Illinois Green Communities Program: Planning for Our Environmental Future Fulton County Hancock County Henderson County Knox County McDonough County Warren County June, 2004 Western Illinois Regional Council Table of Contents Communities Planning Their Environmental Futures 1 Fulton County Vision Statement 3 Fulton County Goals 4 Hancock County Vision Statement 12 Hancock County Goals 13 Henderson County Vision Statement 21 Henderson County Goals 22 Knox County Vision Statement 30 Knox County Goals 31 McDonough County Vision Statement 38 McDonough County Goals 39 Warren County Vision Statement 46 Warren County Goals 47 Regional Review 54 Summaries of Planning Efforts 57 Funding Opportunities 72 1 Communities Planning Their Environmental Futures The Green Illinois initiative was established in 2000 in an attempt to jumpstart environmental planning efforts throughout the state. The intent was to model state government stewardship efforts. Overall, Green Illinois serves to increase environmental awareness, promote waste reduction, the usage of alternative fuels, energy efficiency and the use of products that are environmentally sustainable and efficient. Several components make up the Green Illinois program. First there is the Green Government Program. This initiative calls for the state to serve as a role model for environmental leadership and protection. Specifically, state agencies are expected to find ways to incorporate sustainable practices into their standard operations. Another component of Green Illinois is the Green School program. This initiative provides for several different activities geared towards making the school environment healthier for students and also for expanding environmental education in the classrooms. The final component of Green Illinois is the Green Communities Demonstration Grant Program. This program was established to create an opportunity for communities to self evaluate and plan the future of their environment. The end result of this process is a vision statement for each participating community with long-term goals and action plans for achieving said goals. Communities that have received Green Communities Demonstration Grant funding are eligible for technical assistance and priority consideration when competing for state funds. Sixteen Illinois communities ultimately received funding under the demonstration program. In May of 2002, Western Illinois Regional Council received funding to develop an environmental vision for Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, and McDonough counties. In addition, the Western Illinois Economic Development Partnership received funds to develop an environmental vision for Warren County. This document contains the vision for all previously mentioned counties due to the management of the Warren County project by the Western Illinois Regional Council. A series of community work sessions were held in each county in order to derive the information necessary for a final environmental vision specifically geared to each of the counties in the project area. Specifically, three meetings were held in each county. The first meeting introduced the Green Communities Demonstration Grant Program to the stakeholders, detailed missing individuals whose participation should be sought, and finally, initiated the discussion on the strengths and threats of the local environment. Within this session, other local natural resources or otherwise environmental planning efforts were discussed and inventoried. The second Green Communities work session focused on stakeholder discussion of environmental strengths and threats. After lengthy dialogue, participants were asked to rank the issues by actually giving them a point value. This process ultimately determined from which issues long term goals would be derived. The final Green Communities work session focused on the development of the goals and action steps for the issues already prioritized in each county. Worksheets were prepared for each main goal and discussion centered on detailing action steps, resources needed, and benchmark indicators for project success. 2 Outreach for this project consisted of multiple mailings, media coverage, a website, presentations, and word of mouth. After each meeting, worksheets were mailed out to a stakeholder list in order to gain further participation from persons unable to attend work sessions. The finished environmental vision includes a vision statement, goals and action steps, and benchmark indicators for success for each county in the project area. A summary of other known environmental plans has also been included to highlight other local efforts. In addition, there is a short regional summary of projects that cross county boundaries. Finally, a listing of technical and financial assistance resources has been enclosed in order to aid communities in their search to implement projects enclosed in the actions steps portion of this vision. 3 Fulton County - a prosperous and sustainable community where cultural and ecological diversity is prevalent. High quality natural resource areas, outdoor recreation opportunities, and high quality of life will make the county a regional tourism destination. Negative human impact on the environment will be minimized by properly managed development and the historical significance and natural beauty of the area will be preserved. 4 GOAL - A. Protect public health by improving public sanitation and water quality and quantity for Fulton County residents. Short Term Steps to Accomplish 1. Identify areas in Fulton County that lack a public water supply. 2. Identify areas in Fulton County that have public water supply and/or water distribution problems. 3. Identify areas in Fulton County that lack a public sanitary sewer system. 4. Identify areas in Fulton County that have public sanitary sewer problems. 5. Assist communities lacking public water with obtaining the funding necessary to conduct a public water system feasibility study. 6. Assist communities lacking public sanitary sewer systems with obtaining the funding necessary to conduct a public sanitary sewer system feasibility study. 7. Assist communities with water supply and/or distribution problems with obtaining the funding necessary to correct the problems. 8. Assist communities with public sanitary sewer problems with obtaining the funding necessary to correct the problems. 9. Assist local rural water districts with obtaining the funding necessary to extend water lines to unserved areas within the county. 10. Establish a county-based committee that will work to maintain communication between all local agencies regarding public health issues. In addition, this committee will provide outreach to residents and information on where to get assistance needed. Time Frame - 12 Months Long Term Steps to Accomplish 1. Assist the City of Canton with obtaining the financial assistance needed to construct a water pipeline from the Illinois River to Canton Lake. 2. Assist the City of Canton with obtaining the financial assistance needed to dredge Canton Lake and construct siltation dams to increase the capacity of the lake and reduce future siltation problems. 3. Assist the Village of Avon with obtaining the financial assistance needed to 5 complete the Avondale Lake dredging project. Time Frame - 12 to 60 Months Organizations Involved Municipal and county governmental units; rural water districts; Fulton County Natural Resources Conservation Service; Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; Illinois Environmental Protection Agency; Western Illinois Regional Council; Illinois Rural Water Association; Fulton County Health Department; Unites States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Division; and Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation District. Benchmarks of Success Completion of the Canton Lake pipeline and dredging project; completion of the Avondale Lake dredging project; completion of water and sewer assessments for Fulton County communities; creation of a county-based public health committee that meets on a regular basis; and completion of grant applications for water and sewer system feasibility, construction, and improvement funding from the state and federal governments for all communities lacking in municipal utility infrastructure. Other Resources Needed Volunteers to establish a county-based public health committee; financial assistance from USDA Rural Development and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; technical and financial assistance from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency; technical assistance from the Western Illinois Regional Council; and technical assistance from the Fulton County Health Department. Potential Sources of Funds ...a prosperous and See attached section regarding available grant and loan programs. sustainable community where cultural and ecological diversity GOAL - B. is prevalent. Protect and restore Fulton County's natural areas and green infrastructure. Short Term Steps to Accomplish 1. Review current natural resources planning, restoration and protection efforts in Fulton County. 6 2. Compile in one document a general summary of all local natural resources planning, restoration and protection efforts in the county that can be distributed to local municipalities and agencies in order to minimize project overlap and encourage partnership and project awareness. 3. Establish a county-based committee that will work to maintain communication between all local agencies regarding natural resource issues. In addition, this committee will