IRCA Archive# 120 - IRCA meeting minutes 11/14/06 St. Louis meeting

To: ALL IRCA Member and Friends of IRCA
From: Chairman
Date: 11/27/06
Subject: IRCA meeting minutes 11/14/06 St. Louis meeting
IRCA Archive # 120

November 14, 2006 IRCA Meeting Minutes

Meeting was held at the Holiday Inn South County, St. Louis

Opening Remarks – President Marty Hettel called the meeting to order and welcomed all friends and members. A brief safety presentation was discussed in case of an emergency. All attendees were introduced.

Presidents Report – Marty Hettel (AEP Memco)

President Hettel opened the meeting with a discussion about a few action items from the January meeting. The Lemont fleeting plan was finalized and accepted by the United States Coast Guard during the past month. Copies were distributed to the group on CD-ROM and additional copies will be distributed upon request. Marty commended CMDR Paul Mehler of MSU Chicago for his assistance in resolution of this matter.

Updates on the Pekin boat ramp were discussed and Marty touched on the subject of reporting of intended landings. The 2007 meeting dates were also distributed and will be as follows:
Chicago January 9, 2007 (Annual Meeting)
St. Louis March 13, 2007
Peoria May 8, 2007
Chicago September 11, 2007
St. Louis November 13, 2007

Meeting locations will be sent out to the e-mail bang lists and posted on the Illinois River Carriers link on www.ribb.com two to three weeks prior to each meeting.

Captains Committee Report – Quent Harris (B&H Towing)

A meeting with the Army Corps to discuss the issue of 7 and 8 barge doubles was planned but never scheduled due to lack of response by industry members. The issue will be dropped if we do not have enough interest to participate in a meeting to discuss the topic.

The ice committee will be evaluating changing river conditions and conference calls will begin as needed to discuss actions needed. Anyone interested in participating as an ice committee member should contact Quent Harris.

Pool levels at LaGrange were discussed due to recent drops below normal flat pool. Mike Cox explained that the maneuver boat had been condemned and that was affecting the reaction time in changing pool conditions.

Darren Melvin updated the group on the Lincoln Park Marina project on the North Branch Chicago River and also about a proposed rowing dock to be built at the junction of the North, South, and Main Branches of the Chicago River.

Roundtable Discussion

Mike Cox, USACE – Mike informed the group that Rick Granados was on temporary assignment in New Orleans and Steve Russell would be covering until Rick returns in Late January.

Mike updated the group on current repair projects and the locations of the repair crews.

Mike updated the group on work at Peoria Lock. The repairs will require several intermittent closures between 8 and 12 hours and will also require a 72 hour closure to change out the switchgear in late January or early
February.

The lockmaster meeting in Rock Island district is scheduled for February 6th and 7th with the industry/USCG portion to take place in the morning on Feb. 7th. Please forward any issues/concerns to Mike Cox during the next two months.

Bill Graham, USACE – Bill distributed an updated copy of Dredge worksheet areas of concern. Bill also displayed charts displaying water depths above LaGrange Lock. Bar Island area has areas of concern that will need to be addressed in the near future.

Dave Gonyea, USCG – CMDR Mehler was unable to attend due to a schedule conflict, he sends his regrets. Dave also updated the group on the testing at the fish barrier in Romeoville and about a recent break away barge incident in Indiana Harbor.

CAPT Sharon Richey, USCG – Capt Richey informed the group that a workgroup has been formed to review the boundary lines between D8/D9 on the Illinois Waterway to evaluate if changes would make sense. She also indicated that a new 24 hour live person number is available for within the group, 314-269-2332. The main switchboard number is still available and should continue to be utilized as well.

Roger Wiebusch, USCG Bridge Branch – Roger updated the group on upcoming projects and also discussed funding for certain Truman Hobbs bridges.

Lynn Muench, AWO – Lynn reminded the group that the upcoming regional meetings would be held at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN on February 1st with a reception the evening before.

The IWW waterway action plan was updated in the afternoon, thanks for those who stayed to help!

NEXT MEETING - January 9, 2007 Chicago
Willowbrook Holiday Inn
7800 Kingery Highway (Rte. 83 & I-55)
Willowbrook, IL 60521
(630)325-6400

Attendees:

Mike Cox, USACE, michael.d.cox@mvr02@usace.army.mil
Dave Hood, LaGrange Lock, charles.o.hood@usace.army.mil
Bill Graham, USACE – Rock Island, willis.j.graham@usace.army.mil
Glenn Dawson, Holly Marine Towing, hollymarine@aol.com
Darren Melvin, Hanson Material Service, darren.melvin@hanson.biz Quent Harris, B & H Towing, qharris@bhtowing.com
Marty Hettel, AEP Memco, martyh@memcobarge.com
Roger Blaske, AEP Memco, rogerb@memcobarge.com
Leo Cattoni, Illinois Marine, leoc@imtowing.com
Roger Wiebusch, USCG Bridge Branch, roger.k.wiebusch@uscg.mil
Dave Dewey, WKN, dave_wkn@bellsouth.net
Raymond Hopkins, ARTCO, R_Hokins@admworld.com
Jessie Stevenson, USCG, Jessie.l.stevenson@uscg.mil
David Gonyea, USCG, david.f.gonyea@uscg.mil
Jay Johnston, SCF Marine, jjohnston@ckor.com
James Patterson, Osage, pattersj@cgb.com
J.J. Jones, USCG, james.j.jones@uscg.mil
Sharon Richey, USCG, Sharon.k.richey@uscg.mil
Joe Scott, Waterway Journal, jscott@waterwaysjournal.net
Ed Rahe, Waterway Journal, edrahe@waterwaysjournal.net
Jay McDaniel, Kirby Inland, jay.mcdaniel@kirbycorp.com
Lynn Muench, AWO, awo_midcontinent@msn.com