C & D debris. There are a number of concrete recycling companies located In Champaign County.
Ms. Monte shared the Champaign County Environmental Stewards website. The county Solid Waste Fund provides significant support of this website. The website is regularly updated to provide information about where to bring recyclables. The website includes links to City of Champaign, City of Urbana, and the U of I website that also contain information about recycling.
Mr. Stohr asked Ms. Monte about the some of the numbers on the charts that she questioned. He wondered where the data came from. Some came from US EPA and that she also questioned the numbers use on the Illinois Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Model. One source of discrepancy is that US EPA and IL EPA define some terms differently. That can skew a lot of projections.
Mr. Stohr asked if we need to update the Solid Waste Plan. Ms. Monte said that the Plan update should happen every 5 years, and that she plans to recruit an ad hoc committee to provide needed input and assistance for the update.
VIII. New Business: Items to be Recommended to the County Board
A. Zoning Case 999-AM-21. A request by Leon, Michelle and Brad Ash, d.b.a. Galesville Elevator Co. to amend the Zoning Map to change the zoning district designation from the B-5 Central Business Zoning District and the R-1 Single Family Residence Zoning District to the B-1 Rural Trade Center Zoning District for the continued use of a Grain Storage Elevator and Bins on Lots 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of Block 2 of Howard – Original Town (now the unincorporated town of Lotus) and one to-be-vacated 40 foot wide road right-of-way located west of Lot 7 and one 2.44-acre tract, for a total of 3.431 acres, in the Southwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of Section 31, Township 22 North Range 7 East of the Third Principal Meridian in Brown Township and commonly known as the Galesville Elevator Co., with an address of 10 CR 3050N, Foosland.
MOTION by Mr. Esry and seconded by Ms. Fortado to approve the motion as read.
Mr. Ash with Galesville Elevator is here and available for questions if needed. Mr. Hall gave some background on this case. The original zoning was in error. It was given a zoning designation in which elevators are not allowed and the elevator was there at the time. The elevator has grown over time. They are adding a major new grain bin. We are thankful they were willing to go to the trouble of getting the elevator zoned to the proper designation.
Mr. Stohr said he had driven to Lotus and some of these facilities are right up against residential areas and asked about the new bin’s location; if it would be where the temporary facility was. Mr. Hall said no, it will be up against the railroad. There is a right-of-way that extends north that the township is in process of vacating. Discussion continued as to what exactly is being re-zoned. The rezoning will only be along the railroad and along the north side of CR3055N. It won’t include any of the areas that are residential or vacant. Mr. Stohr asked about the temporary/outdoor storage that is in R-1 and was curious that it wasn’t rezoned into the business area. It is included in the zoning change. Mr. Stohr asked if there had been objections or complaints from residents to this. Mr. Hall stated that they received no negative comments at the public hearing. Mr. Ash added that he’s had no negative comments from any of the neighbors and no issues in the past.
Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.
IX. Other Business
A. Monthly Reports
i. January
The January report was received and placed on file.
Champaign County Board
Environment and Land Use Committee 3 March 4, 2021
X. Chair’s Report
There was no Chair’s Report.
XI. Designation of Items to be Placed on the Consent Agenda
Items to be placed on the Consent Agenda include 8. A.
XII. Adjournment
Mr. Thorsland adjourned the meeting at 7:03 p.m.
http://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/ELUC/2021/210304_Meeting/210304_Minutes.pdf
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