Agreement with city allows landfills near Burton to be preserved for green spaces and wildlife habitats

QUINCY — The Quincy City Council approved Monday night a memorandum of understanding with the Mississippi Valley Hunters and Fishermen’s Association for the preservation of green spaces and wildlife habitats at three local landfills. 

Landfill No. 4 is near Burton, and just to the west are Landfills No. 2 and No. 3, five miles east of Quincy. Both landfills are covered with prairie grass. 

The Environmental Protection Agency website says private operators ran Landfills No. 2 and No. 3 from 1967 to 1972 when the city leased the landfill from the owner. The city operated the landfill from 1972 to 1978. Site closure, including placement of a final cover, finished in mid-1979. The city purchased the site property in 1982. 

“That one was on the EPA Superfund cleanup. We’re going to have a few more extra restrictions to deal with on that one,” Glenn Sanders, president of the Mississippi Valley Hunters and Fishermen’s Association, said after Monday’s meeting.

“(Landfills No. 2 and No. 3) have some real nice mature timber on the other side of a creek that never was utilized. The site itself has nothing but grass on it. We have voles (little mice) basically that are going through the liners of the Superfund site, so that lets the water get down into them. That’s not exactly conducive to containing everything.”

Sanders wants to create a habitat that’s conducive to attracting owls and hawks who are good at capturing the mice.

He’s seen landfills converted into many uses around the Midwest, such as public property, golf courses and parks. Sanders said Bob Bangert Park on Quincy’s riverfront recently was preserved for green spaces, wetlands and wildlife habitats as well.

“We had an underutilized facility (at Bob Bangert), and my organization sees the same opportunity with the landfill properties to enhance the wildlife habitat,” Sanders said. “And it will all be done at no cost to the city.

“We’re going to leave the prairie grass and put in a lot of pollinators and a lot of wildflowers. There are some areas of the landfill where we can put in native shrubs and some trees and make it more attractive all around for wildlife.”

Aldermen approved two special event applications from On the Rail, 129 S. 4th, for a Quincy Summer Kick-Off event from noon to midnight on May 28, and a Gem City Music Concert from noon to midnight on June 18. Organizers will build a stage for both events on Maine Street near the city-owned former Newcomb Hotel lot. Maine Street from Fourth to Fifth will be closed.

Aldermen voted 10-3 to approve the Summer Kick-Off and voted 9-4 to approve the Gem City Music Concert. Mike Farha, R-4, Mike Rein, R-5, and John Mast, R-5, voted against both events. Tony Sassen, R-4, voted against the Gem City Music Concert.

We’re allowing the state, alcohol, and a large group of people to have a party on a city-owned lot,” Farha said. “I think it’s insane, and I have all along.”

“I have to disagree with you,” Jack Holtschlag, D-7, said. “We let other places do it on our city streets.”

Aldermen also approved:

• A special event application from Quincy Medical Group requesting permission to hold the 22nd annual Bridge the Gap to Health Race on May 14.
• Mayor Mike Troup’s appointments of Dave Bauer and Rick Ehrhart to the Riverfront Development Corporation Committee.
• The execution an amendment to the Section 5311-Downstate Operating Assistance Grant Agreement and the 5311 Special Warranty projects with the Illinois Department of Transportation to obtain grant assistance for fiscal year 2022-23. 
• An application to the Office of Intermodal Project Implementation Department under IDOT’s general authority to offset a portion of the transportation facility costs of Quincy Transit Lines. 
• Spending $175,000 to buy a replacement server.
• Acceptance of a grant from the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s Strong Communities Program. 
• Spending $13,695 to buy five tactical vests and ballistic plates from Streicher’s of Minneapolis.
• A three-year contract with Energy Petroleum Company at 7.5 cents above Energy Petroleum Company’s delivered cost and for fuel delivery at a cost of 9.5 cents per gallon above delivery margin, starting April 1, 2022 and ending March 31, 2025. 
• Spending $8,950 to have Awerkamp Machine Company replace a deteriorating concrete stairwell at the southwest corner of the City Hall Plaza. 
• Spending $1,585,627.73 to have Rees Construction Company complete a reconstruction project for Spring Street from Second to Third and Second Street from Spring to College. Work would consist of new PCC pavement, curb and gutters, storm sewer, sidewalks and water main replacement. 
• The 2022 QMG Clinic Contract with the City of Quincy for additional concession savings from QMG of $55,000 per year. 
• An ordinance amending the city map for re-zoning 4701-4729 Broadway Street.