Almost 100 people attend St. Charles Dam task force’s first meeting

The newly formed St. Charles Dam task force held its first meeting March 28 in City Hall and almost 100 community members crowded into the City Council chambers to hear the discussion.

The meeting began with appointments. Park Board Commissioner Jim Cooke was appointed chairman, resident and environmental regulations consultant Conrad Newell was appointed vice chairman and St. Charles Park District Superintendent of Recreation Mike Kies was appointed secretary.

Other members of the task force include Alderpersons Bryan Wirball, Paul Lencioni and Ryan Bongard, resident and research chemist Brian Pohrte, Park Board Vice President Bob Thomson and River Corridor Foundation Director John Rabchuck.

The task force is a volunteer, joint initiative by the city and the park district. It was formed as a result of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ recent study of the Fox River and its recommendation of the removal of nine dams in Kane County, including the St. Charles Dam.

The St. Charles City Council voted to create the task force in February to engage the public, solicit input and analyze relevant information and possible impacts to the community’s environment, economy and recreation.

As stated in the city’s resolution to create the task force, members are expected to provide updates throughout the process and make a final report to the City Council and the park district no later than March 1, 2025.

Any costs incurred by the task force for engaging with consultants will be split between the city and the park district and any expenditures would have to be preapproved by both parties.

During the first meeting, task force members adopted rules of order for the meetings, which will operate under Robert’s Rules, and set a five-minute limit for public comment. Task force members also discussed possible goals, a timeline and schedule for their meetings, their next meeting agenda and resources they would like to use.

In voice votes, the board decided they will meet once a month and the meetings will be recorded and livestreamed. Dates for future meetings are being determined.

City staff will provide the task force with administrative support, including recording meeting minutes, collecting information, organizing presentations and facilitating consultants.

The task force set a tentative deadline goal to make their final report by the first week of March 2025. Some members were in favor of setting the deadline at the end of this year, but the March deadline was approved in a 7-2 vote with Bongard and Lencioni voting no.

At its next meeting, the board will hear a presentation on the history of the St. Charles Dam and the events that led to the Army Corps’ recommendation. Public Works Director Peter Suhr, Assistant Director Chris Adesso and other city staff that has been involved in the process will give the presentation.

The task force also plans to begin compiling a list of issues, goals and elements of the dam they intend to discuss at their next meeting. In addition to their own ideas, they will solicit input from the public and stakeholders before the next meeting during which time they will consolidate that list into a set of goals for future meetings.

The task force briefly discussed possible resources they would like to collect before the next meeting, including documents from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Army Corps, city documents relating to the dam’s condition and emails from residents.

A website and email address for the task force is being created in order for task force members, city and park district staff and residents to collect and share information about the dam.

Before the end of the meeting, 10 members of the public spoke, including multiple residents of neighboring towns. Some shared concerns and others offered their services to assist the task force in the future.