The DeKalb County Ad Hoc Solid Waste Committee met on Thursday, September 21, 2006, @ 8:00a.m. in the Legislative Center’s Liberty Room.  Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias called the meeting to order.  Members present were Steve Slack, Vince Faivre, Pat Vary and Roger Steimel.  Staff present were Ray Bockman, Paul Miller, and Bob Drake.   Others present were Chris Burger of Patrick Engineering, Inc. and Mr. Chris Martel of Camp Dresser & McKee, Inc.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

            Moved by Mr. Faivre, seconded by Ms. Vary, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes of August 29, 2006.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

            Moved by Mr. Faivre, seconded by Mr. Steimel, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.

MR. CHRIS BURGER FROM PATRICK ENGINEERING, INC.

            Chairman Tobias turned the meeting over to Mr. Ray Bockman, DeKalb County Administrator.  He thanked Mr. Paul Miller, DeKalb County Planning and Zoning Director for contacting the two consultants who will be meeting with the committee this morning.

Mr. Bockman introduced Mr. Chris Burger from Patrick Engineering.

            Mr. Burger stated that Patrick Engineering has been around since 1979 and their corporate office is in Lisle, Illinois.  Mr. Burger is from their Springfield, Illinois, office and he works all over the State of Illinois. 

            They are currently working with Tazewell County to help them find a remedy for an abandoned landfill.  They are going through what’s called a pre-siting review, which is a pre-application process.  This gives Tazewell County officials and Patrick Engineering an opportunity to discuss their concerns with the applicant.

            Other projects that they are working on is with Will County where they are providing review of a sitting application in a pre-sitting and sitting review role.  They are also working with Kankakee County where Patrick Engineering has prepared the waste management plan update for the County.

            Mr. Burger said that his company has also performed feasibility studies and they have experience with transfer stations.  He then described a couple of different projects that his company is working on in the State of Illinois currently.

            The committee explained to Mr. Burger that Waste Management has the only landfill in the County.  Their corporate offices have told them that they want to have DeKalb County’s daily tip increased or they will do something else with the facility.  The committee further explained that Waste Management is not only talking to the County but also to a neighboring town.  The County of DeKalb would like to continue the control that they have over the landfill – they do not want to lose that.  The committee further explained to Mr. Burger that DeKalb County is looking at a few issues with regard to the landfill, like expansion, transfer station, direct route and closing the facility.

            The committee asked Mr. Burger how long it would take him to complete the proposal?  Mr. Burger said about one week. They then asked him if he would be the person assigned to the County’s project?  Mr. Burger said yes he would be the Project Manager.

            The committee thanked Mr. Burger for his presentation and for meeting with them.

Camp Dresser and McKey – Mr. Chris Martel 

            Mr. Bockman then introduced Mr. Chris Martel of Camp Dresser and McKey to the committee.  Mr. Martel said that he is an Environmental Engineer and that he has been practicing for 12 years.  He said that his company works with the public sector and has been established since 1946.  They have worked with Lake County, Grundy County, DuPage County, Highland Park, Zion and the City of Chicago to name a few.  They too have worked on feasibility studies, transfer stations, etc.

            The committee explained why they are seeking a proposal from his firm.  They also asked Mr. Martel if he would be assigned to our County’s project if the full county board approves the proposal?  Mr. Martel said yes, he would.

            The committee discussed with Mr. Martel if his company looks at new technologies?  He said yes that there is a new technology called Plasma Arc, which is the gasification process of the waste.  It is a cleaner technology and large cities are looking at it for zero waste and waste reduction.

            Mr. Martel said that if his company is approved by the County for a feasibility study and once it is presented to the County - the County would be able to tell the public what is needed and what the costs will be.

            The committee then asked Mr. Martel how long it would take him to present the proposal to the committee?  He said about 1 or 2 days.

            The committee thanked Mr. Martel for his presentation and for meeting with them.

Discussion

            The committee then discussed the two different companies and which one they wanted to pick to continue to work on the proposal.  The committee will seek proposals from the consultants following the presentation at the next meeting.

            The committee decided that they would invite the two consultants back to their next meeting in October and also have Waste Management present at the same time.  The committee decided that the next meeting would be held at 8:00a.m. on October 26th in the Legislative Center’s Freedom Room.

            Moved by Mr. Steimel, seconded by Mr. Faivre, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                        ___________________________________

                                                                        Ruth Anne Tobias, Chairman