The DeKalb County Forest Preserve Committee met Tuesday, April 15, 2003, in the enclosed shelter at Afton Forest Preserve, at 6:00 p.m. Chairman Mr. Metzger called the meeting to order with Mrs. Fauci, Mr. Lyle, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Rosemier, and Mr. Simonson. Mr. Hannan and Mr. Milburg were also present.

Moved by Mrs. Fauci, seconded by Mr. Rosemeir, and it was carried unanimously with a voice vote to approve corrected minutes for March.

Chairman Metzger stated that he would like to add review of a resolution to formally state Potawatomi Woods as the new name for the forest preserve in Kirkland. Moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Lyle, and it was carried unanimously with a voice vote to approve the amended agenda.

Moved by Mr. Rosemeir, seconded by Mr. Johnson, it was carried unanimously to officially name the new forest preserve Potawatomi Woods and pass the resolution on to the Forest Preserve Commissioners for the final vote.

Mr. Gudmunson arrived at 6:08 p.m.

Mr. Hannan introduced the Committee to Afton Forest Preserve with an overview of it’s rich history. Once homesteaded and owned by the McGirr family as a working 240 acre farm, it was purchased by the Forest Preserve District in 1973 for approximately $900 per acre, including the farmhouse and barn. On this property, the Little Rock Creek flows south to the Fox River. Mr. Hannan explained that this was native prairie for thousands of years, then farmed by the McGirr’s. The house was built in 1902 and is said to be the first house in DeKalb County with indoor plumbing. Mr. Hannan stated that 3-4 acres per year were planted with trees and picnic areas seeded until 1988. In 1988, the District received a development grant for 90 acres of prairie restoration, pond construction roads, parking lots, water, toilets, shelter houses, play equipment, trails, etc.

Mr. Hannan explained that the 12 acre and 3 acre wetlands were built as a result of wetland mitigation. Mr. Hannan stated that in the next two years, the District would begin to develop 6 presold acres of wetlands out of the 58 acre wetland bank at Afton.

Mr. Hannan stated that prairie plants like full sun. Mr. Hannan explained the benefits of fire management (similar to the wildfires of years past) within the prairie, killing the woody growth and non-native annual weeds so prairie may survive. He stated that prairie burns kills off most of the invasive species such as Autumn Olive, Garlic Mustard, Burdock, Thistle and Sweet Clover. Mr. Hannan added that spot spraying also helps weed out these invasive species. Then woodland management burns were explained. Mr. Hannan gave the example of MacQueen Forest Preserve having little to no Buckthorn or Garlic Mustard left due to these prescribed woodland burns and herbicide management.(MacQueen is one of the best examples of a well managed diverse forest environment)

Mr. Hannan reported to the Committee that approximately 75+ people came out to Potawatomi Woods the weekend of April 12 & 13 for volunteer work. These volunteers hauled out more than 60 tires, glass, bottles, hoses, old machinery, etc. After clean-up was performed, the volunteers planted Arrowwood Viburnum, Blackhaw Viburnum, White and Burr Oak.

Mr. Hannan also stated that 25 volunteers with the Lions Club picked up 40-50 bags of litter along 3 miles of the Great Western Trail over the weekend. The DeKalb Kishwaukee Kiwanis and volunteers completed the annual DeKalb/ Sycamore Trail clean-up and volunteers completed an Earth Day shrub planting along the entrance road to Russell Woods.

Mr. Rosemeir asked if the Forest Preserve District owned the wetland bank in Afton Forest Preserve. Mr. Hannan stated that the District does own the wetland bank in Afton and these will be developed with wetland mitigation money.(wetland mitigation monies will cover the cost of land, construction and development and maintenance of the wetland for 20 years)

Mrs. Fauci asked if the wetland mitigation has slowed in progress since the recent Supreme Court ruling on the definition of wetlands. Mr. Hannan stated that it has.

Mrs. Fauci stated that she has met with the Citizen’s Greenways Coalition, including Mr. Sands, I.D.N.R., and the Illinois Bicycle Coalition. Mrs. Fauci stated that they had examined a resolution from another county to draw one unique to DeKalb County. Mrs. Fauci stated that this resolution in no way would tie DeKalb County funds to the Citizen’s Greenways Coalition. Mrs. Fauci stated that the Citizen’s Greenways Coalition would be able to apply for grants for recreation and transportation purposes. Mrs. Fauci stated that the planning may include future paths from DeKalb to Kishwaukee College in Malta, Sandwich to Sannauk Forest Preserve to Somonauk, and Kingston to Russell Woods Forest Preserve to Genoa. Other trail links are also possible Mrs. Fauci stated again that there is no economic binding to DeKalb County, as grants would support this effort.

Mr. Metzger asked that "public comment" be added to the agenda under general discussion.

It was agreed by all members that the May meeting would be held at Russell Woods.

EXECUTIVE SESSION/ LAND ACQUISITION

Moved by Mr. Lyle, seconded by Mr. Simonson, and it was carried unanimously to go into executive session for the purpose of land acquisition at 6:50 p.m. Moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Rosemeir, the Committee came out of executive session at 7:05 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Mr. Lyle, seconded by Mr. Johnson, it was carried unanimously by voice vote to adjourn the meeting.

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Chairman, Mr. Metzger