Will County Stormwater Management Planning Committee met April 5.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
I. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
Municipal Representative, District 3 Jonathan Dykstra called the meeting to order at 10:06 AM
| Attendee Name | Title | Status | Arrived |
| Robert Howard | County Representative, District 1 | Present | |
| DJ Kruzel | Municipal Representative, District 1 | Present | |
| Jim Moustis | County Representative, District 2 | Absent | |
| Jonathan Dykstra | Municipal Representative, District 3 | Present | |
| Thomas Pawlowicz | Municipal Representative, District 4 | Present | |
| Randall Jessen | Municipal Representative, District 5 | Absent | |
| Paul Buss | County Representative, District 6 | Absent | |
| Ed Dolezal | Municipal Representative, District 6 | Present | |
| Norm Likar | County Representative, District 9 | Absent | |
| Ken Carroll | Municipal Representative, District 9 | Present | |
| Joe Hadamik | County Representative, District 10 | Absent | |
| Theresa O'Grady | County Representative, District 11 | Absent | |
| Raymund Fano | Municipal Representative, District 11 | Present | |
| Tom Weigel | County Representative, District 12 | Present | |
| Will Nash | Municipal Representative, District 12 | Present | |
| Bill Lamb | Municipal Representative, District 13 | Present |
Land Use Staff present were Rusha Brooks, Dawn Tomczak and Scott Killinger. Matt Guzman was present from the Will County State's Attorney's Office.
Christine Rhodes who accompanied Municipal Representative, District 11 Raymund Fano was also present.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chairman Dykstra led the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. INTRODUCTIONS
Committee Members, State's Attorney Representative, Land Use Staff, and the guest in the galley introduced themselves.
Dawn Tomczak introduces the new Land Use Staff employee, Rusha Brooks.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chairman Dykstra said do you have some public comment you'd like to make? Jeff, you know the routine. You know where the microphone is.
Jeff Sloth said actually, right now we are just trying to stay abreast of the project with the Army Corp.
Scott Killinger said I will do an update on that for you, it will be the first agenda.
Chairman Dykstra said Jeff, if you have questions as he is giving the report, we will have you speak then. So, feel free.
Jeff Sloth said thank you.
Chairman Dykstra said any other comments? No?
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Stormwater Management Planning Committee - Regular Meeting - Feb 1, 2022 10:00 AM
Thomas Pawlowicz made a Motion to approve the Minutes. Bill Lamb seconded the Motion.
Roll Call Vote taken. Motion passed unanimously, 10-0, with no additions or corrections.
| RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Thomas Pawlowicz, Municipal Representative, District 4 SECONDER: Bill Lamb, Municipal Representative, District 13 AYES: Howard, Kruzel, Dykstra, Pawlowicz, Dolezal, Carroll, Fano, Weigel, Nash, Lamb ABSENT: Moustis, Jessen, Buss, Likar, Hadamik, O'Grady |
1. USACE DUPAGE RIVER FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT
Scott Killinger said we are moving into the implementation phase of the Army Corp Project. We have been in the process of bringing on an appraiser. We are going to start working in the Plainfield Township first. There are three buy-out properties and four flood-proofing elevation properties. I know Jeff and Judy are probably wondering what is taking us so long as they've been following us for a while. We've got everything lined up now. We are having two public meetings with those residents. There will be four residents invited to the April 14th at 6:30 PM, where will explain the flood-proof and buy-out process. Then there will be a second meeting that I believe is April 19th at 6:30 PM but I confirm the date and that will be for the three buy-out properties. I know Jeff is here and has expressed interest in that his property is identified for flood-proofing, but he'd rather have a buy-out. Amad and I will explain it all at the April 14th meeting. We will do what we can. I think I've said before in this meeting that ultimately that would be an extra cost to the County, so I would have to take it to the County Board. We will work through that process at that time.
Jeff Sloth said does the Department of Natural Resources get involved at all? One of the properties in my neighborhood has been bought by them. It was my understanding they want to expand the DuPage River Trail.
Scott Killinger said I do not have the answer to that, but I do appreciate you telling me. I will check in to that. As of right now, no we have not talked to IDNR.
Jeff Sloth said the idea would be to turn that back into wetland.
Scott Killinger said the ultimate goal of the County is to turn that back into a park. I didn't tell you that but now obliviously there are steps to get to there. Just like across the street from you.
Jeff Sloth said the houses on the other side have already been mitigated.
Scott Killinger said so we will see you there on the 14th. We'll have a more detailed discussion in a more private setting to see where we're going.
Jeff Sloth said alright, thanks Scott.
Chairman Dykstra said thanks Jeff. Any Committee Members what to ask questions?
Scott Killinger said I think that's really everything on that. At some point I'll have Amad come back and give an update. As of right now, there really hasn't been much. After these meetings the residents, we'll have more to update.
2. Rock Creek Watershed Based Plan
Chairman Dykstra said the next new business, but old business is the Rock Creek Watershed Based Plan. Remember they were here in Summer of 2021. We couldn't vote on it because it had not been presented. We did approve $25,000 for this watershed study, however after that it didn't get implemented because there was change in the scope. Scott will give as a better timeline and where is stands right now. Originally it was Will and Kankakee County were included. Then Kankakee County did want to participate, so they had to change the study scope to just be Will County. The change requires approval again with the new verbiage. This has not happened due to the lack of quorum, or we cancelled meetings. It hasn't been on the agenda for several months now.
Scott Killinger said if you all remember, the Rock Creek Watershed Plan is in the Kankakee River Watershed. In the Monee and Peotone Municipalities, I believe in County Board District 1. At one point County Member Ogalla was in the meeting and was supportive of the idea. Basically, the catch was somebody has to award a contract to get the work done. In this case, the people who are pushing this forward is a consulting firm called Living Waters. I guess from a Staff perspective I think this is a worthy project. Part of what we are supposed to do in Stormwater Committee work plan is Water shedding plans. So back they were looking for the 50% match. They're going to apply for a 319 State Grant there share and we would pitch in a portion of the match and Kankakee County was asked. All fell apart because there was no way to find a public body that was willing collect the contract. The deadline for the application comes and goes. Because of pandemic the deadline kept getting pushed back and lingered until it died. This year it a new round and the application is due at the end of July. Living Waters contacted me, and they are wishing to try again. I told them I would tell the committee about it today. We passed a Resolution a pledging money last year or two years ago. I would bring that back forward to you and you can decide at that time, yes or no. So, for today, I guess I'm just letting you know. And this sort of rolls into the project program which is the next item on the agenda. This Watershed money, for this Rock Creek Plan, the way the calendar works, we would pass a Resolution pledging however many dollars. The last year it was $25,000 and I'm assuming it would be some number similar to that. If you recall Matt and I crafted some legal language so there was a clause for us to get out of it. Which we will get back through that exercise and explain it when the time comes.
3. 2022 Project Program
Looking at the overhead screen. What I wanted to point out is our budget. I've already talked about the Army Corp. We're actually in the process of doing that. As you can see the elevations and dry flood proofing and so on. And these budget numbers for the public that are here, they are not necessarily numbers that mean much of anything, we've got to get appraisals and then we'll find out what's going on with that. But then we have the local drainage program and there's $203,000 in there. I worded this such it could be for engineering studies. For some of these projects we do, it may be useful if a little engineering is done before we start them. So, I but this money in there for that purpose. I've listed the Rock Creek Watershed here and if you do to ahead and fund the plan again, the money doesn't come out of the $150,000 dollars down here listed under projects. It would come out of a separate pot of money. I wrote in there FY2023 because if you pass the Resolution in let's say May 2022, the State has to approve the 319 Grant, then really nothing will be needed until the Fiscal Year. We'll have some time to deal with the budget and it'll all be contingent on the County Board actually funding us at that level. So, there are still a lot of moving parts here. That's the update on the Rock Creek Watershed Plan, you may see it again. I was talked with Living Waters yesterday and they asked if they should come today and do a presentation today. I said no, maybe next month, if I bring it forward. I guess again, I'm kind of rolling this into item 3. I've got other projects obviously and I'm looking for projects. I know Crest Hill is going to have one, I know Tom you have one. So, depending on how many I get, I will present them in maybe in May, June at the latest. If you have projects, send them in. We will either award it or roll it into next year.
Chairman Dykstra said once in a while one, may fall through. And whatever that amount was, we'd try to spread it around to ones that have already been approved.
Scott Killinger said for example, last year a couple projects fell through. You all passed the Resolution in December and we paid it out in January. I do my best do get that money out there and do work with it. So, that's really items 1, 2 and 3 all ran them all together.
Chairman Dykstra said there's a question?
Robert Howard said with that Rock Creek Watershed Base plan, can Will County Board portion be completed even if Kankakee decides not to participate again?
Scott Killinger said yes, the biggest thing about that, I say this for the benefit of the County Board Members, the project is all being put together by Living Waters. If the County is going to be the Grant Administrator, then a contract would need to be awarded to a firm to do the work. In this case, the firm is Living Waters. So, we'd be awarding a contract without multiple bids. I told them but I'm not sure how the County Board is going to react to that. Jon, I know you're a consulting engineer, and that's kind of what you're expected to do. It's a professional service. Matt can nod or not, but a professional services contract you can award it without taking bids. That's the catch on that. So, this is kind of what hung it up last year, they wanted the Stormwater Committee. I told them that the Stormwater Committee couldn't award the contract, that they would have to go before the full Board. The application deadline had passed before they could get before the Board. We can pass a Resolution in support of it. Matt and I worded it so if it didn't go through, the resolution would be nulled. And it may not be this year. I now know Peotone and Monee have been included in the discussion. I'll have more information on that.
Chairman Dykstra said at the time of their presentation, that things weren't all lined up. I think it was a fair expectation on our Committee's part to think they had done their due diligence in that regard of having stakeholders lined up. There was a general support for this Watershed plan.
Scott Killinger said last year the consensus was this a good project. I have already had this conversation with them. If the Village of Monee wants to be the Grant Administrator, then that's up the Board of the Village of Monee. If it's our County Board, then I'm going to have to go in there and explain why there is only one bid. I'm not sure how that would work. I'm not saying it can't be done. Bob, I guess your question is could it just be Will County. It evolved into being just Will County last year. The wheels fell off when it came down to who was going to award it.
Scott Killinger said Tom has a question.
Chairman Dykstra said go ahead Tom.
Thomas Pawlowicz said just to elaborate, these studies are very local. If you do a study and there's no local interest to do the study, and when the study is done and it's going to sit on a shelf to collect dust and you've wasted all that money. Why not be in favor of permitting that contract, if there is local buy in. I felt when the study was done, take the results of that chart with some of the work that needs to be done and fix some things
Chairman Dykstra said I would say, bring that concern when we do have Living Waters here when there is further discussion. Everyone needs to hear these concerns, comments, and questions. I keep pointing out, this watershed study is not a flood plain study. It's not to analyze Rock Creek and come up with a BFE to eventually map that with FEMA. We kept clarifying that with Living Waters. We want you all to understand this is not a BFE study, but a 319 Grant water quality directed study.
Scott Killinger said the benefit of getting the study approved is if Will County Forest Preserve have projects in that watershed, then they can qualify for State grants to do those projects. You're able to leverage money. I will reiterate all that.
Chairman Dykstra said there are a lot of enhancement projects that end up helping Stormwater and Flood lands as well. Ed?
Ed Dolezal said maybe when you get a chance, you can forward what the scope of the study is to the Members.
Scott Killinger said we can do that. I will get an updated scope because as we've talked it kind of changed from last year. I had to tell them I couldn't continue with this one because since last year, it has changed so much my initial Resolution doesn't address it.
Tom Weigel said is there other towns in that area that could get a stake in the study? And did we get a Resolution from them?
Scott Killinger said according to my conversation with Living Waters yesterday, Peotone and Monee are both at least being talked to. I believe those are the only two Municipalities there, it's kind of a rural area. So, the answer is yes, they have been asked. I don't know if they are going to participate. If the County is going to have a Resolution saying we are going to contribute $25,000, then the Municipality should do the same. Whether or not Kankakee County is going to be involved. I can't answer that.
Chairman Dykstra said We will talk about this more. It's not the end of it. We haven't made any decisions. That's it for what we call New Business on the agenda.
VII. REPORT OF OFFICERS, SUBCOMMITTEES, STATE'S ATTORNEY AND/OR STAFF Scott Killinger said I have a couple of other items here really quick. We worked virtually on changing the Ordinance to include definition of Disconnected Impervious. The County Board approved that and now it is now a part of the County wide Ordinance. Since most of your local Ordinances have adopted the County Wide as your model, you can now use Disconnected Impervious if you wish to, the definition is in there.
There is another watershed group that is meeting in Lockport. That study is called the FMF Study. It stands for Fiddyment Creek, Milne Creek and Fraction Run and is being paid for by Lockport. HLR (Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick) is actually doing the study and will have a couple of virtual meetings on April 7, 2022, at 10 AM and 6 PM. If anybody is interested in that, myself and Dawn have the emails. We have can give you the information.
The Ground Water Study which the County funded 3 years/$20,000, so that would be $60,000 is just about finished. I had the opportunity to review the draft of the Executive Summary last week. I read through it and gave some comments and some of you are going to get the opportunity to look at that soon. It's winding down and coming to a close.
VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS/COMMITTEE COMMENTS
Chairman Dykstra said some of you may be went to the IAFSM (Illinois Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management) Conference down in Normal Illinois.
Scott Killinger said did any go? I didn't go this year.
Chairman Dykstra said I did go I was there. I don't remembering seeing anyone from here.
Scott Killinger said I'll probably go next year. It should be in Tinley next year. We will see you all on April 14th. We will be ready to explain a lot, I hope. And answer all the questions.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to Adjournment the Meeting
Robert Howard made a Motion at 10:40 AM to Adjourn the Meeting. DJ Kruzel seconded the Motion.
Voice Vote was taken. Motion passed unanimously, 10-0.
| RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Robert Howard, County Representative, District 1 SECONDER: DJ Kruzel, Municipal Representative, District 1 AYES: Howard, Kruzel, Dykstra, Pawlowicz, Dolezal, Carroll, Fano, Weigel, Nash, Lamb ABSENT: Moustis, Jessen, Buss, Likar, Hadamik, O'Grady |
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