A group of Chicago aldermen has asked the city to resolve complaints about the McKinley Park asphalt plant.
Seven council members, including Ald, wrote a letter to Aileen Valazquez (the citys chief procurement officer). Byron Sigcho Lopez (25th) stated that stepped-up review are necessary. He cited a recent bid of $500 million by MAT Asphalt to supply asphalt for city crews for street repavings and other work in five years.
MAT has been the subject of hundreds of complaints from city residents who claim it is a nuisance and emits foul odors. The plant owner denies these allegations.
McKinley Park community members have been fighting to shut down the asphalt plants since they opened in 2018. They are concerned that more work could lead to more pollution.
The letter stated that we believe this contract needs to be given consideration, public participation, and environmental awareness in proportion to its size and length.
Maria Hadden (49th), Daniel La Spata (1st), Matt Martin (247th), Rossana Roja (33/33rd), Carlos Rosa (35) and Andre Vasquez (20th) were also among the Council members who signed the letter.
The letter was also signed by nearly two dozen community, environmental and health organizations as well as social justice organizations.
The demands included the following: the politicians and groups requested that bidders take into account government violations, fines, and citations.
MAT was cited for alleged pollution violations by city inspectors. However, the plant owner disputes them.
Michael Tadin Jr. is co-owner and operator of MAT. MAT is suing $4,000 in city-assessed municipal fines in state courts. MAT was fined $4,000 by the city because it violated laws regarding air pollution, handling of materials that could cause dust, and handling of such materials.
MAT Asphalt takes every precaution to prevent emissions and fugitive dirt and complies all regulations [state environmental]Mara Georges, a Tadins lawyer, told the Sun-Times that emissions regulations and standards were being developed.
Under a state permit, MAT can produce up to 890,000.00 tons of asphalt per year. However, Tadin claims that it didn’t make half that amount last season.
City officials did not respond to requests for comment.
In an interview, Sigcho Lopez stated that he was concerned about McKinley Park’s pollution and suggested that the community should have the opportunity to weigh-in on a contract bid such as the one made by MAT. He said that such a process would include both a public hearing and a written comment period.
He added that residents need the city’s advocacy for their constituents.
MAT also published test results, which showed that one measure for air pollution is relatively low compared to the state limits. Independent consultants also tested two other area asphalt plants last year. However, those results were not made public.
A grant from The Chicago Community Trust made possible Brett Chase’s reporting on environment and public health.