Single Copy Cost 50¢ Volume 146 No. 47
“PRSRT STD.” US Postage Paid No. 486 SHAW MEDIA POSTAL PATRON LOCAL R.R. BOXHOLDER CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
PC Board OKs rezoning for Shale Energy By Dixie Schroeder
dschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
HENNEPIN — The economic picture in and around the Putnam County area looks a little brighter after the Putnam County Board meeting on July 14. The Putnam County Board passed a rezoning amendment which will allow Shale Energy Services LLC to put up a facility off County Highway 1300
East, about three-quarter of a mile outside of Granville. Attorney James Andreoni of Peru represented Shale and gave a presentation on the project. Andreoni’s presentation was aimed at informing the board in regards to Shale and answering questions and concerns and correcting rumors that came out of an earlier meeting of the Putnam County Zoning Board.
According to Andreoni, the trains will be operating on the Norfolk Southern Railroad line and will be traveling from Kankakee and back, limiting the potential slowing of traffic on Route 71 at the train crossing. There will be lighting around the railcars and current construction plans include fencing around the facility. Proposed hours of operation are tentatively set from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
with potential future shifts operating during daylight hours as much as possible. Semi truck traffic will average 28 trips per day during the implementation of the first shift. The trucks are covered as well as the railcars and conveyor off-loading system. There will be a retention pond built. Shale will pay for the cost of road improvements near the facility.
The company will build two, 12-foot lanes with 4-foot gravel shoulders. On Route 71 at the intersection with County Highway 1300 East, the company will share maintenance of the road with Putnam County. Potential economic benefit for Putnam County will be positive, according to Andreoni. “Shale Energy Services has hired Chamlin and Associates to conduct
their preliminary engineering work,” Andreoni said. “Shale Energy Services does intend to hire local labor for what construction work will be done at the site.” Proposed jobs include 38 construction positions and initially eight employees. There will be 26 employees when the plant runs at full capacity.
Rezoning Page 2
Hennepin looks at marijuana facility By Ken Schroeder
kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
HENNEPIN — Someone else is throwing their hat into the ring for a chance to operate a medical marijuana facility in District 17. Hennepin Mayor Kevin Coleman told the village board at its July 16 meeting there is a potential buyer for the Modern Hard Chrome property next to the vacant steel mill. The property would extend from Interstate 180 north to the water district. Currently, land near the facility is zoned residential, and state requirements do not allow such zoning within 2,500 feet. Coleman wants to rezone the residential area — which is currently uninhabited — to conservation zoning. Three houses sit in that area, but none of them are currently in use. If the facility is erected, it is expected to produce 20 jobs from the start with possible expansion. Village zoning officer Larry Brown told the board Coleman can start the rezoning process with the board’s approval. The company has told Coleman they would pay the expenses for preparing the property. The board gave Coleman permission to start rezoning proceeding for the project. The Hennepin Fourth of July was more successful than originally thought. The final estimate shows more than 8,000 people
Hennepin Page 4
PCR photo/Ken Schroeder
Checking the measure Dusty Miller (right) and his brother, Rusty, confer with a judge on the criteria for barrows in a division in the Marshall-Putnam County 4-H Fair on July 16. The 4-H Fair drew contestants from throughout the Illinois Valley to test their talents and skills and show their projects. See more photos on Page 19.
More jobs coming to Granville Shale Energy to employ 26 workers By Ken Schroeder
kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
GRANVILLE — More jobs will be coming to Granville and Putnam County after the Putnam County Board approved the rezoning of the proposed site three-quarters of a mile south of the new Dollar General Store on
County Highway 1300 East. Attorney James Andreoni of Peru represented Shale Energy Services at the July 15 Granville Village Board meeting and gave a presentation on the details of the project. Also in attendance were Michelle Herron from Shale and Herbert Smith from Norfolk Southern Railways. Andreoni told the board the trains will be operating on
the Norfolk Southern Railroad line and will be traveling from Kankakee to the facility and back, which will limit the potential slowing of traffic on Route 71 at the train crossing. A highway survey concluded the slight influx of truck traffic should not impact the Route 71 highway surface. Current construction plans include fencing around the facility and lights that will be
Vol. 146 No. 47
Jobs Page 2
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“unobtrusive” to the neighboring residents. Proposed hours of operation are tentatively set from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. with potential future shifts operating during daylight hours to match the agricultural timetable the area has established. Shale predicts an average of 28 semis per day at the beginning of the operation.
HEALTHCARE AND REHABILITATION CENTRE
815-875-3347 • fax: 815-875-2012 Contact Lou Anne Kenwick at lkenwick@managcare.com www.colonialcarecentre.com