Planning and zoning won't decide
By Suzanne Werre, BHG News Service
The McLean County Planning and Zoning Board decided to leave it up to the McLean County Commissioners whether or not to allow Great River Energy to modify one of its inactive waste pits into a special waste landfill that would accept oil field waste. Monday afternoon, after about two hours of testimony from GRE representatives and local citizens, the board voted 4-3 to send the issue to the county commission without a “yes” or “no” recommendation coming from the zoning board. Written comments will now be accepted by the board until July 8, and the issue will go before the county commission at its July 16 meeting. The proposed site is northwest of Underwood, and would be accessed off of US Highway 83, with an estimated three trucks per hour using the route. While some of the residents in attendance expressed concerns about the increased traffic and safety issues, more concerns were raised about the possibility of excess radioactivity and leaching into the ground water. Great River Energy’s Diane Stockdill explained the proposed plan and answered questions from the board, trying to reassure board members of the safety of the plan.
