Serious concerns have been raised about our water supply by Former Buffalo Grove Trustee Lisa Stone (my wife) and her coalition. Documents disclosed that industrial and domestic wastewater was being treated and discharged next to groundwater wells. A report falsely identified that the Pekara Subdivision had been converted to municipal water around 2001, when in fact the Pekara Subdivision is still on groundwater. Given that, what protections do those wells have given that critical decisions were based on the false notion that nobody was drinking the water from the wells? Why does an address on Krause Drive not exist in Buffalo Grove, 60089, yet that is the address registered with the IEPA as the wastewater treatment facility and the groundwater wells? Various maps appear to be inconsistent in their identification of bodies of water. Many more questions exist.
Although I would expect that these concerns and questions would be addressed by our elected officials and government directors, I have not heard a sound. Instead, some have criticized the form with which the information was delivered, yet no one has focused on the substance of the message. Few have the integrity and courage to fight for what's right and spend their time investigating issues strictly for the public good. Those who devote their time and endless energy to "the cause" are to be valued and cherished by the community at large as they are the only ones who, at great sacrifice of both time and expense, try to protect the health and safety of us all. Yet, instead we dismiss many activists as fanatic, that is until the truth is exposed. But that truth may never be discovered unless the public demands it. The citizens of our community hold the key to unlock the answers. Lisa and her coalition have the courage to ask the tough questions and challenge our elected officials. She has blazed the trail for us to follow. We now must demand the answers. So far, all I've heard are screams of silence. And that silence is dangerous. It is time to step up and make our voices heard.
Gary P. Stone
Buffalo Grove
Art
12:20 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Mr. Stone - there are three simple and crucial issues of SUBSTANCE that you fail to address:
1. This is NOT a village-wide concern, as you and your wife suggest, since the village is NOT on well water. As you well know (no pun intended), we obtain our drinking water from Lake Michigan.
2. The Pekara subdivision is not within the corporate limits of Buffalo Grove, therefore the Buffalo Grove Village Board and staff have no authority over them or their water supply. It has only been suggested by Lake County that the subdivision be "hooked up" to the BG municipal water system.
3. No one, including Lisa, has presented ANY test results of the actual well water in the Pekara subdivision. Wouldn't this be a simple way to show whether there is even any contamination? By continuing to ignore this most obvious option, the credibility of the complaint is very suspect. It perpetuates Lisa's history of presented unfounded accusations, without presenting any actual evidence. It then implies that the real motivation is merely to keep her name in the news, and give her the forum that she used two weeks ago to beat dead horses about her recall.
If the drinking water is really a concern, I would suggest running a simple test, and then present the facts to the governing body that actually has jurisdiction of this unincorporated area. Until then, let's stop crying wolf, making accusations, and perpetuating the dragging down of our community.
Abigail
2:37 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
If it's true this subdivision is not within the village limits of Buffalo Grove, then this is a non-issue for the Buffalo Grove village board since they have no authority over unincorporated areas. Any issues regarding this subdivision should be handled by the township or the county.
Maybe it's time for the coalition to go to the proper governing authority.