FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT COMMITTEE |
The DeKalb County Forest Preserve District Committee met Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at the Afton Preserve Shelter at 6:00 p.m. In attendance were committee members, Ms. Fauci, Ms. DeFauw, Mr. Newport, Ms. Turner, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Augsburger and Superintendent Hannan. Mr. Stuckert, Mr. Gudmunson and Mr. Walt were absent. |
Ms. Fauci called the meeting to order and then asked if there were any changes to the June 16, 2009 minutes. Mr. Augsburger moved to approve the minutes as noted, seconded by Ms. Turner and the motion passed unanimously. |
Ms. Fauci recommended that the agenda be amended to allow for an adjournment out of Executive Session so the Committee members could have a daylight tour of the Afton addition and see the progress that has been made this year. Ms. Turner moved to accept the amended agenda, seconded by Ms. DeFauw and the motion passed unanimously. |
Mr. Hannan commented that though the County would be placing its budget before the public tomorrow, the Forest preserve did not need to do the public hearing until October. |
Ms. Fauci commented that this was a very conservative budget despite the fact that this is a year where a number of maintenance expenses would be occurring, such a road repairs and trail seal-coating the Peace Rd. section of the DeKalb / Sycamore Trail. Mr. Hannan commented that the Highway department will be assisting with this and that will help to keep the costs down. |
Ms. Fauci asked about the cash reserve and commended Mr. Hannan on the improvements list he has included with the budget. Mr. Hannan replied that the District has several funds (Wetland Bank Fund, Reserve Fund for the NREC, Nicholson Fund etc. ), most of the cash reserves are in the land acquisition fund. The remainder falls to those other funds. |
Ms. Fauci asked where the Chambers donation would go as well as a reserve for any future purchases related to that donation. Mr. Hannan replied that was indicated in the funding reserve outline. |
Mr. Hannan then noted that the budget will be placed on public file in October and the November meeting of the District will be the public hearing prior to the budget going to the Forest Preserve Commissioners at the November meeting. |
FOREST PRESERVE MONTHLY REPORTS AND GENERAL DISCUSSION |
Mr. Hannan began by distributing Peggy Doty’s September camp report and photos. He noted that there will be an upcoming fall Boy Scouts Camporee that will be held in the Afton preserve with over 100 scouts expected to attend. The main theme of the Camporee will be to practice “No Trace Left Behind” and “ Conservation Ethic’s” camping. This is an outdoor ethics program that teaches campers how to respect the areas they camp in and to minimize their impact on those areas. Mr. Hannan noted that the principles of this outdoor ethics program would be very good for all individuals who come to the Preserves to know. |
The scouts, in return for being allowed to hold the camp out at Afton, will be performing several service projects pruning along Crego Rd., tree planting and prairie seed collecting and planting the seed.. |
Mr. Hannan commented that there have been some incidents of poor camping ethics by Preserve campers. The Preserve will be posting additional signage noting the rules for campers and visitors and Mr. Hannan has been working with Kevin Hickey of the Sheriff’s Office to monitor the sites. He commented that the Forest Preserve may consider returning to a practice it had in the past of hiring off duty law enforcement personnel to patrol the Preserves in some problem areas. |
He did note that while the majority of the public are respectful and responsible, it only takes a few individuals to ruin the experience for many. He commented that it would be good if many of those who do not seem to know how to behave in the Preserves be exposed to the “No Trace Left Behind” and “Conservation Ethic’s” camping approach. |
Ms. Fauci commented that it was unfortunate that some individuals cannot respect the public lands shared by so many. |
Mr. Hanna noted that there recently had been a “ National Day of Service” and “ Selfless Saturdays” event held and many NIU students participated in seed collection in the Preserves. On October 10, there will be a Jeff’s Trees event held at 2:00 p.m. at Afton. He also noted that that Committee would be seeing the Kiwanis bench and shelter this evening during the walk through the new addition. He closed by noting that in the monthly report is a document showing how much (in dollars) the volunteers value to the district through their seed collection and other efforts. |
Ms. Fauci asked if any of the Committee members had not yet received a hat and shirt, She noted that these items would need to be given to the new Committee by the next meeting. |
Ms. Fauci closed by recommending the “Tallgrass Restoration Handbook” to the |
Committee members. She was so impressed by the clear expression of the principles that |
have governed the District’s work that she recommended that the Committee consider |
purchasing a copy or two for future members to read and use as a resource. The |
Committee then toured the new Afton wetlands and Afton Addition. |
COMMITTEE MEMBERS COMMENTS |
Ms. Fauci asked if there were any Committee comments. Hearing none, she asked if the Committee were ready to enter Executive Session. |
Ms. Fauci then asked for a motion to enter Executive Session. Mr. Anderson moved the Committee into executive session for the purpose of discussing current information on District land acquisition, seconded by Ms. DeFauw. A roll call vote was held and the motion passed with 6 Committee members voting in the affirmative, and none in the negative and three absent. Following the Executive Session, Ms. DeFauw moved to return the Committee to public session, seconded by Mr. Anderson. A roll call vote was held and the motion passed with 6 Committee members voting in the affirmative and none in the negative and three absent. |
Ms. Turner moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Augsburger and the motion passed unanimously. The Committee then concluded the evening with the tour of the new Afton Preserve shelter, parking lot and accessible trails. |
Forest Preserve District Committee |
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