Riley Township officials cannot approve or reject a proposed gravel pit that is being considered in an area of the township zoned for agriculture.
"All we are is just an advisory group," Riley Township Plan Commission Chairman James Faber said. "We don't really make any decisions at any time."
The county will decide independently whether to allow Maple Valley Materials of Woodstock to run a gravel pit, asphalt plant and concrete-recycling operation.
While the company has not yet officially applied for a conditional use permit to operate the facility, the company has submitted an application with the McHenry County Zoning Board. According to a spokeswoman for the county Zoning Board, the company is expected to hear arguments May 14-15.
But if state Rep. Jack Franks has his way, the township will have somewhere to go with its concerns.
Franks, D-Woodstock, wants to form a McHenry County Gravel Advisory Council to serve as a forum for townships and municipalities to talk about mine-related issues. The council would consist of one representative from each township, municipality and gravel-mining company in the county, plus a county board representative.
Franks said he has heard good responses from the townships and municipalities so far.
"I think the county board has just done a horrible job with these gravel pits," Franks said. "There's just a lot of complaints, and there's no real way to have these complaints heard. We're going to give them an opportunity for different parties to come together."
Although the council will have no legislative power, Franks said that if aggregate producers refuse to work with the townships, it will give him "a lot more ammunition to go and legislate these guys."
"Any time you're talking, any time you're able to communicate with each other, it's wonderful. It's the direction democracy is supposed to go," she said. "It's basically a kind of liaison between the neighbors and the mining industry."
She said the council probably will address problems such as dust, noise, water quality and truck traffic. It also could help townships decide to recommend approval or denial of proposed gravel pits, or recommend enforceable conditions to be placed on the proposal, should it be approved.
"I think it would make it a much more open proceeding. They'd have to hear the citizens' input," Franks said of the pit proposal process. "I understand there's going to be gravel pits. But let's get them right for a change."
Although the 43-member council still must be formed and its members appointed, Schuster already has offered Riley Township advice.
"Do your homework," she told the plan commission Monday night. "Think of conditions you can put on this puppy (gravel pit petition) that will tie them in knots."
Faber said the goal should be to get all sides talking.
"If there's gravel there to mine, people are going to want to mine it," he said. "If you have something to control how they do it and make the surrounding neighbors safe for them to live, it sounds like a good idea to me." (Illinois) Northwest Herald