Isabel Township Chapter - Memory Lane Acres Project
PROJECT UPDATE ... The application for the Memory Lane project has passed it's one-year anniversary.
Isabel N.O.P.E. members are opposing the 20,000+ hog factory farm that was proposed for our township. The proposed site is in close proximity to over 15 homes, farms, businesses, and community buildings. Many streams and ponds are located in a 2 mile radius of the proposed site, including Otter Creek on the west that connects to the Illinois River and a fresh-water stream on the east that connects to the Spoon River. Residents have valid concerns regarding the possibilities for groundwater contamination and the likelihood of polluted potable wells that can be found within a 2 mile radius of the proposed site. They also have concerns regarding air quality due to the gases produced by such facilities as well as the application of the manure to local fields.
NOPE members have called, e-mailed, and written to the Illinois Department of Agriculture to express their concerns with the siting of this CAFO. The LFMA outlines specific siting criteria that must be met before the application can be approved. A detailed listing of the errors and omissions we feel were made in the company's application in January of 2017 was submitted to the IDOA by NOPE members. We have also sent a number of letters regarding the community parks and gathering areas (see pictures below) that are located within the set-back area of the proposed facility. Several of our documents are listed at right. The Memory Lane project is almost SEVEN times bigger than the Cedar Crest project (Table Grove/Ipava) with 3000 hogs and FORTY times larger than the Bear Creek (Lewistown) facility in our county with 500 boars. Concerned Citizens of Isabel Township say NO to the Memory Lane CAFO! |
Fulton County Residents ...
Do you live near a proposed CAFO or an existing one? Please contribute your data to the NOPE Community Survey. Join our Isabel Township group on Facebook! Related Documents
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Local Highlights
Isabel Church
The proposed site for the Memory Lane Acres hog confinement is located 1 mile from Isabel Church, a country church founded in 1884. This little county church continues to host Sunday church services and serves as a meeting place for local groups. Church members are dedicated to expanding the church membership and offer a place of worship for friends near and far. Join them on Sunday mornings starting at 10:00 AM for a great bible-based worship service and fellowship! |
Duncan Mills
This historical location is a little over 1 mile north of the proposed site. It was established in 1867 by George Duncan, who built the first grist mill in the area with his sons. This site hosts local vendors and visitors during the legendary Spoon River Drive held in October each year. The township hall is located along the main road just west of the Helms Park pavilion. |
Many residents in our township have fond memories of time spent at this property for neighborhood potlucks, annual celebrations, and fall wiener roasts - a tradition that has continued for several generations. The park is located a little over 3000 feet from the proposed site.
It has been an annual neighborhood tradition to watch for the baby geese and calves as a sure sign spring has arrived! The largest celebration each year is the July 4th potluck with over 100 guests enjoying lots of food, good friends, and making new memories. Each October, local vendors set up at the park to welcome visitors to the Scenic Drive. For more information regarding the park or to arrange permission to use it, please use our contact form. |
Spoon River Trail System and Tippey Campsite
The local Boy Scouts have hiked the Spoon River Trail since 2014 to help them earn their backpacking badge. The southern trek starts near Anderson Lake in southern Fulton County and travels through Isabel Township to Duncan Mills. The trail uses Memory Lane, which is the road adjacent to the proposed site on the eastern border.
The Tippey camp site, located directly south of the proposed site at a distance of 1570 feet, is a primitive camp site used by the scouts as an overnight stop before they make their way to Duncan Mills. The addition of the hog factory would impact the use of the camp and hiking trail. The northern loop challenges scouts to hike to the old Elrod Schoolhouse near Bernadotte for an overnight stay before traveling to the dam. Scouts will be able to canoe the Spoon River as the travel back to Duncan Mills. The Elrod Schoolhouse is near the proposed Runway Ridge site as described on the Bernadotte page. For more information regarding the hiking trail and camp site, please use our contact form. |