Live reporting by
Ebony Ellis
Oversight plans include the presence of CDPH to be on site daily to observe. A CDPH representative said there are no current plans on how to communicate to community members regarding dust from the demolition, “If all else fails, I believe we will have another community meeting.”
Ebony Ellis
@Eb_Writes26
Hello, I’ll be covering this evening’s Midwest Generation Fisk Station (1111 W. Cermak Ave.) Complex Demolition Community Meeting hosted by the Chicago Department of Public Health at 1119 W Cullerton St. at 5:30pm
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05:36 PM Aug 1, 2024 CDT
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the Midwest General Fisk Station’s demolition plan.
Sara Mathers, 1st Deputy of Community Engagement makes opening remarks.
She says that she wants to ensure that there is a safe demolition.
She says that she wants to ensure that there is a safe demolition.
There is a presentation being given starting with the facility’s background.
Demolition requirements include a structural condition report, safety and operation plan, preliminary inspection, an inspector onsite during demolition and final inspection report.
A “priority” of the Chicago Department of Public Health is making sure that no debris gets into the Chicago River.
A representative from CDPH says that dust will be controlled and safe according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements.
Oversight plans include the presence of CDPH to be on site daily to observe.
Drew Deichmann, project manager at Brandenburg, goes into more detail about what will go into the demolition.
We are now at the public comment portion. Commenters are allowed one minute and 30 seconds.
The first commenter asks if trucks will be rinsed before coming into the neighborhood.
Deichmann answers that they will.
The first commenter asks if trucks will be rinsed before coming into the neighborhood.
Deichmann answers that they will.
The second commenter asks what the plan is to communicate to residents about dust?
The representative from CDPH responds admitting that there is no current plan. She goes into detail about the oversight plans mentioned earlier in the presentation.
“If all else fails, I believe we will have another community meeting.”
“If all else fails, I believe we will have another community meeting.”
The commenter says that there are plans in place to notify residents about dust. She also asks what kinds of monitors will be used to control dust?
A representative says someone has been hired outside of Brandenburg to assist with monitoring dust.
A representative says someone has been hired outside of Brandenburg to assist with monitoring dust.
The representative from CDPH answees someone’s question of what fly ash is. “Fly ash is the residue from coal. We are not expecting that there will be coal here.”
A representative from the Little Village Environmental Organization (LVEO) expresses her concern with trusting CPDH.
“How are we supposed to trust your department?”
“How are we supposed to trust your department?”
Another commenter asks how did you find out there were issues with this Silo and why are we (residents) just not hearing about it?
A response is that something was identified during a “routine inspection.”
A response is that something was identified during a “routine inspection.”
A commenter asks what number demolition is where CDPH and what they have learned.
Another commenter asks if there have been any efforts to let residents know about the demolition?
“We don’t need another Hilco!”
Mathers responds that more efforts will be made to get in touch with residents. She mentions “community ambassadors.”
“We don’t need another Hilco!”
Mathers responds that more efforts will be made to get in touch with residents. She mentions “community ambassadors.”
An audience member mentions the possibility of a notification of “at least 30 days” to let residents know of the demolition. Another audience member mentions EPA requirements of local notifications.
A representative from CDPH mentions that mailing notifications is something to be explored.
Mathers makes closing statements and encourages people to look at the demolition site
chicago.gov/city/en/sites/…