Residents urge Waukegan committee to address coal ash, land-use integration and neighborhood cleanup

Waukegan — At the Environmental and Sustainability Committee’s Sept. 2 meeting two residents used audience time to call for greater transparency and action on several local environmental issues, including coal-ash cleanup, land-use enforcement and neighborhood cleanliness.

"I'm certainly glad the environmental committee is finally meeting," said Chuck Roxtellas, who asked the committee for an update on the NRG coal plant and coal-ash cleanup. Roxtellas said he had previously raised the topic at a Feb. 2024 city meeting and asked whether there are lawsuits or other actions under way and what the status is of the coal-ash ponds.

Roxtellas also urged integration of a land-use ordinance created in 2021 with the city's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and asked the committee to explain how that integration would affect building permits and enforcement. He raised health concerns tied to ethylene oxide emissions from nearby warehouses and asked whether solar-panel projects such as those at Yeoman Creek primarily benefit the school district or the city.

A second resident commenter (not named in the transcript) urged the committee to expand cleanup efforts beyond high-profile lakefront projects, to hold more frequent town halls and to provide clearer explanations of city spending and programs. The commenter spoke about neighborhood conditions and asked the committee to prioritize community cleanups and more regular public engagement.

Committee members did not take formal action in response to these comments during the meeting; the topics were not resolved and may be scheduled for follow-up in future meetings or with other city departments.