Aldermen Jim Thornton spoke to his fellow aldermen about the possibility of 80 acres west of city limits being used as a gravel pit at Monday night’s Chillicothe City Council meeting.

He called for some sort of a public meeting at which the council could communicate with citizens about the topic.

“I’ve received a lot of questions from the community as to just exactly what is going on and how the council feels about it,” said Thorton about the property owned by FLM Enterprises. “I do not feel that this is something that falls into the category of being a secret or anything such as that.
And as the information becomes available — we have information now that causes us some problems — that is the reason why we went ahead and hired another attorney.”

Thornton said the council is opposed to a gravel pit there and that they may have to spend money for legal action.

“I would like for that information to be passed on to the community so that the community is fully aware of the danger of the gravel pit being opened up,” said Thornton.

Alderman Troy Childers said he agreed.

Alderman Denny Gould said there is publicity right now about special use permits wanted for the gravel pit in Medina Township by Mossville Land Investments LLC, comprised of Stan
Maxheimer and Joe LaHood, who both are a part of FLM Enterprises.

“We’ve got one that they say they have a permit and now we’re trying to keep that from happening, which everybody in the public thought it got stopped when they quit drilling there. They say just because there’s a gravel pile there for 35 years they’ve continued the operation — that’s baloney.”

Alderwoman Judy Cantwell said the citizens then could pose their questions to the attorney hired by the city, Dan Schroeder, as well.

“That’s been a thorn in this city’s side since 1970 and it is still a thorn sitting there,” said Thornton about the land. “And, we have to pluck it if we can.”

Mayor Gary Fyke said he talked to Schroeder on Thursday. Fyke said he was told more research at the Peoria County Courthouse is ongoing, and Schroeder did not recommend a meeting now.

No timeline was given, he said, but Fyke and Thornton said one needed to be scheduled as soon as possible.

Fyke said he received a letter from Martha Lew, who lives on White Clover Drive, about the topic.

She wrote of her opposition to the land being used as a gravel pit and also gave ideas as to how the land could be better used.

From land to water, Cantwell also asked her fellow aldermen if she and the parks/cemetery committee could spearhead renovating one of the boat launches this fall, and one in the spring, if possible.

With the river almost at pool stage, Cantwell said she would like to see if it is feasible to get the work done this fall and would coordinate with city engineer Ken Coulter.

She talked to economic development director Lisa Burnett about using Tax Increment Financing funds.

Concerning TIF funds and riverfront development, resident Judy Gajdik read her letter to city officials that she previously asked to be read at the meeting. 

“I was informed, and it was a good courtesy, the mayor called me and said that they’re not going to read the letter because they felt I was going after Mr. Tincher,” said Gajdik. “I hardly know the man. The reason his name is on here is because he’s the one that we hired to be a consultant.”

Her letter gave her opinion about the proposed riverfront development plan. See Page 4A for her letter.

In other items, the council:

• heard Childers say that he thought when the council approves an extension of the noise ordinance, the police department needs to receive notice so that the dispatcher can tell callers when extra time has been allowed

• heard alderman Mel Witte remind aldermen that per city code, political signs should not be on public right of way

• accepted a letter from Rich Lipsey, chairman of the Board of Police Commissioners, that Douglas Hahn of Kewanee was appointed to be a probationary patrolman for the Chillicothe Police Department. He began work Tuesday and will leave for the Police Training Institute Oct. 26, Chillicothe Police Chief Steve Maurer said.

• concurred with the mayoral appointment of Stephanie Farris to the zoning board of appeals

• approved sidewalk applications for Steve Herriford of 720 Evergreen for $1,000 and Roger Jenkins of 913 Elm for $446.40. Balance in the program is more than $11,000.

• approved paying Fahrner Asphalt Sealers $28,052.86 for the 2008 crack sealing program

• approved paying Advance Asphalt $237,718.61 for the 2008 overlay program

• approved paying the Peoria County Highway Department $11,526.64 for the 2008 seal coating program

• approved paying Joe Coleman Salvage and Demolition $30,825 to demolish and remove structures at 10 W. Elm St., the former Archer Daniels Midland property, now owned by the city

• approved reimbursing Paul Khourisadar $938 for a Project Facelift application

• approved paying Numero magazine $1,220 from the Hotel/Motel tax funds for the October advertising of the city and approved $3,660 for the 2009 advertising in the magazine

• approved an advertising contract for $1,200 from the Hotel/Motel tax funds with the Peoria Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau for the 2009 Visitor’s Guide

• approved a request for Three Sisters Park to extend the playing of amplified music from 11 p.m. until midnight Oct. 17-18 for its annual masquerade ball

• approved a notice for special event held on public property for the Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce to use the 900 and 1000 blocks of Second Street for the Merchant Trick or Treat from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 24

• and approved paying Tobin Bros. $3,731 for the purchase and installation of a new toilet for the police department’s jail cell.