Ottawa City Commissioner Wayne Eichelkraut believes the city did its due diligence before allowing Carus Chemical products to be stored at Southtowne Mall. Commissioner candidate Brent Barron, who chairs the Plan Commission, says so too. There were hearings and the public was invited.
Some of the other candidates at a forum Friday night at Crossbridge Community Church agreed. Not Katie Troccoli. She says it’s just a matter of time before a fire or tornado spreads the chemicals into an area with three schools and senior living.
Candidate Dylan Conmy thinks the decision was rushed and people should have been concerned before the Carus Chemical fire in LaSalle.
There’s been no talk at City Hall for some time about making Ottawa a home rule community, but someone put in the question at the forum. Cities with 25,000 or more people and those whose voters approve of it have extra powers to tax and regulate. Katie Troccoli says Ottawa doesn’t need that.
Brent Barron is for it. He says other cities nearby have it and don’t abuse it.
Commissioner Tom Ganiere doesn’t think it would be bad. But voters rejected it a few years ago. Ganiere thinks there’s no point in talking about the advantages until Ottawa has enough people to get home rule without a referendum.
On the city manager form of government, those who spoke about it said they’d prefer a city administrator because it can be changed at anytime. Going to or from a city manager form of government requires a referendum.
The re-watered part of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in Ottawa isn’t popular with everybody, and it showed at the forum. Commissioner Tom Ganiere says what was supposed to be a $600,000 project has cost $1.6 million so far. Dylan Conmy says empty it. He says the water stagnates, stinks, and is unhealthy.
Commissioner James Less would have water in it less of the time. He’d empty it in the summer when the algae grows the most.
Commissioner Wayne Eichelkraut wants the water to stay this summer for an event called Canal Days. That will be July 8.
Candidate Matt Skelly likes water in the canal, but he says it needs work.
Some of the candidates for office in Ottawa say not having enough parking is a good problem to have, because it means people go downtown. At a commissioner candidate forum Friday night, Clayton Brown says the city can work it out.
Commissioner Marla Pearson says the council will talk about it Thursday, March 16.
Candidate Dylan Conmy says none of the 80 parking spots right behind the book store are for disabled people and people should focus on that. Commissioner Wayne Eichelkraut talked about city parking lots that don’t get much use.
Riverfront development is one of the most exciting things some Ottawa commissioner candidates are looking forward to. Matt Skelly said at Friday night’s forum, it’ll be great having numerous events on the former Central School grounds and the new YMCA next dor.
Josh Moore wants the Allen Park improvements to go all the way. He says leaving anything old and rundown won’t be good with park fix-ups.
Katie Troccoli says put in boat docks and places for boaters to refuel.
Ten of the 11 commissioner candidates were at the forum at Crossbridge Community Church. Frank Miller wasn’t there.
You can watch the entire forum at this link.