HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-17-13 6th District Council Member Sets Community Meeting on Groundwater Issues CY.,ipt Tir of
NEWS RELEASE
Date: Thursday, January 17, 2013 11:45 a.m.
From: 6th District Council Member Oliver J. Davis `"° Contact: 876-6938
District Council Member Sets Community Meeting on Groundwater Issues
Called for Next Wednesday at Rum Village Nature Center"
As the Chairperson of the City Council's Public Works and Property Vacation Committee, I
have called a meeting to be held next Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. It will be
held at the Rum Village Nature Center located at 2626 South Gertrude in South Bend, for
the purpose of discussing the groundwater issues and concerns near the former New Energy
(ethanol)Plant.
Since the December 181h meeting at the Rum Village Nature Center and the discussions held
during and after the Community Relations meeting on January 14th, much additional work has
taken place.
We have a summary of what the City Council and Administration did back in the 1980s when
faced with noise and odor problems coming from the ethanol plant. The property which was
commonly referred to as the"western end of Calvert Street":
• Was declared an urban development area in 1982 for purposes of receiving both personal
and real property tax abatements by the City Council and then Mayor Parent
• Was subject to Resolution No. 1288-85 adopted by the City Council on May 13, 1985
urging the City Administration to "provide leadership in amicably resolving the current
noise and odor problems of the ethanol plant"
• Was discussed at numerous Council Public Works Committee meetings beginning with
the March 13, 1985 meeting
• Was subject to a petition signed by approximately 10,000 individuals and delivered to
Mayor Parent calling for an "immediate end to the stench from the ethanol plant" [08-15-
85]
January 17,2013 News Release
Page 2
• Was discussed in detail by a Mayoral Committee, chaired by then St. Joseph County
Health Officer Dr. George Plain, which was established to investigate ways to "control
the New Energy odor" [11-0]-85]
• Triggered meetings in Washington, D.C. with then 3'a District Congressman John Hiler
who set up "key meetings" for the discussion of"South Bend's ethanol odor problems"
with the Mayor and three (3) Council Members in attendance [11-08-85]
• Resulted in being amicably resolved due to the hard-work of then Senator Richard Lugar
and then Senator Dan Quayle who were successful in having the U.S. Senate pass an
amendment which authorized a loan up to $3 million for "abating the odor caused by
New Energy's ethanol plant in South Bend" which resulted in the Secretary of the
Department of Energy loaning up to 90% of the cost of the odor abatement [12-09-85]
The City of South Bend has a good track record to pursue creative solutions. That is why I have
been working closely with the 6"' District residents and businesses and the City Administration
to address the groundwater issues head-on.
Today, I hand-delivered a letter to our new Public Works Director Eric Horvath to contact the:
Indiana Ground Water Association
National Ground Water Association
Purdue Extension for St. Joseph County
for any assistance and information which they may be able to provide. Additionally, I have
asked Mr. Horvath to network with engineers from the University of Notre Dame and with the
St. Joseph County Engineer and Surveyor for their input and expertise.
Today, I also sent communications to our county, state and federal officials who represent the
area currently affected by the groundwater problems.
By all of us collaborating together, I am confident that a reasoned and well-developed solutions
can be found to solve these problems. The residents and the business owners and patrons of the
6"' District deserve nothing less.
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