Due to the lack of interest in the motorcoach to the September 8 ICC meeting, the transportation has been cancelled. Property Owners are still encouraged to attend on their own or to contact their state representatives if they are unable to appear in person. Please see contact information below.
It
also would be beneficial if ACLPOA residents would let their state
representative and senator know that the judge in this case wants the
Commission to essentially ignore the public forums and website comments.
These forums and public comments are specifically required by statute.
The state representative and state senator for the Apple Canyon area are:
State Rep. Jim Sacia (R), 217.782.8186 (Springfield) or 815.232.0774 (Freeport). Email him at jimsacia@aeroinc.net
State Senator Tim Bivins (R), 217.782.0180 (Springfield) or 815.284.0045 (Dixon). Email him at senatorbivins@grics.net.
If
you live in an area outside the jurisdiction of the aforementioned
elected officials, please contact the elected officials in your area.
Chicago location: Illinois Commerce Commission Eighth Floor, State of Illinois Building 160 North LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60601-3104 (217) 782-7434
September 8, Chicago, 1:30 p.m.
September 9, Chicago, 10:30 a.m.
Anyone making public comments at the meetings must notify the ICC at least 24 hours in advance of his/her desire to speak. Download a copy of the formthat must be filled out and sent to the Commission to request to speak. Each speaker is limited to 3 minutes.
All
parties in the Apple Canyon Utility Company rate case have filed their
initial hearings and reply briefs. The next step in the process is for
the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to review the briefs and issue a
proposed order. Final Commission action is expected in the first week of
September.
Recently, the ALJ granted a request by the Illinois Commerce Commission
Staff to strike portions of Apple Canyon Property Owner's Association's
initial hearings brief. The portion stricken included quotations from
the public forum conducted at Apple Canyon Lake in March as well as
comments that ACLPOA ratepayers posted on the ICC website. What this
means simply is that, according to the ALJ, ratepayer comments at public
forums and the website can be essentially ignored by the parties and
cannot be presented to the ALJ. This decision is contrary to the law and
we have filed an appeal of his ruling to the full Commission, but we
cannot predict whether the Commission will reverse the decision. For
this reason, it is critical that ACLPOA has residents participate in
public comments before the full Commission at its meetings as we
outlined earlier.
It
also would be beneficial if ACLPOA residents would let their state
representative and senator know that the judge in this case wants the
Commission to essentially ignore the public forums and website comments.
These forums and public comments are specifically required by statute.
The state representative and state senator for the Apple Canyon area are:
State Rep. Jim Sacia (R), 217.782.8186 (Springfield) or 815.232.0774 (Freeport). Email him at jimsacia@aeroinc.net
State Senator Tim Bivins (R), 217.782.0180 (Springfield) or 815.284.0045 (Dixon). Email him at senatorbivins@grics.net.
If you live in an area outside the jurisdiction of the aforementioned elected officials, please contact the elected officials in your area.
Public Comments are accepted in front of the full Commission on the following dates in Chicago. ACLPOA has hired a motor coach to take interested parties to the meeting scheduled on September 8. Please contact the office at (815) 492-2238 if you are interested in riding along.
Chicago location: Illinois Commerce Commission Eighth Floor, State of Illinois Building 160 North LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60601-3104 (217) 782-7434
August 24, Chicago, CANCELLED
August 30, Chicago, 10:30 am (Special Open MeetingADDED AUGUST 25)
September 8, Chicago, 1:30 p.m.
September 9, Chicago, 10:30 a.m.
Anyone making public comments at the meetings must notify the ICC at least 24 hours in advance of his/her desire to speak. Download a copy of the formthat must be filled out and sent to the Commission to request to speak. Each speaker is limited to 3 minutes.
BOATING: The lake is open. Please use caution as more rain is expected.
NIXON BEACH IS OPEN. The water test shows safe levels for swimming and new sand has been added.
MARINA The Marina is open.
TRAILS The Trails are closed. Due to the extensive damage, they will remain closed for an undetermined amount of time. Citations will be given to anyone who violates the closed status
of the trails. We need your cooperation to help prevent further damage
and to prevent injuries.
GOLF COURSE, POOL, CAMPGROUND, COVE, & TENNIS COURTS ARE OPEN
WORK ORDERS: During the storm cleanup, work orders will be assigned only if they are an imminent safety issue and as time allows.
PROPERTY OWNER COMMENTS TO ICC STRICKEN: MEMBERS MUST RESPOND
All parties in the Apple Canyon Utility Company rate case have filed their initial hearings and reply briefs. The next step in the process is for the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to review the briefs and issue a proposed order. It is anticipated that the proposed order would be issued mid-to late-July. When the proposed order is issued, all parties will have an opportunity to file comments on the proposed order. Final Commission action is expected in late August or the first week of September.
See schedule below.
Last week, the ALJ granted a request by the Illinois Commerce Commission Staff to strike portions of Apple Canyon Property Owner's Association's initial hearings brief. The portion stricken included quotations from the public forum conducted at Apple Canyon Lake in March as well as comments that ACLPOA ratepayers posted on the ICC website. What this means simply is that, according to the ALJ, ratepayer comments at public forums and the website can be essentially ignored by the parties and cannot be presented to the ALJ. This decision is contrary to the law and we have filed an appeal of his ruling to the full Commission, but we cannot predict whether the Commission will reverse the decision. For this reason, it is critical that ACLPOA has residents participate in public comments before the full Commission at its meetings as we outlined earlier.
It also would be beneficial if ACLPOA residents would let their state representative and senator know that the judge in this case wants the Commission to essentially ignore the public forums and website comments. These forums and public comments are specifically required by statute.
The state representative and state senator for the Apple Canyon area are:
State Rep. Jim Sacia (R), 217.782.8186 (Springfield) or 815.232.0774 (Freeport). Email him at jimsacia@aeroinc.net
State Senator Tim Bivins (R), 217.782.0180 (Springfield) or 815.284.0045 (Dixon). Email him at senatorbivins@grics.net
Public Comments accepted in front of the full Commission on the following dates and locations:
July 13, Chicago, 1:30 p.m. July 14, Chicago, 10:30 a.m. July 27, Springfield, 1:30 p.m. July 28, Springfield, 10:30 a.m. August 10, Chicago, 10:30 a.m. August 17, Springfield, 1:30 p.m. August 18, Springfield, 10:30 a.m. August 24, Chicago, 10:30 a.m.
Anyone making public comments at the meetings must notify the ICC at least 24 hours in advance of his/her desire to speak. Download a copy of the formthat must be filled out and sent to the Commission to request to speak. Each speaker is limited to 3 minutes.
COMMITTEE FOR FAIR REAL ESTATE TAXES AT ACL EMAIL INFO
Anyone with questions or comments about contesting their ACL real estate taxes may email the committee at info@aclfairtaxes.com or go to the Committee's website at ACLFairTaxes.com for more information.
Illinois Announces Regulations to Stop Spread of Fish Virus VHS detected in Illinois waters of Lake Michigan No threat to human health Regulations impact anglers, boaters, and aquaculture
SPRINGFIELD, IL The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has announced emergency regulations aimed at slowing the spread of fish-killing Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) in Illinois after sampling of fish in the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan detected the presence of VHS in two species of fish sampled.
Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) is a disease of fish caused by an aquatic virus previously unidentified in the Midwest. While it does not affect humans, VHS can kill a substantial number of fish and has been spreading throughout the Great Lakes.
The new regulations we are implementing are immediate and appropriate steps in trying to slow the spread of this dangerous aquatic virus in Illinois, said IDNR Acting Director Sam Flood. Sport fishing and boating are both very popular and important to the Illinois economy. The cooperation of anglers and boaters is essential in combating VHS.
The new emergency regulations being implemented by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) regarding VHS that affect recreational anglers and boaters include:
Eliminating natural water from all equipment when leaving a body of water.
Emptying and draining all bait buckets, livewells, baitwells, bilges, etc. or any other compartment capable of holding natural waters when leaving a body of water.
Do not remove live VHS-susceptible species (see below) from any waters. Anglers may catch and keep VHS-susceptible species, but may not transport those fish live from the waters where caught.
Use of wild-trapped fishes from within the state as bait will be restricted to the waters where legally captured.
DO NOT REMOVE LIVE: Black crappie Bluegill Bluntnose minnow Brown bullhead Brown trout Burbot Channel catfish Chinook salmon Emerald shiner Freshwater drum Gizzard shad Hybrid (Tiger) muskie Lake whitefish Largemouth bass Muskellunge Shorthead redhorse Northern Pike Pumpkinseed Rainbow trout Rock bass Round goby Silver redhorse Smallmouth bass Spottail shiner Trout-Perch Walleye White bass White perch Yellow perch
New emergency regulations are also being implemented immediately regarding fish stocking and the transport of fish in Illinois:
All fish imported from affected areas (currently the eight Great Lakes states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.) must be certified as free of VHS.
All susceptible species for stocking public waters must be certified VHS free regardless of their point of origin (including both intra- and inter-state shipments). Wild-trapped minnows and other wild-trapped species must be certified VHS-free, or originate from west of the Mississippi River.
In June of 2009 the IDNR was notified by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources of positive VHS samples from a fish kill involving round gobies in the Milwaukee area and positive samples were discovered from yellow perch in the same location. As a result, IDNR fisheries biologists submitted samples of bluegill, rock bass, round gobies, and pumpkinseed from Winthrop Harbor (Lake Michigan). Although the fish sampled showed no clinical signs of disease and were not part of a fish kill, tests confirmed the presence of VHS in the round goby and rock bass samples.
Fish can be infected with VHS by direct contact with other infected fish, by a fish consuming its infected prey, or from contact with water which contains the virus. The highly contagious virus causes fish to bleed to death, and advanced symptoms include hemorrhages in the eyes, skin and gills. There is no vaccine for the virus and control methods rely entirely on surveillance and eradication efforts.
With the discovery of VHS in the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan, we need to act immediately to try to protect our inland waters from VHS, said IDNR Chief of Fisheries Steve Pallo. The urgency is amplified by the fact that a significant amount of Lake Michigan water enters the Illinois River system through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. These emergency regulations and the cooperation of anglers, boaters, and the aquaculture industry are keys to slowing the spread of VHS into other waters in Illinois.
In recent years, surveillance for aquatic diseases affecting fish has been increased throughout the state. The IDNR will continue its surveillance program, and fish produced at state hatcheries will be tested before they are stocked into Illinois waters. All fish eggs and imports of fish to state facilities will be disinfected and tested prior to import to ensure that VHS does not jeopardize operation of the state fish hatchery system.
While VHS is not known to be a threat to human health, anglers are still advised to wash their hands after handling fish and to cook thoroughly any fish they plan to eat. If handling dead fish or fish that appear to be diseased, protective gloves should be worn. For more information on VHS and the new Illinois regulations aimed at slowing the spread of the virus in Illinois, check the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us
