A Saint Charles City task force updating its statement-of-interest (SOI) process for potential engineering and environmental services work on the Fox River said it received seven proposals, narrowed the field to three finalists and will solicit brief follow-up responses before recommending a candidate.

The update at the Feb. 6 Fox River task force meeting focused on narrowing a request-for-proposal (RFP) scope so consultants concentrate first on time-sensitive hydrology and water-quality data that must be gathered in spring, task force members said. “We had 7 submittals through that process,” a task force member noted as the group described its scoring and prioritization effort. The finalists are expected to provide a quick turnaround — planners said the team hopes for about a 30-day response — and the task force aims to present a candidate at its next meeting.

The briefing drew extensive public comment from riverfront residents and business owners who asked whether the study will evaluate effects on property values, shallow wells and local tax revenue if an impoundment or dam is changed or removed. “If the dams are removed and real estate taxes as well as retail and restaurant sales tax goes down significantly … how do the elected officials plan to make up for that loss of revenue,” said Carmen Claps, a St. Charles resident who lives on the Fox River.

Why it matters: the consultant work is intended to collect technical data — including flows, depth at multiple river stages and water-quality measures — that city staff and the task force said would inform later decisions by the City Council, and possibly by state or federal agencies. Public comments emphasized that potential changes to the river could affect real estate values, local businesses and private wells, and repeatedly asked who would bear costs if conditions change.

How the selection process is proceeding

Task force members said they formed an evaluation panel that included task force volunteers, City of Saint Charles staff and Saint Charles Park District staff. Scores were calculated and ranked in January after review of seven SOI responses; subsequent rounds of questions produced three finalists. The task force described the next step as narrowing the RFP to focus on the highest-priority, time-sensitive questions — primarily spring hydrology and water-quality sampling — and then sending that refined scope to the finalists for rapid proposals.

“It's nice to have all the hands on there to get the different opinions,” said Conrad, a task force member involved in policy review. Another task force member emphasized getting “the greatest amount of knowledge for the dollar” and making sure the scope covers multiple river stages so the consultants capture low-flow and high-flow conditions.

Public concerns raised at the meeting

Speakers during the public-comment portion pressed for specific impact analyses and for clarity about next steps:

- Carmen Claps, a St. Charles resident who lives on the Fox River, asked what measurements will determine how much cleaner the river would be if dams were removed and raised concerns about tax and retail revenue losses if water levels fall.

- Chris Kozak, a resident, asked whether the task force will study effects on shallow wells and who would pay if well water levels drop. Task force members said groundwater impacts were not in the initial consultant scope but could be added later if the City Council or consultants recommend it.

- Steve Leffler, a resident and business owner, asked about odors and insects and whether alternatives to full dam removal (such as measures that would preserve impounded water in downtown areas) remain under consideration. A task force member referenced a previous Active River hydrology study, saying some options could retain pool levels north of the railroad tracks while changing the pool south of Main Street.

- Several residents, including Steve Pather and Todd Serta, urged the task force to engage with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and to note that the IDNR owns the local dam. Todd Serta said IDNR representatives had indicated to him that the IDNR could pursue removal funding and that the state has offered to meet with municipalities.

Agency timelines, ownership and funding

Task force members summarized the multi‑agency process: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a programmatic environmental assessment (EA) relevant to multiple dams; IDNR has its own role and, according to comments at the meeting, owns the local dam. The task force said the Corps’ programmatic work and recent court decisions affecting NEPA procedures have delayed federal timelines. “That timeline has been pushed back significantly,” a staff member said.

Task force members provided a rough federal planning timeline: a federal preliminary analysis or EA can take about a year from the announcement of major federal action, with an additional congressional funding cycle and subsequent project-level analyses adding years; the task force estimated a multi‑year federal process — roughly three to four years if no litigation occurs — for actions that would require Corps funding. The group also reiterated a funding split it has previously cited — about 35 percent state and 65 percent federal — while noting the task force is validating whether that cost share remains in place.

Process limits and next steps

Task force members repeatedly emphasized that the group is a fact-finding body and not a decision-making board. “We are not a decision making body. We're just here to sort of collect information,” said a task force member. The consultants’ initial scope focuses on hydrology and immediate ecological questions; broader issues such as groundwater impacts or economic mitigation could be added later by the City Council or in subsequent consultant phases.

The task force scheduled its next meeting for April 3, citing a desire to allow enough time to collect spring data and to give finalists time to respond to the refined RFP.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of previous meeting minutes: motion moved and seconded; chair called for voice vote and declared the motion passed (tally not specified in the transcript).

- Scheduling: the task force voted to meet next on April 3; motion approved by voice vote (tally not specified).

What the task force will deliver

Task force members said they will post the refined RFP and the finalists’ submissions on the City of Saint Charles website and invited the public to submit suggested questions for inclusion. They also said they will continue to validate agency funding commitments and to coordinate updates with the City Council, IDNR and other stakeholders.

Ending

The task force did not adopt policy at the meeting; members said they expect to return with a consultant recommendation after the finalists provide the requested follow-up information and after spring monitoring captures seasonal flow and water-quality data.