City of Geneva Committee of the Whole met March 9.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
Present: Burns, Bruno, Burghart, Clements, Hruby, Kaven, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, McGowan, Swanson
Staff Present: Dawkins, McCready, Babica, Schiber, VanGyseghem
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Burns called the meeting to order at Geneva City Hall Council Chamber at 7pm noting all council members were present.
2. NEW BUSINESS/PUBLIC COMMENT
None
3. ITEMS OF BUSINESS
a. Presentation by Waste Management of Illinois Inc.
Mayor Burns introduced Jim Prescott and Rod Stipe with Waste Management who would provide information on the ongoing groundwater testing in the Geneva Township ‐ Old Kirk Road area. Prescott stated that the compound 1,4‐Dioxane was detected in the groundwater well testing sites within the landfill area in late 2017. Further testing outside of that perimeter was conducted in 2018 where the compound was also found. Waste Management has continued to do testing on these well sites and since first detection have been providing bottled drinking water to all residents in the outside perimeter area (Old Kirk Road neighborhood). Prescott stated that after a course of several conversations with city staff and affected residents, Waste Management would offer to pay the full costs bore by the city and residents to tie into the City’s water lines. To achieve this, a majority of the affected residents (29 of 39) would need to submit a petition requesting the annexation to the city’s water service (annexation to water service only, not to full corporate limits). According to city staff, once the petition is received and council approved moving forward, it would take approximately twelve months to complete the project.
Questions from the committee centered on where the test wells were located, what, if any city wells were affected, what government agencies were notified of the contaminate, and who would be overseeing the project. Water Div. Supt. Bob VanGyseghem stated that the city tested all of its wells and found no contaminates. He also verified that the aquifers that the city uses are not in the area of the landfills. Asst. Public Works Dir. Brian Schiber provided a general timeline for the project and stated that once an agreement was in place, Waste Management would take the lead on the project management with the city assisting with engineering plans and quality assurance issues.
An audience member who owns a business in the affected area asked if sewer lines would also be extended. Admin. Dawkins noted that those details would be worked out in the agreement to be entered into with Waste Management.
Lastly, Mayor Burns stated that the city would not be forcing any property owner into annexation under any circumstances and that it was up to each property owner to decide to participate or not.
4. ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Ald. Marks, the meeting adjourned by unanimous voice vote at 7:54pm.
https://www.geneva.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_03092020-1590
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