McLean County Land Use and Development Committee met Sept. 3.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
The Land Use and Development Committee of the McLean County Board met at 3:30 p.m. in Room 404, Government Center, 115 E. Washington Street, Bloomington, Illinois.
Members Present: Chairman Chuck Erickson (In-person), Members Laurie Wollrab, George Wendt, Jacob Beard, Sharon Chung and Shayna Watchinski (all via remote attendance)
Members Absent: Members Lyndsay Bloomfield
Other Board Members Present: Member Catherine Metsker
Staff Present: Ms. Camille Rodriguez, County Administrator, Ms. Cassy Taylor, Assistant County Administrator, Ms. Cathy Dreyer, Assistant County Administrator; Ms. Samantha Vasquez, Assistant State’s Attorney – Civil Division; Ms. Julie Morlock, Recording Secretary
Department Heads/Elected Officials Present: Mr. Phil Dick, Director of Building and Zoning;
Others Present:
Chairman Erickson called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m., declared a quorum and presented the minutes from the August 6, 2020 regular meeting for approval.
Motion by Chung/Beard to approve the minutes from the August 6, 2020 regular meeting.
Motion Carried. Roll Call Vote – all present voted yes including the Chairman.
Chairman Erickson presented bills that had been reviewed and recommended by the County Auditor with a prepaid and fund total of $2,516.95.
Chairman Erickson confirmed there was one statement for the record. Ms. Morlock read the following into the record:
Good evening esteemed board members.
My name is Jeremiah Houston. I am the father of the 5 children who were taken to the nudist pool by my ex wife and her boyfriend. I am coming to you as a very concerned parent regarding this situation. There is a nudist pool in Danvers that is in an agricultural district. The owners of this pool are Martin and Wendy Striegel. They allow naked children to be around naked adults. As a father I am highly concerned for my children’s and other children’s safety within the county. It is not safe to expose children to that type of environment at such young ages. In my opinion this is how children get groomed by adults and it is sick. Currently, I have a permanent order in place by the McLean County Court that my children are not to be taken to the nudist pool what so ever. However, I am asking the board to recommend a fine and permanent closure of this nudist pool in Danvers since it is not properly zoned. “ A nudist club would be classified as a private club and as such is a permitted use in the Commercial District and a special use in the M-1 Restricted Manufacturing District and the M-2 General Manufacturing District. “. The name and address of the pool are as follows:
Nud R Us Family Nudist Club NFNC
2649 E 1500 North Road
Danvers IL, 61732
I gracefully request the board to look into this matter seriously so we can save other children from being exposed.
Sincerely,
Jeremiah Houston
Chairman Erickson indicated there were no items to be presented for action.
Chairman Erickson indicated the next item on the agenda was the first and second quarter reports rom the Mclean County Solid Waste program. Mr. Brown indicated that these are an outline of the activities from the Ecology Action Center in the first half of the year. He stated that they have had to be creative to continue outreach with the community. Ms. Chung asked him for more information on contacting landlords regarding the multi family recycle program. Mr. Brown indicated that was good amount of effort to comply and some education and assistance has also help with that. He said that they have also been working through the recycling providers who service the complexes. He said they would be following up again at the end of this semester. Mr. Beard asked about the change in people working at home instead of in large office buildings and how that has affected recycling. Mr. Brown stated no hard data on changes in waste collection with the pandemic. He stated that there is an increase with take out containers and generally are not recyclable and residents want them to be and he said they are working to establish a food waste compost program that would allow people to drop off compostable food service containers and if restaurants utilize those then could recycle that way.
Mr. Erickson indicated that the next item on the agenda is the 2019 Illinois EPA e-waste recycling report. Mr. Brown stated this is the first full program year report. He stated that the County participates in this through an IGA with the Town of Normal and City of Bloomington. He stated it has been successful over the last year and over past programs. He said past programs had limits and so excesses had to be paid through other sources. He stated that McLean county’s ranking 5th in the state regarding volume of items dropped off. He said it speaks to communities commitment.
Chairman Erickson stated the next meeting would be on Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 3:30 p.m.
Mr. Erickson indicated that Ms. Metsker had asked to address the Committee. She provided an update on the Windfarm including road damage that had caused damage to some vehicles, constituents who are having issues with internet in the last couple of weeks and wanted to have that resolved and some continued dust issues but are better than before. Mr. Erickson asked if she was providing information or looking for the Committee to assist with solutions. Ms. Metsker stated she was bringing them for information but would like assistance with the internet and phone service. Ms. Wollrab asked Mr. Dick about how the constituents could resolve the internet issue. Mr. Dick indicated that he was aware of issue and they would be meeting with them to address the issue. He indicated that there was another issue that they met about and resolved. He stated it was part of the special use permit to address these kinds of issues. Mr. Erickson asked him to confirm there is a process to address the issue. Mr. Dick stated that there is a process. Ms. Watchinski asked whent hey started experiencing the internet problems. Ms. Metsker stated it was in the last couple of weeks and all of the family had been home before this and now children have returned to school, so not a matter of volume. Mr. Erickson stated that there is a process and they can work with Mr. Dick about the matter. Mr. Wendt indicated they have had some issues with their internet, so might not all be about the windmills. Ms. Metsker stated that she did not want individuals to have to bring litigation against the Company to get something resolved and if they did not have issues before this then felt it is related to the turbines. Mr. Erickson stated that they would have to go through the process and start with Mr. Dick.
Mr. Wendt asked if the comments directed to the Committee regarding the nudist pool fell under anything the Committee could assist with. Mr. Erickson asked Mr. Dick if this was a zoning matter and the process to assist the Constituent if it was. Mr. Dick indicated that being nude at your residence is not a zoning matter; however, if they are operating a club and charging to belong to the club then the property is not zoned for that. He indicated they would have to prove they are charging to belong to a club at that location before we could send a letter telling them it was against zoning code. There was discussion about the actual issue and whether t was something that fell under the purview of the Committee. It was determined that Mr. Houston needs to raise a complaint with the Building and Zoning Department, they would verify it and then contact the residents and let them know they can’t run a club. Ms. Wollrab asked if there is a formal process that they have to follow. Mr. Dick indicated that there is no formal process and they Mr. Houston should just call the office. Mr. Dick stated that if there is another matter here and not a zoning matter then Mr. Houston should contact the State. Ms. Rodriguez provided the number 1-800-252-ABUSE. It was determined that zoning matter could be looked into if there is proof that there is a club. Ms. Rodriguez indicated that she could reach out to the individual about process to follow up on zoning matter. Ms. Rodriguez indicated that receiving the letter does not represent a formal complaint and so they would reach out to the individual.
Chairman Erickson asked if there was anything else to come before the Committee, hearing nothing he adjourned the meeting at 4:16 p.m.
https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7743
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