South West Illinois News

Monroe County Board of County Commissioners met Dec. 20.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The meeting of the County Commissioners of Monroe County, Illinois was called to order at 8:06 a.m. by Chairman George E. Green.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Chairman George E. Green, Commissioner Vicki Koerber and Commissioner Doug Garmer were present.

Others present included Richard Brinkmann, County Clerk Jonathan McLean, Deputy Clerk Kara Etherton, State's Attorney Ryan Webb, Ed McLean, County Engineer Aaron Metzger, Scot Luchtefeld, Pat Kelly, Sidney Horn, George Bieber, Laura Kipping, Zoning Administrator Chris Voelker, Public Safety Director Kevin Scheibe, Treasurer Kevin Koenigstein, Monroe County Assessor Carl Wuertz, Dawn Goff, Kenny Sondag, Kris Kennedy, Jenny Brown, Amy Roever, Judge Chris Hitzemann, Judge Lucas Liefer, Molly Ratajczyk, Jim Lansing, Scott Woodsmall of the Republic Times, and Sheila Wetzler.

This meeting was for a Stormwater Exception Request made by Richard Brinkmann for his property at 950 Floraville Road, Waterloo IL.

Mr. Brinkmann spoke to the Board stating that he felt he should be granted an exception to the stormwater code. He explained that there have been businesses there for many years and work has been done over the years to improve the drainage, such as rocking the parking lot. He does not have any problems with water because he has a good drainage ditch next to the property and a retention pond. Water runoff from future development will be directed toward the 1 1⁄2 acre lake.

Commissioner Koerber asked Mr. Brinkmann if he had a storage building on his property. He stated that the storage building was in the process of being built. Commissioner Koerber then asked if he planned to expand the building or add additional buildings. Mr. Brinkmann replied that yes there is expansion planned on the property by his children. Commissioner Koerber pointed out that it will not be known what the full force of retention run-off will be until all expansion is completed. Mr. Brinkmann agreed with that statement.

Zoning Administrator Chris Voelker and County Engineer Aaron Metzger appeared before the Board to discuss the request from Mr. Brinkmann. Mr. Voelker stated that they had received a letter from Mr. Brinkmann stating the reasons he felt he should receive an exception from 40-8 Stormwater regulations of the Zoning Code. Mr. Metzger stated that this was the first time anyone had made an exception request to the stormwater code and that it should be handled thoroughly and carefully as they will be setting a precedent with the decision made by the Board. Mr. Metzger said that it is the opinion of Mr. Voelker and himself that the exception request be denied, and that Chapter 32 be applied to Mr. Brinkmann's site. Mr. Metzger further stated that granting an exception will defeat the purpose of the Stormwater code. Mr. Metzger pointed out that Mr. Brinkmann had expanded throughout the years without any stormwater control, so if he was a business he should have been following the code. Mr. Metzger presented a slide show of Google Earth images of Mr. Brinkmann's property over the years. He explained that the rock that was on the property showed grass growing through it and therefore was not impervious. Mr. Metzger concluded that since the development of the property is not complete there is no way to know what the final environmental impact will be.

Commissioner Garmer asked Mr. Metzger what Mr. Brinkmann needed to do to comply with the regulations. Mr. Metzger explained that a site survey is required by an engineer and reiterated that he had conveyed that to Mr. Brinkmann prior to this hearing.

Commissioner Green asked if there were any comments from the public at this time.

George Bieber stated that it was his belief that if there is adequate water retention, and if the water is relieved properly, into a proper waterway, if that is done, which he believed it probably will be, then he could not see any issue with that. And if the drainage eliminates the excess water so that the neighbors are not burdened with it then he did not see a problem with it.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 a.m.

https://monroecountyil.gov/departments/board-of-commissioners/county-board-minutes/