Burr Ridge Orders Firm To Remove Toxic Materials

BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge has ordered a local pest control company to remove toxic materials from its site, the mayor said Friday.

OPC Pest Services at 8238 S. Madison St. had requested a permit to store the chemicals, but apparently was already doing so.

In a statement to Patch, Mayor Gary Grasso said the village received a call Thursday from OPC's materials consultant, confirming that it had received the village's cease-and-desist request.

The village expects the chemicals to be removed by the close of business Friday, Grasso said.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, resident Adolph Galinski said he learned at an earlier Plan Commission session that OPC was already storing the materials at its site.

Galinski said the village's administration told him that it had allowed such storage during the permitting process because the village exercises "established administrative practice and discretion."

The next day, the mayor told Galinski that he would look into it.

In his statement, Grasso said the OPC representative indicated the firm would be open to upgrades at the facility that would require mixing chemicals there, rather than in residential neighborhoods.

"It is my understanding that OPC was always acting appropriately and responsibly to comply with the Board’s concern and Village’s requests," the mayor said.

He said the matter would be discussed again at the Dec. 7 Plan Commission meeting.

"I want to thank Mr. Galinski for his public comments on this important matter," Grasso said. "As he noted, I have stated frequently that public safety is Job #1 of government."

Patch left a message for comment with OPC on Friday.