The Will County Environmental Network invites you to join our efforts to protect and defend the environment.
Our membership is open to anyone willing to learn more about protecting the nation’s natural resources.
Meetings are generally held the second Wednesday of month at 6:30 p.m. at Laraway School in Joliet.
Please NOTE: The July meeting has been moved to the third Wednesday, July 15 because of a special event.
The Will County Environmental Network is working to host an environmental round table in July.
The goal is to create an interactive, intergovernmental response to reviewing environmental issues with regional impact.
“It’s important to take a regional look at the impacts of proposed projects,” Network President Mary Baskerville said.
“With many projects, the environmental impact goes beyond the borders of the project being reviewed for a permit.”
“The goal is to be aware of how each project impacts the other.”
“This is particularly important when studying groundwater effects,” she said.
For more information about the environmental round table, interested persons are invited to call Baskerville at (815) 478-5416.
THE WILL COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK CONTINUES TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC WOODS IN SECTION 29 OF JOLIET.
LOUIS JOLIET AND FATHER MARQUETTE RECORDED THE BEAUTY OF THE SITE FROM MOUND JOLIET. WILL COUNTY’S EARLIEST SETTLERS AND LEADERS REMARKED, TOO, ON THE BEAUTY OF THE WOODS.
Members of the Will County Environmental Network continue to advocate for green space abutting the historic woods in Joliet Township. We hope to meet with both the City of Joliet and CenterPoint officials soon.
A second important issue is before the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, now and the Network urges members and others to contact the EPA with their input. The proposal is to use the quarry on the east side of Brandon Road near Patterson Road in Joliet Township as a clean construction debris fill site.
Network members and residents of the area raised serious concerns about the impact on private wells within the 200 foot setback zone, and other issues. Public comments must reach the EPA by the deadline. Check the earlier post for address and deadline information.
WRITE YOUR COMMENTS AND SEND THEM IN BEFORE THE DEADLINE. “THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR EVERYONE IN THE TOWNSHIP,” Network President Mary Baskerville said.
That CenterPoint green space proposal and the quarry issue will be on the agenda at the next Network meeting, slated for the third Monday in August at Laraway School in Joliet.
Anyone interested in working to protect and defend the environment is invited to attend.
The Will County Environmental Network continues to advocate for green space north of Laraway Road to mitigate the effect of CenterPoint Properties’ impact on the historic woods that the Network has worked to protect since the 1980s.
Two important meetings are slated this week.
First, the CenterPoint annexation is expected to be voted on at the Tuesday, July 29 Joliet City Council meeting. The Network urges everyone to attend and voice their concerns.
Secondly, the Environmental Protection Agency is holding a meeting to discuss the proposal for a construction debris permit that would allow the filling of the quarry on the east side of Brandon Road. The Network has raised important water quality issues and urges everyone in the area to attend. The meeting is slated for 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 30 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Joliet.
Democracy requires active citizens: Help shape the future of Will County!
THE VILLAGE OF ROCKDALE PASSED A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A GREEN SPACE BUFFER DURING ITS Tuesday night meeting.
The resolution reads:
“WHEREAS, the Mayor and the Board of Trustees of the Village of Rockdale believes it is beneficial to require large-scale developments to provide green space to mitigate and buffer the effects on surrounding properties; and
WHEREAS, trucks and trains associated with CenterPoint Properties proposed creation of an Intermodal rail hub in Joliet will undoubtedly impact surrounding properties; and
WHEREAS, the Village of Rockdale will be affected by the proposed development of nearly 4,000 acres; and
WHEREAS, the Village of Rockdale hereby joins a growing community coalition and requests that the City of Joliet require CenterPoint Properties provide a green space buffer north of Laraway Road and abutting the historic woods in Section 29 of Joliet Township.
At the Joliet City Council Land Use meeting, the members of the Will County Environmental Network called for the creation of a green space buffer north of Laraway Road. CenterPoint’s plan to develop an intermodal center twice as large as Elwood creates an undeniable impact on the region.
Network members do not believe green space within the boundaries of the project creates a buffer.
Other portions of the woods are owned by Gallagher Asphalt, and CenterPoint Properties, and leased to Midwest Gen.
The Network met with both the director of the Forest Preserve District and President Cory Singer last week. While the forest preserve has no money to acquire the woods, Mr. Singer told the group that the Forest Preserve would happily accept a donation of clean land, and would be able to manage the property.
The Laraway School Board officially voted to support a partnership that would see the woods preserved and provide a place for Laraway School children to not only enjoy the outdoors, but also have a place for environmental studies. Laraway School is undeniably impacted by the CenterPoint proposal.
On June 10, the Will County Farm Bureau passed a resolution that reads: “The Will County Farm Bureau supports the setting aside of open space to buffer or mitigate the effects of industrial developments on the surrounding community.”
Joliet Township unanimously voted to support the preservation of the historic woods as it offers township residents unique opportunities for open space and recreation. Joliet Township wrote in full support of this project noting the need to “move forward to protect this open space in face of the rapid growth and development in our area.”Nearby, Waste Management already has a formal agreement with the county that will see the opportunity for the Forest Preserve to accept several hundred acres of wooded land on the bluffs along the DesPlaines River. In combination with the historic woods, the acreage will be a gift future generations will enjoy for years to come.
There is a growing community vision for what can be accomplished when the community, the churches, the schools, government –and industry–work together to explore the possibilities!
The Will County Environmental Network is concerned about the effect the proposed CenterPoint Intermodal Center will have on residents, businesses, and schools located nearby. In this article, http://www.c-e-d.org/news-source/pressarchives/2007/2008/2NewIntermodals.htm, originally appearing in the Joliet Herald News, Michael Mullen, CEO of CenterPoint Properties is reported to have said, “The site is surrounded by industry and the Autobahn Country Club.”
The site is also surrounded by many single-family homes, and right down the street from Laraway School: http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&q=laraway+school&near=Joliet,+IL&fb=1&cid=0,0,6424696726001215316&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image
The Network is working to try and preserve green space in this area of Joliet. The Network is meeting with CenterPoint offials to ask them to donate some land to preserve green space in this area that their development is affecting.
The Laraway School Board has voted to support the development of green space in this area for student recreation and outdoor learning.
The Network is also concerned about home-owners who have not been bought-out who will live next to this development. The Network is concerned about the impact CenterPoint will have on their quality of life and on their property values.
The Network is asking citizens living near the proposed site to become involved. The Network is also asking any citizens concerned about the environment to get involved. The Network is meeting on Monday, June 16th at 6:30 pm at Laraway School. New members are always welcomed.
