Democracy was in action at the May 19, 2010 Special Meeting of Cortland Township as residents and registered voters overwhelmingly reject Waste Management of Illinois' proposal to expand the DeKalb County Landfill. WMI attorney, Don Moran, lower right, spans the audience. Photo by Gracie Mott.
More than 200 residents and registered voters of Cortland Township voted overwhelmingly to reject the proposal by Waste Management of Illinois for a more than seven-fold expansion of the DeKalb County Landfill. The vote was taken at a special meeting authorized by the Illinois Township Code (60 ILCS 1/30-120) Sec. 30-120.
The meeting was held at the Cortland Township garage in an effort to accomodate the large audience. Those in attendance had to register to prove residence and voter registration before the meeting. Residents and registered voters of Cortland Township (Electors) were given lapel stickers with “voter” written on them. Non-residents were given “non-voter” stickers and were separated from the Electors. Only the Electors were allowed to vote or speak.
Frankie Benson was nominated and elected Moderator for the meeting. Richard Hahin made the motion to adopt the resolution, which in its final form read:
“Be it therefore resolved by a vote of the Electors of the Cortland Township that no expansion of the DeKalb County Landfill will be allowed in Cortland Township – in size of the facility, in the amount of waste material accepted at the facility, or in the origination points from which waste is hauled.”
Representatives from the County including Ruth Ann Tobias (chair) and DeKalb County States Attorney, John Farrell, and WMI attorney Don Moran, all believe the meeting was legally a moot point.
Cortland residents resorted to the measure, as permissible under 60 ILCS 1/30-120 — Sec. 30-120, because many felt the County Board, none of whom live in Cortland Township, had sold the dumping rights to WMI and 17 northern Illinois counties in a hosting agreement and their town council had sold their rights to object to the application in return for a one time $1 million payment plus other financial considerations.
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4 Comments
This meeting almost certainly guarantees a hearing before the Illinois Courts to determine whether the Illinois Township Statutes or IEPA Landfill Siting Administrative Statutes will govern. As far as I know, this is a precedent setting case and that's why the courts must hear the facts. Aside from the procedural/jurisdictional issues, its also clear to me and many others that the applicant, Waste Management, fell short in proving they had met two criteria regarding Traffic and Public Safety. An incomplete report by WM's traffic engineer did not consider farm traffic or provide before/after accident statistics/probabilities, plus an earthquake for which the technical part of the application does not make consideration, most surely causes the application to be invalid on those points.
Wow… even though I was there and heard it, the power of the sound of people's voices (4:39 – 4:50 in the video) deciding their future is awesome!!! We need more of this in this County, State, & Country!!
I find it quite interesting the WM sent it's highly paid attorney (Mr Moran) attended this meeting. A Meeting that "supposedly" has NO impact on WM's right the build it's Mega Dump. Mr Moran (of WM), I ask you, if the township vote has NOT bearing, why did you attend? Same goes to Ruth Ann Tobias and Mr Farrell….Hmmmmmm….
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RE: The TIF Discussion going on elsewhere online:
Love him or hate him ,Mel has done more for downtown DeKalb than most in terms of appearance,
business activity, and restaurant choices. The restoration and appearance of his buildings will enhance DeKalb for years to come. The three vacant dilapidated buildings have been transformed into popular business and add increased activity. DeKalb had good local restaurants (Eduardo's, Hillside, Thai Pavilion, Rosita's and Lincoln Inn) before Mel increased our restaurant choices.
Many downtown business/families have withstood years of economic ups and downs. All the downtown business add to our community via sales taxes, real estate taxes, they purchase local goods and services , they support of various community organizations, and they provide jobs to local families and students. The TIF has helped support some downtown business improvements, but the 79 million in the article was not was not spent on downtown businesses only. Capital projects like the 1.5-2 million spent on a town square/parking lot, or millions in sewer/street repair, or land purchases ,and development incentives. The Wal-Mart's, Target's, Applebee's, a Car Dealership and just about every other business on Sycamore rd also received support via tax incentives or some other concessions in development. Both The Sycamore rd businesses and the downtown businesses add real estate taxes and sales taxes to our community and both should be supported.
The cry that the TIF is under cutting the schools and other taxing bodies is bunk. The increased value of the downtown properties generates increased real estate taxes which supports all the taxing bodies-without those increased real estate taxes we would all pay more taxes . The increased sales tax revenue helps fund city services and benefits all residents-again without those sales taxes we would all pay more taxes.
If you want to start pointing fingers look at the taxing bodies use of the taxes/money they waste. An example is the 80 to 100 million wasted by the DeKalb School district to build a new high school that we do not need and won't need until the year 2026-per an article in Chronicle. If you're in the camp that thinks we needed a new school ,Ask the DeKalb school district why they failed to fill out the grant application to get a FREE high school like Rochelle and Genoa/Kingston. Hold our local taxing bodies accountable for your money and how they spend it. Vote and make yourself heard !
Brian Weydert