Village moves closer to water agreement
Updated: November 13, 2012
HOMER -- A Champaign County community is closing in on a business deal with a coal company, but many are afraid it's all happening too fast.
The village board in Homer is ready to review a contract with Sunrise Coal. The company wants to open a mine nearby in southern Vermilion County, but it needs lots of water from the village to make it make it happen.
Recently, the board hired an attorney to make sure the village was allowed to sell water. The lawyer said the village can do so but there are stipulations on what the village can do with the revenue. The money earned would have to go towards utilities involving the water system.
Hearing that news raised a red flag for some people in the audience. They were hoping the money could go to construction and beautification projects around town.
"I do some gardening at the gazebo in the downtown area, and it's my understanding that they were thinking there would be a lot more money to bring into the town. So that is news and that may make a difference," said Suzanne Smith.
"I own land in the area where the coal mine is supposed to be, and I did not like the wording of the contract," said Jim Smith.
Sunrise Coal would need 2,000-4,000 gallons of treated water a day. That would just be used for drinking, sinks, and sewer service. The board agreed to review a contract for that specific water.
But that's not all the water Sunrise would need. The company needs more than 300,000 gallons of untreated water a day to clean the coal. That's a separate contract.
The village would need to find another source for the untreated water. People are also afraid that the run-off from washing coal could go into the Salt Fork River.
Recently, the board hired an attorney to make sure the village was allowed to sell water. The lawyer said the village can do so but there are stipulations on what the village can do with the revenue. The money earned would have to go towards utilities involving the water system.
Hearing that news raised a red flag for some people in the audience. They were hoping the money could go to construction and beautification projects around town.
"I do some gardening at the gazebo in the downtown area, and it's my understanding that they were thinking there would be a lot more money to bring into the town. So that is news and that may make a difference," said Suzanne Smith.
"I own land in the area where the coal mine is supposed to be, and I did not like the wording of the contract," said Jim Smith.
Sunrise Coal would need 2,000-4,000 gallons of treated water a day. That would just be used for drinking, sinks, and sewer service. The board agreed to review a contract for that specific water.
But that's not all the water Sunrise would need. The company needs more than 300,000 gallons of untreated water a day to clean the coal. That's a separate contract.
The village would need to find another source for the untreated water. People are also afraid that the run-off from washing coal could go into the Salt Fork River.
