IRCA Archive# 107 - Minutes from September Meeting

To: ALL IRCA Member and Friends of IRCA
From: Marty Hettel
Date: 10/1/04
Subject: Minutes from September Meeting
IRCA Archive # 107

Minutes from September 24th
Illinois River Carriers’ Association
Meeting in Chicago

IRCA President, Darren Melvin, called the meeting to order at 09:00. A safety briefing of the facilities was given to the group, followed by introductions of members and guests.

Mr. Darren Melvin then presented The President’s report follows:

· Lemont Fleeting Plan was submitted to MSO Chicago on June 30th and IRCA is awaiting response from MSO Chicago. Representatives from fleeting companies and terminal operators along the waterway submitted the plan.
· Joliet RNA was lifted as a test tow was run through Joliet harbor in July. Representatives from MSO Chicago and IRCA witnessed two tows transit the harbor without incident. Both tows were video taped by MSO Chicago and the RNA, which had expired, was not renewed.
· The proposed Fish Barrier installation was opposed by IRCA membership as we have concerns with the existing barrier that need to be resolved before installation on the additional barrier. There was a notice to navigation issued for no passing, holding up, fleeting, building tow, or staging of barges within the current Fish Barrier.
· Barge transiting Lake Michigan must have all hatch cover dogs in working condition and must have a seal in place on the hatch cover lid.
· Notification of increased flows at Lockport Lock has not been taking place, as MWRD has not been relying this information to Lockport Lock. Boats have been in the middle of transiting Joliet Harbor when flows have been increased without notification.
· President Darren Melvin reiterated to the membership that comments to proposals be issued as a group through the IRCA membership and if the IRCA membership asks for individual comments then and only then should individuals comment on proposals.
· The IRCA will also actively pursue membership from manufactures that use the commodities, which ship via the Illinois River, to strengthen our position on regulations that are or could be imposed on members that utilize the waterway.

Chairperson of the Captain’s Committee, Mr. Quent Harris, presented captain’s Committee report:

· Relocation of the Public Boat Dock at Beardstown was opposed by the IRCA via notification by the Captain’s Committee.
· The Captain’s Committee also opposed the relocation of the boat dock below Shipping Port Bridge at mile 224.7 LDB.
· Flow Meter at Joliet should be up and running by September 30th. There will be two phone lines to call in to get real time readings. Mention was made that even with the flow meter activated in Joliet there is still a 15-20 minute delay from the time when water is released at Lockport Lock until it would register on the flow meter at Joliet. The CORPS through IRCA will distribute phone numbers or they can be accessed by the internet at www.Rivergages.com
· Notification of increased flows at Lockport have not been relayed to Lockport Lock, therefore the Captain’s Committee recommends calling the MWRD dispatch office before departing Brandon Rock Lock. Phone number is 312-787-3575 or 312-787-3576.

The meeting then adjourned for a short break at 10:15.

Upon reconvening the meeting turned to our round table discussion with the USACE and the USCG.

Mr. Rick Granados, with the USACE Rock Island, then commented on the following:

· Appreciation was given to Mr. Bob Balamut, Lockmaster at O’Brien Lock, for his 6-month tour of duty in Iraq. We are all glad to have Bob back and thankful for his contribution in Iraq.
· Rick also issued thanks for the participation in the Illinois Corn Growers’ Association tours of the rivers. Participants were Artco, B & H Towing, and Memco barge Line. We receive a tremendous amount of support from these kinds of activities and Industry support is appreciated.
· Rick also issued thanks for participation in the USACE meeting in Rock Island that discussed the condition of concrete structures within the Rock Island District. Mr. Luke Moore was able to attend and give a good statement of what we see day-in and day-out while transiting locks. Thanks to Luke and Artco for adjusting schedules so that Luke could attend.
· Rick is scheduled to make a presentation to the Colonel about the labor crews that the USACE has on hand for emergency lock repairs. As budgets are restricted one of the items being targeted are the Labor crews the USACE has on hand to handle repairs. The though process was to bid out these repairs, thus eliminating these Labor crews. The IRCA will issue a letter to Rick stating we oppose the plan of bidding out emergency repairs, as the IRCA feels we get better response time and knowledge from the Labor crews the USCAE employees.
· Repairs were ongoing at Peoria Dam, however no closures will be needed. When the crew is finished at Peoria they will then go to LaGrange for repairs to the damn at that facility. Again no closures are expected to complete both jobs.
· Strike removal crew was installing rock protection on the day markers in Peoria Lake and there should be no obstruction to navigation on the job either.
· While attending a meeting in Chicago, Steve discussed the rehab of O’Brien Lock, which could be in the budget for 2006 or 2007. This would be a 60-day closure at O’Brien and the USCAE is looking for comments from the IRCA as to when to schedule this closure. IRCA will comment in upcoming months as to what time period would be suitable.
· The Illinois River will get funding in 2005 to change out hydraulic and electrical systems at Peoria and LaGrange locks. This work should not force a closure, however the gates may have to be manually operated by a USACE boat on scene.
· If a new chamber is installed at LaGrange Lock the 600’ chamber will be kept operational as the 1200’ chamber would be built on the landward side of the 600’ chamber. The question is, if the resurfacing of the 600’ chamber, before construction on the new chamber, there would be two separate closures at LaGarange. Reason being is the USCAE cannot use the current bulkhead system they have and LaGarange is not set up for the new type of bulkheads to be used. There would be a closure to install tracks for the new bulkhead, then an additional closure for resurfacing.

Mr. Mike Cox the reported the following:

· Mike issued a dredging schedule to the members and requested input from the IRCA as to critical dredging points for removal this year. The Captain’s Committee will meet with Mike and to determine what critical areas need dredging yet this year.

The round table discussion then turned over to the USCG.

Mr. Capt. Terry Carter, CMD Dave Fish and Erik Pickering reported on the following issues:

· The Fish Barrier was discussed at great lengths as several issues were brought to the floor. There is a testing period, for the current Fish Barrier scheduled for the second week in October. Set up, testing, and dismantling could take up to a week, however actual delays to navigation should last 6-8 hours. There will be electrical engineers from the CORPS to evaluate the test results. Results will be available for evaluation to the IRCA. Marty Hettel, with American Electric Power, volunteered electrical engineers from his employer to evaluate the test results. MSO Chicago stated that if the test results created a hazard to navigation they would be inclined to close the area until it was deemed safe to transit.
· USCG is looking at additional possibilities for fleeting expansion in the Calumet Harbor. When they get determination on the additional fleeting capabilities the Calumet Fleeting plan will be complete.
· The Lemont Fleeting plan is being considered, however there may be suggestions for MSO Chicago that differ from the plan that was submitted. Time frame for approval and/or suggestions was not available at the time of the meeting.
· The request for an Ice Breaker on Lake Michigan for the upcoming winter is contingent upon MSO Chicago receiving input from IRCA members as to the number of barges that are expected to cross Lake Michigan in the upcoming season. Capt. Carter is to attend a meeting on the distribution of Ice Breakers for the 2004/2005 seasons in an attempt to secure an Ice Breaker for this year. Capt. Cater requests information by October 31st. Mr. Glenn Dawson volunteered to head up this request and he will be contacting members to get a count together for Capt. Carter.

Mr. Marin Hettel then announced recent new members to the IRCA and welcomed them aboard. New announced were Volunteer Barge & Transport, Inc. and American Boat Company. I would also like to take this time to let everyone know if you need membership applications please let me know and I will issue direct to the parties you request. The meeting was the adjourned for lunch. The next Meeting is in St. Louis on Tuesday November 9th.

Members in attendance Company E-Mail Address
Clay Williams Marquette Transportation odis3@yahoo.com
Bob Kupina Volunteer Barge & Tarns. bobk@volunteerbarge.com
Robert Barnes Illinois Marine Towing robertb@imtowing.com
Chuck Burlingame Artco Fleeting c.burlingame@admworld.com
Matt French Artco Fleeting Mathew.French@admworld.com
Marty Hettel Memco Barge Line martyh@memcobarge.com
Jeff Covinsky Hannah Marine Corp. jcovinsky@hannahmarine.com
Dave Dewey Western Kentucky Navigation dave_wkn@bellsouth.net
Ron Novack Louisiana Dock Co. ron.novack@acbl.net
Glenn Dawson Holly Marine hollymarine@aol
Todd Hudson Garvey Marine thundson@garveyintl.com
Quent Harris B & H Towing qharris@bhtowing.com
Darren Melvin Material Service Corp. dmelvin@materialservice.com

Guests in attendance
Bill Knutson USCG Bridge Branch STL wknutson@cgstl.uscg.mil
W. Erik Pickering USCG MSO Chicago wpickering@msochicago.uscg.mil
Capt. Terry Carter USCG MSO Chicago tcarter@msochicago.uscg.mil
CDR David Fish USCG MSO Chicago dfish@msochicago.uscg.mil
LT Alfred Jackson USCG MSD Peoria ajackson@msdpeoria.uscg.mil
Bob Balamut USACE O’Brien Lock robert.j.balamut@usace.army.mil
Steve Koenig USACE steven.c.Koenig@usace.army.mil
Rick Granados USACE rick.d.granados@usace.army.mil
Mike Cox USACE micheal.d.cox@usace.army.mil