Category: Environment & Sustainability
Environment and Sustainability
Champaign County jail and protection of Mahomet Aquifer
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These are a few thoughts on the fee for using plastic/brown bags.
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Reminder--Town Hall II for Champaign County residents, particularly those who live in district 6 and the recently drawn district 6 will be held on 11 March. This will be at the Champaign Public Library, room C, from1-2 P This good will be an excellent time to talk about the major issues in the county, such as the county jail, Land Evaluation and Site Assessment update, the Local Food Policy Council or any others that are important to you. Stop by to share your thoughts.
Fortunately, the Prairie Dogs will be playing in rooms A & B from 2-3:30 P so the whole family can spend an afternoon at the library.
If you can not stop by, do not hesitate to share your thoughts via email.
County Board issues--jail and local food policy council.
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Town Hall II, Champaign County District 6, 11 March
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Local Food production and enhancement as a means of economic development in the county.
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Sustainability efforts in counties throughout the USA.
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It is time to get back into the routine of the monthly column. There is happening within Champaign County that might interest the residents during these two months before the primary election.
The News-Gazette has published an article by Tom Kacich and today has an editorial concerning the discussion about county elected officials salaries that must be set by May. Actually, I think most board members anticipated comments at the COW meeting on the 17th of January, but this did not occur. The issue has been deferred until the February agenda, thus giving the public another opportunity to share thoughts/ideas/concerns about the salaries. You will find a memo from Deb Busey detailing some facts and figures here
http://www.co.champaign.il.us/countybd/COW_PPA_JSS_F/120117agendaf.pdf beginning on p. 15.
Several board members asked for even more details to be available for the February meeting.
The downtown jail issue will be covered during a study session on 31 January 2012, beginning at 6 P. This issue will consume a lot of time and attention for the next year and there will be a new board in place by then.
The LESA (Land Evaluation and Site Assessment) update committee has been meeting since last June. This is a very important factor enveloped into county land use. Only two constituents have regularly been attending. Just to encourage others to do so, the next meeting is next Wednesday, 26 January in the Dimit Room at Brookens. If you want to delve through the many layers of materials, you can do so here http://www.ccrpc.org/planning/LESA_Update.php
The last issue I will include in this posting, but certainly not the last issue for the county has to do with establishing a local food policy council on the county level as a means toward economic development. This will be on the COW February policy agenda on 14 Feb., Valentine's Day. If you would like to read the draft version, you can do so here
http://www.co.champaign.il.us/countybd/COW_PPA_JSS_F/120117handouts.pdf beginning p. 39
or on my web site here http://sites.google.com/site/p2district6/news/champaigncountylocalfoodpolicycouncil--draftproposal
As is always the case, I welcome your comments, ideas, and suggestions.
If you are a fan of the books written by David MacCaulay, such as Underground, take some time to look into, literally, the stormwater management project ongoing along John St. Right now at the corner of John and New is perfect to see the pipe construction and the size of the main pipe being laid. While there walk south on New where you can see the preparation for the 3 huge rain gardens that are going to be planted this week. Then go up to the side walk to look at the pervious concrete. All of this is in front of the Unit 4 administration building. Further east just off of John around Lynn, the pervious surfaces for a section of street and alleys is also being laid. Here is the city web site where one can follow the project progress
http://ci.champaign.il.us/departments/public-works/residents/stormwater-management/boneyard-second-street-detention-project/john-street-watershed-project-videos/
http://ci.champaign.il.us/2011/09/09/john-street-drainage-improvements-project-pervious-pavement-installation/
Here is the John St Watershed steering committee web site
http://sites.google.com/site/champaignwatersheds/
To the dismay of a health care advocacy group, the city will keep its 4-year-old groundwater restriction ordinance.
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