The DeKalb County Forest Preserve Committee met Tuesday,
December 14, 2004 in the East Conference Room at the DeKalb County
Administrative Building, at 6:00PM. Ms. Fauci called the meeting to order
with everyone in attendance with exception to John Gudmunson and Robert
Rosemier.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mrs. Fauci approved minutes from the previous meeting.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mr. Hannan added review of the Skid Steer loader bids as well as
discussion of the Sportsmans Club trail easement discussion in rural
Waterman. Mrs. Turner made the motion and Mr. Lyle seconded the motion to
approve the agenda as amended.
WELCOME NEW FOREST PRESERVE COMMITTEE
All committee members and others were invited to introduce themselves and
tell a little about what has brought them to the Forest Preserve Committee:
Greg Millburg, Larry Anderson, Howard Lyle, Terry Hannan, Anita Turner and
Cky Ready and Julia Fauci. Following the introductions, Mr. Hannan provided a
slide presentation showing the preservation and restoration of FP areas,
natural resource management, maintenance, recreation and educational
opportunities.
FOREST PRESERVE ACTIVITY UPDATE
Ad hoc Land Acquisition Committee: Ad hoc Land Acquisition Committee, a
citizens and public official group was formed to study the land and
population changes within DeKalb County regarding plans to expand and
acquire future Forest Preserve. The idea of a referendum is being discussed
and past chairman Jeff Metzger formed the Ad hoc land acquisition group to
study and get information on future Forest Preserve acquisitions, costs of a
referendum, and a vision for future open space that may be presented to
voters. A question was raised to Ms. Fauci in response to a question of
similarities between the Ad hoc Committee and the Greenways and Trails
Committee, Mrs. Fauci responded that The Greenways and Trails Coalition is
doing a plan for future trails and Green corridors, however they are two
separate groups. Ms. Fauci stated that there was one main decision at the
last Ad hoc Committee Meeting which was to postpone any referendum action
being on the Spring 2005 ballot as there was not enough time to prepare what
would have needed to be brought to the board this January. It could be
postponed for the Spring 2006 ballot as well as opinions differ on the Ad
hoc Committee. This committee will meet in January 2005. Again it was
confirmed that they are two separate groups. Mrs. Turner mentioned the
importance of having presentations and publicity such as the slideshow Mr.
Hannan presented in order to show people the treasures in DeKalb
County.
OSLAD Grant: Mr. Hannan made a presentation in Springfield at the end of
November 2004 applying for a grant Open Space Land Acquisition
Development 1 which is an IDNR Grant program for
acquisition and development of Forest Preserves.
Mr. Hannan stated that this grant was a good opportunity for making
improvements at Potowatomi Woods. So far, Forest Preserve staff, volunteers
and contracted labor helped with the major clean up of this Forest Preserve,
farm fields were rented out for no-till conservation farming. Potawatomi
Woods is accessible for people to picnic, fish, hike, cross country ski, and
has an equestrian trail. Money that would be matched by IDNR in the grant
has been donated by the DeKalb/Sycamore Sunrise Rotary in celebration of
their 2005 Centennial year ($25,000), a private foundation in Sycamore
wanting to assist with installing handicap accessible trails and a wildlife
observation deck ($25,000). The DeKalb Community Foundation donated $10,000
and there was a $1,000 donation from the Sycamore Sportsmans Club. With
$61,000 in combined donations as well as Forest Preserve monies, a grant for
$140,000 was applied for to install picnic tables, picnic, water, shelters,
play equipment, handicap accessible trails, interpretive trails, a
prairie/oak savannah native landscaped picnic and habitat area, a canoe
launch, and a bridge across Kingsbury Creek into McQueen FP from Potawatomi
Woods.
Mr. Hannan stated that this is a competitive grant, with 20 million
available state wide and 32 million being applied for. Ms. Fauci brought up
the thought off how it may be beneficial that we are sharing the access
road, the as the State Park entry is through Forest Preserve property . Mr.
Hannan stated that with the good record that the Forest Preserve has in
completing projects and the partnerships involved, the project being
waterbased along the Kishwaukee, handicap accessibility, as well as
benefitting the nearby State Park users – there are many factors that put
the the Forest Preserve in good standing to receive this grant. Mr. Hannan
also mentioned that the Forest Preserve is fortunate to have the donations
of $61,000 which allowed for the application for this grant. The status of
the grant will be known at the end of January 2005.
US Fish & Wildlife grant: Mr. Hannan mentioned a $3,000 grant was applied
for and awarded for restoration of the very unique sedge meadow habitat at
Potawatomi Woods.
Mr. Hannan stated that Capital Improvement grant money is continuing for
Forest Preserve capital improvement projects.
DeKalb County Community Work Initiative: Mr. Hannan stated that he, Jerry
Smith and Paul Miller attended a meeting in which there will be a five year
partnership with the DeKalb County Community Foundation and the Grand
Victoria Foundation. This is a new program in which DeKalb County Community
Foundation will join forces with 17 other community foundations throughout
Illinois addressing issues within their community focused in three general
areas: childcare, workforce development and land use and protection.
This partnership will create an endowment fund using monies from the
Victoria Foundation and DCCF for these three areas. DCCF would like to
include the Forest Preserve District under Land Use and Protection. Mrs.
Fauci inquired about something in place already where people could donate to
the
foundation and Mr. Hannan agreed that there is a fund there that people
can 2 donate to for land acquisition however this is
separate from that fund and is a nice gesture in that the DCCF and Grand
Victoria Foundation has included the DeKalb County FP District. Mr. Hannan
confirmed that it will be a while until monies are received and the
endowment is built up. Ms. Fauci asked if money will trickle in to which Mr.
Hannan related that once the endowment is built up there is a percentage
earned and then can be distributed on an on-going basis.
C2000: This IDNR Grant, Conservation 2000 is available to private and
public land owners specifically for habitat restoration, water quality, etc.
As an example of private land owners: Rick Hoffman and his neighbors along
the Kishwaukee river in NW DeKalb County received C-2000 monies for
protection of three miles of the Kishwaukee river with erosion control
measures, streambank stabilization and tree planting, it is called
Clearwater Legacy project. Mr. Hannan explained how the state was divided
into watershed boundaries instead of just County boundaries. DeKalb County
is part of KREP – Kishwaukee River Eco-system Partnership and well as FREP –
Fox River Ecosystem Partnership. DeKalb County has received approx. $55,000
from this grant program for invasive species removal (garlic mustard, reed
canary grass, sweetclover, canada thistle, buckthorn and others), these
plants can take over and disrupt native plant communities. This grant
program could be cut and Mr. Hannan asked for Forest Preserve Committee
support. Ms. Fauci made the motion to write a letter in support of the C2000
Grant program and Howard Lyle seconded the motion and the FP Committee
approved. Mr. Hannan agreed to writing the letter and including a copy with
the meeting minutes (see attached).
Skid Steer Loader Acquisition: Mr. Hannan explained that this is a piece
of equipment that will help with snow removal, drilling holes, moving dirt,
construction projects and is a versatile machine that can be used at all the
forest preserves. The current John Deere tractor/loader is 29 years old and
is not dependable. Mr. Hannan did get three bids and stated that this is
something Capital Improvement grant money could be used for. The three bids
that were received were from John Deere ($17,500), CSR Bobcat ($17,470) and
Case ($18,500). Mr. Lyle mentioned that the Bobcat is of very good quality.
Mr. Hannan stated that the pluses of the Bobcat are that it is low bid, that
it could be purchased from CSR Bobcat in DeKalb and the forest preserve has
received good service from them, and FP staff recommended the Bobcat. Also
the versatility with attachments, the Rated Operating Capacity and weight of
the Bobcat. Mr. Hannan continued explaining that the ROC on the Bobcat is
rated equivalent to the next model up from the John Deere. Ms. Fauci brought
up the use of gas, what statistics were available and Mr. Hannan
communicated that both the John Deere and Bobcat are 56 horsepower.
Different options were communicated and a recommendation was made to accept
the CSR Bobcat bid.
Ms. Fauci asked for a motion to purchase the Bobcat. Mr. Hannan also
stated that this could be paid for in two installments. Also, it was asked
if staff had opportunity to use this equipment and upon confirming that
staff had a good experience using this equipment. Howard Lyle made the
motion, seconded by Mrs. Turner to send to the Board for approval of
purchase The motion was passed and all were in favor.
Aurora Sportsmans Club Development: a 700 acre piece of land with part of
that acreage being along Preserve Rd. between Waterman and Shabbona is a
proposed sportsmans club to include trap-shooting, pistol range, archery and
camping. Mr. Hannan stated one of the objectives of Greenways and Trails
plan is when new developments come in is to look at possible trail links and
to request access when it when it could provide a link such as the Waterman
and the Forest Preserve, to Shabbona and the State Park. Mr. Hannan
suggested that now is the time to ask to be considered for an
easement through their property. Cky Ready from the planning department
mentioned that this is in its early stages of development and that a request
of a 15 foot easement on this size of a property should not be an issue. Mr.
Ready also recommend that this request should be made now and Mrs. Fauci
agreed. Seventy percent of this land will stay active farmland. Mrs. Fauci
motioned to get this request on the table as interest to Greenways and
Trails planning stating that the request would be for a 15 foot easement
along length of property along Preserve Rd. for possible future trail
connection. Mr. Ready stated that there are plans for a clubhouse, cabins
for winter camping and tent camping areas. After confirming that Preserve
Road is a Township Road Ms. Fauci asked what Paul Miller’s thoughts were.
Mr. Ready stated that the objective is to confirm that this development
meets ordinances. Ms. Fauci entertained the motion to request a 15 foot
easement along length of the proposed Sportsmans Club property along
Preserve road. Mr. Anderson raised the question of miles remaining to
connect trails and the likelihood of donations of easement being made. Mr.
Hannan related the easements that were donated for the DeKalb - Sycamore
trail and Mrs. Turner related a story of a land donation in St. Charles for
trails. Ms. Fauci brought up that this should be on the table so that
regardless of any expansion this easement will be accounted for. There was
discussion about long-term uses and benefits of the trail for the community.
A motion was made by Mrs. Turner to forward this request to the Planning and
Zoning Committee, seconded by Mr. Lyle and approved by the Committee.
Chronic Wasting Disease: Mr. Hannan stated that IDNR wished to continue
their deer herd reduction program and (with the same program as last year)
hunt at night at Potawatomi Woods and MacQueen. The Committee agreed to
continue working with IDNR.
Mr. Hannan stated that another small wetland bank credit sale was
received. Attached are monthly reports and Forest Preserve activities.
A motion was made to adjourn, seconded and the meeting ended at about
8:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________________
Julia Fauci,
Chairman
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