Opinions galore on stormwater ordinance by Hank Brockett 8/8/01
		CHANNAHON -- If those attending a public workshop Tuesday are any indication, there are as many opinions about a storm water management ordinance in Will County as there are people at the mercy of Mother Nature. The workshop marked the third and final chance for residents to speak out on the ordinance.      It featured a multifaceted look at the same document: A call for countywide standards for storm water management.Those principles, accompanied by comments and letters written about the issue, will wind their way eventually to the county board for a vote. Homeowner Leonard Legler said land disappearing through development makes him cautious, especially without any areas for rainwater to go in a natural way.      "Everyone's going to have to bite the bullet a little bit," he said, encouraging the idea that everyone, both present and future homeowners, should contribute to the plan that would set a minimum standard for detention needs.      Mike Collins, a representative of the Will and Grundy Homebuilders, said although he doesn't want any home to flood in times of heavy rainfall, the Storm Water Management Committee should consider the loss of land and the increase in time that will result from building larger detention ponds.      The discussion, prefaced by a presentation by committee consultant John Wills and facilitated by chairman John Weiffenbach, bounced to even more perspectives than that, showing how complicated and far-reaching the ordinance can be.      Karl Forge, hydrologist for the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, drew attention to the plight of two creeks that run through the area located on the former Joliet Arsenal.      The Jackson and Prairie creeks could lose valuable watershed area if potential developments in New Lenox eliminate the source of the creeks' flow.      Forge didn't ask for a cease-fire on development, only extra care when looking at how houses or businesses could dry up the creeks and kill 40 species of fish in the process.      Forge found something that the ordinance does not account for: Water quality.      Weiffenbach said quality concerns everyone in the committee, but that must be dealt with after the initial ordinance finally is enacted after years of discussion.      "Someone can always point the finger in another direction," Weiffenbach said, regarding inevitable water squabbles. "...This gives us a structure to deal with those complaints."      The current schedule has the ordinance passing through the Will County Planning and Zoning Commission with a public hearing Sept. 4 and a possible county board vote on the measure Oct. 18.
				Originally published in the Joliet Herald News
					My home, sweet home page The Herald News homepage The Internet Movie Database What other critics think - The Rotten Tomatoes Site
	your_rolemodel80@hotmail.com