Forest Preserves were initiated by a 1913 statute authorizing the establishment of taxing districts, "To acquire … and hold lands … containing one or more natural forests or lands connecting such forests or parts thereof, for the purpose of protecting and preserving the flora, fauna and scenic beauties within such district, and to restore, restock, protect, and preserve the natural forests and said lands together with their flora and fauna, as nearly as may be, in their natural state and condition, for the purpose of the education, pleasure, and recreation of the public." This visionary statement was largely the work [...]

After the election of the new 98th General Assembly restarted the legislative cycle, the proposed amendment to the Downstate Forest Preserve Act to ban the development of any new sand, gravel, or other mining operation on land owned by a forest preserve was reintroduced on February 5, 2013 by Senator Michael Noland as SB 1344.  It was again assigned to the Local Government Committee, where no action was taken before it was re-referred to Assignments on May 10th.  The Elgin Area League of Women Voters supports this bill, but has taken the position that it should be expanded to include [...]

In October 2008, the KCFPD purchased the Brunner Farm for a record-breaking $40 million, using referendum money and grants.  At the time, Director of Natural Resources Drew Ulberg declared it "the single most important land purchase the district has ever made."  More than four and a half years later, in May of 2013, the Brunner Forest Preserve is still not open.  While some preliminary work has been completed, there is still a chain across the entrance.  The OSLAD Project Agreement signed by President John Hoscheit on May 26, 2009 stipulated that the site should be open to the public within [...]

In the course of studying the original gravel mining controversy surrounding Brunner Forest Preserve, a number of other issues came up which led to the decision to broaden the scope of the ongoing study to include "mission drift", the inherent conflict of interest posed by the Kane County Board members/Forest Preserve Commissioners "wearing two hats", financial questions, and transparency issues.  To reflect the expansion of the original study scope, the continuing study has been renamed the Kane County Forest Preserve District Study.  This is an update on those issues, and on Brunner Forest Preserve. Continue Reading...