Title
143rd Street Widening Wetland Mitigation Credit Purchase
History
The construction of the proposed 143rd Street Widening (West Avenue to Southwest Highway) will impact 0.052 acres of wetland. Per Illinois Administrative Code, the compensation rate for adverse wetland impacts has been developed based upon wetland quality, function, type, degree of adverse impact, and location of the compensation site. Wetland compensation for impacts to high quality resources requires a minimum mitigation ratio of five-and-one-half acres of creation for each acre impacted (5.5:1). Based on the latest wetland review by the Illinois Department of Transportation - Natural Resources Unit (IDOT-NRU), the 143rd Street Widening project will require 0.28 acres of mitigation. The mitigation can be completed by paying an established wetland bank for mitigation credits.
At this time, there is a significant shortage of available mitigation credits in the Chicagoland area. There are not currently 0.28 acres of mitigation credit available in Cook County or Will County. The Village's engineering consultant, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. (CBBEL), was able to find the required acreage of mitigation credits available at Mill Creek Wetland Mitigation Bank in Lake County, Illinois, at a price of $200,000 per acre. Since 0.28 acres of mitigation credits are required for this contract, the Village would be required to pay $56,000 to the mitigation bank.
Financial Impact
The cost for the mitigation credits is $56,000. Funds are available in the Engineering Department Operations budget.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to approve and authorize the execution of an agreement with Mill Creek Wetland Mitigation Bank for the wetland mitigation related to the proposed 143rd Street Widening by purchasing 0.28 credits for a total cost of $56,000;
AND
Authorize the payment to the Mill Creek Wetland Mitigation Bank;
AND
Authorize the Village Manager to execute all contracts or agreement...
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