The Village of Seneca Plan Commission didn’t discuss barge terminals last night. The commission decided to cancel the text amendment hearing on the city’s industrial zoning ordinance which could have allowed barge fleeting. The commission say they want more information. An organization called Citizens Against Barge Terminals in Seneca asked residents to attend the meeting because the amendment was on the agenda. Rick Sims with CABTIS says he’s very pleased with the commission’s decision.
When a resident asked about a future plan, Plan Commission Chairman Tom Justice says there hasn’t even been an offer for a barge terminal to be set up. For the last three years, Illinois and Michigan Oil has wanted to set up a barge fleeing operation that could have up to 106 barges on the Illinois River east of Seneca. Sims sued I&M Oil in 2020 to try to stop the operation. A Grundy County Judge ruled that a 1907 law already prevented the issue from happening. Earlier this year, Gov. Pritzker signed a law that repeals the 1907 law.