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northeastern illinois planning commission |
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northeastern illinois planning commission |
NEWS RELEASE from the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission
For Immediate Release Chicago, March 31, 1998: Corps of Engineers Leader Stresses Importance of Intergovernmental Cooperation in Addressing Flooding, Other Issues Lt.Col. Roger Gerber, District Engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Chicago, today told the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC) that the development of intergovernmental partnerships is the key to effective natural resource management. "Getting people together, fostering relationships, is the only way to get things done," he said. Gerber spoke to the quarterly meeting of the Commission. He reviewed the program of the Corps' Chicago District, which constructs flood control and lakeshore protection projects, maintains seven harbors, and regulates work in waters of the United States, including wetlands. In July, Gerber expects to be reassigned after completing a two-year tour of duty in Chicago. "I hope the partnerships we have worked on will persist," he said. Gerber cited the development of a flood control plan for the upper Des Plaines River as a case of partnership-building. The Corps of Engineers is preparing a feasibility study which will incorporate a locally-preferred plan. The study area extends from the Wisconsin state line south to Brookfield, where Salt Creek flows into the Des Plaines. NIPC has convened a quarterly meeting of agency representatives from Cook and Lake Counties, the State of Illinois, and the Corps to coordinate progress on the development of the locally-preferred plan. Gerber said these meetings have provided an excellent forum in which agencies can listen to each other and seek consensus. Commissioner Patricia Young, who represents the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago on NIPC, commended Gerber and his staff for their cooperation in facilitating the identification of a proposed site for a major flood storage reservoir in the McCook area. The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission is the official planning agency for the six-county metropolitan area. In addition to planning, the agency provides technical and research assistance and reviews state and federal grant requests for local governments.
northeastern illinois planning commission visit NIPC's website at http://www.nipc.org |
