Northern White Sand finally OK'd near U.S. 6 - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL
Old news to many but it is beginning to look like La Salle Cty will be owing their soul to the company store. There are going to be so many facilities owned by one sand company that involve so many cities, that it will be one big happy family or not.
This article is from September 10 of this year. I expect Peru will join the family. To every plus there is a minus and time will tell what the difference will be.
32 comments:
I like sand.
3:18 PM
I like mine in a sandbox to kids to play in, what about you?
I don't like heavy industry on the roads that many of our residents find it necessary to drive to get the necessities of life and that does include the Plank Rd and Ladd Road for our neighbors in Bureau Cty and for our locals, although not specifically designated as routes, Rte 80 will be one to avoid and maybe even parts of 251. If the city is thinking about another road for this traffic put it out there for discussion.
Did the workers at L-O-F or the glass plant in Streator or the sand mine in Ottawa ever get silicosis?. It has happened. Just like the coal miners get Black lung disease".
If we are worried about traffic congestion, then we are indeed lucky. I used to get annoyed with trucks holding up traffic. I don't anymore. I view heavy truck traffic as a sign of a vibrant economy.
I remember driving to work in 2008. Lucky because I still had a job. It was eerie because there where no trucks on I-80. Oh.. I'd see maybe five or six on the way to Ottawa, but essentially nothing. Not the "normal" line of semi trucks bumper to bumper between Peru and Ottawa.
So I say again, if we are worried about traffic then we have nothing to worry about.
This blog is anti whatever the government does...this is capitalism and the left needs to accept it. Industry is industry and jobs here are needed. Why continue to stand in the way of progress.
I would rather debate venture dr...waste of taxpayer money or why last month are city paid 2.1 million dollars in bills, we are spending way too much money as a city and we seem to be emotionally attached to sand.
Let's get refocused
5:01 PM
Did you attend the mtg last evening?
great news from the ZBA / Planning commission - apparently they know that LaSalle County needs industrial development of ANY kind. Now the council NEEDS to step up to the plate and APPROVE this thing.
I hope our economic director and mayor start focusing on more heavy industry and transportation / warehousing. Whatever happened to the new barge terminals on Water Street - is that a go? I heard somebody complaining about trucks down there - oh well, Trucks = Money.
5:01 and 8:53 Your way of thinking and reacting is what cost citizens more money in the long run. Just as the infamous intersection is still 2 years later not functioning as effectively as anticipated. Therefore, we are now talking about spending an additional $500,000 to fix it. These sand companies provide jobs - true. However don't our leaders owe it to the citizens of Peru to look at all angles and aspects of new businesses before voting AYE? These businesses also could possibly create health risks. All we ask is to take your time, study all angles, and vote with knowledge and intelligence. Listen carefully to those who are experiencing living in towns where these businesses exist.
9:50 they have been. There are so many precautions that will be in place. KUDOS to the city for listening to the concerns but helping move us forward economically.
I feel that so much depends upon the actual development plan that the city puts forth. Very few answers were given last night, everything was it will be in the development plan. And that is something that has not been developed. Who will be in charge of this plan? Do we have anyone in our employ with the capabilities to do this? Will this be the responsiblity of the mayor and aldermen?
I saw on Facebook that Alderman Perez is going to look at sand facilities in Wisconsin this weekend. I wonder if the mayor or any other aldermen are going??
Mrs. Carroll, as the city why do you insist you feel so much depends upon the actual development plan that the city puts forth. The city does not have any kind of a plan, short range, long range or developmental. The city works off of the "wing it" program for so long that it is the only way they truthfully understand. To plan would show the lack of expertise of a majority of Peru leadership both elected and appointed. Also a plan is a tool which requires a strict adherence of self discipline needed to be successful which has not been witnessed within the Peru City Hall recently.
Upon leaving city hall I still have my doubts as to who is going to pay for all the land purchases, new roads and maintenance although the present city engineer claims it will be only those corporations involved with no cost to the city. Although it was never asked if Peru will get a sales tax from the businesses involed and if so how much and has the city offered these firms any rebate to locate here? As foolish as this question seems I must ask it as many are in question.
Also in question was the amount of use, if any of nationally known professional outside sources for this development. This is a good question which some answered that they were although these are the same local faces which have been seen in city hall council meeting after council meeting that needed no introduction. Most likely these self proclaimed nationally known professionals from outside sources did not recognize the that the gentlemen in question was speaking of guidence from a much higher level.
The only vote last evening that should have been taken was NO vote taken and referred to the City kCouncil because all depends on the developmental plan which most do not believe is developed yet, and if it has it has not been revealed to the boards which voted last night.
Sales tax in not involved. This is not a retail business - it is a shipping facility.
@2:15PM
Thank you, in question because of former history of Harney Oil which now is in Mark, Il.
If no sales tax is involved and the educational facilities of Bureau County are to recieve the school tax why is Peru so intent on obtaining White Sands?
What would the estimated property tax be/year?
1:41 What land purchases? The city doesn't buy the ground for the sand company.
Anon 1:41 PM
When the gentlemen was asking why White Sands and the city don't get someone nationally known to be involved in the so called developmental program I thought of 38th st. and Venture Drive. Whatever happened to the engineer who designed that backwoods operation? Not having enough vision to take a simple look into future traffic demands have cost Peru minutes, days, months and now years in time and money trying to correct that blunder.
Developments are too costly to build on trail and error.
Wasn't it the new city engineer who said Peru will maintain and keep the roads leading up to Ladd clean. Why make such a promise when the roads of Peru are not keep clean. Some blocks do not see a street sweeper all year and more sewers are covered than uncovered. Why take on more when what you have is not being taken care of?
8:40 PM
I can answer your question about land. The city needs to make a road change so that semis leaving from Sapp Bros. do not exit as they currently do from May Road because it will create an unsafe interchange with the increased sand truck traffic. So Peru must purchase land from Bonucchi Farms who own the land directly north of Sapp. When that land is purchased we must then create and build another road which will exit on Plank Rd for the exiting semis from Sapp Bros. At that point they will make a left turn go back down the Plank Rd and onto Rte 80. Not sure but believe the length of the new road will be 900 ft.
8:01 PM, not everything is about increasing tax revenue for the municipality. I don not believe the city portion of the property tax will be significant. That being said, if there is a purely financial motivator for this - I'd say it is selling the railroad spur. That will give the mayor an instant 3 million dollars to spend. Property taxes will go up for the school districts when the land no longer has an agriculture exemption.
Much of the reasoning behind annexing the land into the city is so the companies do not have to deal with the county boards. Both boards tend to delay development projects. On top of that, they are sympathetic to agriculture - not wanting to remove land from that use. I'm pretty sure the county has a land scoring process in which any parcel considered prime agriculture land can never be developed - I have read that in the Ottawa Times on several occasions. So, in order to develop property, land owners must have it annexed into a municipality to speed things up or even have the development considered. Finally, if the property remains in the counties jurisdiction, some guy from Ottawa with visions of an endless stream of tourists coming to "Starved Rock Country" could put the kybosh to the whole deal.
8:58 In response to your question about the engineer who designed the intersection I believe it is the same one who was mentioned as the expert engineer who is involved in this venture.
7:10 Where did you come up with the $3 million for the railway? I'm pretty sure it's $1.5.
I actually thought it was 1.25 million.
The N.T. states that the company
"White Sands" is responsible for the new road but I understand the city is responsible for the land purchase, anyone remember those details from the Zoning Planning Bd. meeting.
Lois: Our city engineer stated that all expenses would be paid for by the businesses but how can we make that statement when no agreements have been put in writing as of yet? We can speculate all we want but until an agreement is written in black and white we have hearsay only. I am sure this project will cost the city dearly in the long run. Just my opinion.
sorry - don't know why I thought it was 3 million. but that is correct - the rr spur price is around a million.
maybe the 3 million is how much the mayor will borrow once he has the million - ha ha .
ah... 3.5 miles is the length of the rail spur.. I knew that number came in somehow.
Also 3.5 to 4 million was mentioned as the cost for the road changes for the sand companies.
All of the representation of Peru (elected and appointed) are way over their heads in abilities to deal with the hired hands representing the sand companies, worse yet they are not willing to admit it and resort to qualified outside professionals
Why does everyone think "The Sand Company" is evil?
Everyone does not think "The Sand Company" is evil and nowhere on this blog can you locate such a statement. Now if you have any question as to the representation of the City of Peru??????????
Do not think that people believe a subject is evil because the idea of it is being questioned. The sand company would have been accepted if some people were not given the idea it is being shoved down their throats. Also if a better job of selling itself would have been done and promises made in Utica would have been fullfilled. Unfullfilled promises made in Utica which resulted in EPA fines recently make anyone from the sand industry questionable in this area and it appears they will promise a rainbow if it enables them to get their foot in the door.
The sand companys effect on the envirnoment and heath issues are now in question.
Also if the city engineer would of had his homwork finished and the engineer with the name of Jim had not been responsible for 38th street and Venture Drive who the city engineer said was so professional. Too many unaswered questions and bad experiences have led to the question whether it is a positive or a negative situation.
I was just down in Florida. There is sand everywhere! The wind comes off the ocean and blows it all over the place. It is terrible I tell you, just terrible.
I do not believe the sand at the ocean is silica sand.
There are actually many beaches in North America made of silica sand. But, the mineral composition is not the point. Sand is a "fine particulate." Being a fine particulate is what causes the health problems associated with old types of mining it. Breathing fine particulates causes health problems no matter the type. Other fine particulates alsoh cause lung ailments- such as dust from plowing fields, dust from cement manufacturing, smoke from burning chaff and corn cobs, and dust from ALL mining that is not regulated by current US Standards.
Brian F.
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