How big of a problem? Part 1

The extensive coverage by The Daily Herald comes as no surprise. For whatever reason, there are members of the Herald's editorial staff who cover the antics of Lisa Stone to great extent.

There are, at least based on today's (July 26) coverage, two ways to look at the alleged crisis surrounding Land and Lakes.

One is to look at the coverage, the second is to look at what may have motivated Lisa Stone to be obsessed with the L & L facility.

For starters, what is, or was, Lisa Stone's motivation for going after L & L? If you check the Facebook page for her campaign and her campaign web pages, there is no indication of concern for health issues in Buffalo Grove. There is no mention of ground water contamination, nor is there mention of perceived irregularities in the handling of the annexation of the site to the village.

So all of a sudden, she becomes obsessed with digging up dirt about the site.

Granted, she was allegedly contacted by a physician who claimed the noxious smell was so foul, it affected his practice. This was in January.

A couple of interesting things come to mind:

1. It is rare, although not unheard of, for compost to have a rancid smell during cold weather. The odor is generally emitted during excessive heat because if composted material is not turned or, if I am not mistaken, there is not enough nitrogen included (often through a mix of materials) it can smell. In January, it was thought to be due to an excess of discarded holiday trees.

2. Public records indicate that Stone and her family lived in unincorporated Vernon Township just prior to moving into the village of Buffalo Grove. Stone and her family lived less than an a mile-and-a-half from L &L. If Stone was so concerned, why didn't she voice concerns then?

3. In addition to L & L, the area with proximity to that location includes the Pekra Avenue Sewage Treatment facility, which emits more foul odors than the L & L facility. The boundaries of Pekara adjoin the development Stone and her family lived in -- but yet she did not smell those odors?

4. It seems that most of the complaints came to Stone. Why didn't people contact the village directly? If they did, how did the village respond?

5. If Stone is so concerned about air quality, will she next challenge the FAA for its flight patterns that parallel Milwaukee Avenue? Before the airport (then Milwaukee) changed ownership from the Preister Family to join operation by Wheeling and Prospect Heights, an environmental impact study was done.

6. If, in fact, L & L is such a serious hazard, have there been similar problem at former landfills in Highland Park and Northbrook?

7. What impact do other composting operations, including one across from L & L, have on the environment.

8, Have concerns, now or in the past, by adjoining communities, been submitted to the Village Buffalo Grove?

Stone is insistent that the infamous Shaw report be on the village's web site. She contends that if it's not, the village must be hiding something.

Not really. The Shaw report is available -- by hard or electronic copy. Residents who are interested can just call or stop by and receive a copy. You don't even need a FOIA request to get it. Those who make a point about saying they got it through the FOIA, are doing little more than grandstanding.

Stone continues to rip folks on the Board, as well as recently retired Village Manager Bill Brimm, for their actions related to L & L. Stone has not, however, sited former members of the village staff or board who were involved in the L & L discussions.

Why not? Could it be that there's no glory in ripping people who have retired? Or could it be an arrangement that maybe Stone has made with some folks?

The discussions and ensuing coverage about L & L may yield more than alleged mishandling on the village's part.

Like the old saying goes, people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

Or should that be Stones?

(c) 2010