The February 25, 2002, Special Joint Board meeting was called to order by Supervisor Anderson at 7:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Clerk Johansen called the roll with Supervisor Anderson and Trustees Manser, Gillen, and Kupar present. Trustee Judy arrived at 7:08 p.m.
Amendment to the Open Space Plan: R. Manser moved the Board adopt the Resolution Recommending First Amendment to the Open Space Plan and incorporating the correction of two typos in said document as follows: on Exhibit A, the Johnson & Mongerson site, first P.I.N. number 08-35-400-011, be corrected to read 08-35-400-001; and on the attached letter to Mr. Melvin Mongerson of Trust #LT-1150, the first P.I.N. number 08-35-400-011 be corrected to read 08-35-400-001. The motion was seconded by D. Gillen. On a roll call vote Supervisor Anderson and Trustees Manser, Gillen, Judy, and Kupar voted aye. The motion passed. K. Judy moved to have the Township Clerk put a notice in the local paper pursuant to statute. The public hearing for Amendment of the Open Space Plan will be held on April 9th., at 7:00 p.m., at the Community Center, 5N082 LaFox Road, St. Charles, Illinois 60175, for the purpose of hearing the proposed amendment to the Open Space Plan. The notice shall be published not less then 15 nor more then 30 days before April 9, 2002. The motion was seconded by D. Gillen, and passed unanimously. K. Judy moved to mail Notice to the property owners identified in the Amendment not less then 20 days before the hearing. D. Gillen seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Briefing by Sam Santell, Kane County Development Department: S. Santell stated he would talk about three things: Kane County Open Space, Agricultural Preservation, and Open Space management as, for example, in Dundee Township.
1.) County Open Space: this is obtained in two ways – by donation from developers that get their developments approved, or by purchase by the Forest Preserve. In approving developments they try to connect existing open space to new development open space so that they get pedestrian links, bike trails, etc. Also linear greenways using floodplains, etc., are desirable. The most important thing is to make connections, and not leave islands. This works along the Fox River where they are concentrating on the five tributaries that feed that river. He states 40% open space is required in resource management areas, but no open space is required in agricultural areas because that implies development.
2.) Agricultural Preservation: this is done in two ways – by purchase of the land, or by purchase of the development rights to the land. When purchasing development rights the County pays the difference between the value of the land as farmland, and as development land. When an owner sells his development rights the property stays on the tax rolls as farmland. The farmer can still sell his land, but only as farmland. The new owner cannot develop it. Having a willing seller is important. It is desirable to buy the development rights of several farms clustered together. The County is using Riverboat funds for this program. They have four applications under review, and another five coming. One is the Strom property. There is nothing else firm from Campton Township.
3.) Open Space Management: Dundee Township has 8 properties. How to use this – soccer fields, four wheel vehicle use, for example? The Kane County Development Department puts together management plans. The County recommends mowing Dundee open space instead of removing invasive vegetation for five years because there isn’t enough money to restore all of it to native prairie. The Development Department is making maps of all Open Space in Kane County whether it is Park District, County Forest Preserve, homeowners association land, etc. He adds that Open Space land can be sprayed on with treated sewage effluent if its in resource management area.
Briefing by John Duerr, Kane County Forest Preserve: The Forest Preserve Board is drifting toward a passive walk in the woods approach now, instead of soccer fields, etc. See the blow-up of our township map: The dark green is Forest Preserve land, and the green cross-hatched area is under County Board resolution as area they are interested in. If a seller is not adverse to selling, there are tax advantages to condemnation that they like. The brown color on the map is institutional uses like Glenwood School for Boys, the Farm Bureau, the State Boys School, etc. See the nodes of Forest Preserve property along the bike path from subdivision land cash donations. An area of potential conflict is land pieces that are under the 50 acre requirement. They can be donated to the Forest Preserve instead. Lets work together on them and take half a loaf. Jerry Johnson asked if there are other expansions of the Forest Preserve? He answered as close to Route 64 as possible. Joy Yehnert is a full time person that tries to monitor this. She is in contact with the landowners. Ed Malek asked about the Bergland kame. It would be added to the Great Western Trail, John Duerr said. He added the 70 million of County referendum funds will end up as 85 to 88 million by the time they add in the grants.
Executive Session: D. Gillen moved to go into Executive Session to discuss land acquisition and to invite Ed Malek, Mike Tyrrell, Jack Shouba, Jerry Johnson, Judy Hines, Sue Clarkson, Chuck Reed, and Steve Holtsford of the Open Space Committee; and Dave Bressler, Paul O’Neal, and Bob Hertzler of the Plan Commission; and Marianne Nelson, Barbara Shaffer, and Bill Collins of AgTech; and Bill Davis of the Conservation Foundation; and Campton Township County Board Representative Barb Wojnicki; and Julia Glas, and Ken Alles Campton Township Staff, to participate. The motion was seconded by J. Kupar and passed unanimously at 8:10 p.m.
Supervisor Anderson reconvened the regular meeting at 10:55 p.m. D. Gillen moved the Board order appraisals on properties 1-2A, 1-3, 1-6, 3-1, 2-3, and 2-8 at a price not to exceed our prior resolution. The motion was seconded by K. Judy. On a roll call vote Supervisor Anderson and Trustees Manser, Gillen, Judy, and Kupar voted aye. The motion passed. R. Manser moved the Board authorize Supervisor Anderson to negotiate the purchase of 46 contiguous acres of the southern portion of the Coron property, in connection with the purchase of the entire Corron farmstead, for up to $21,000.00 per acre. The motion was seconded by K. Judy. On a roll call vote Supervisor Anderson and Trustees Manser, Gillen, Judy, and Kupar voted aye. The motion passed. R. Manser moved the Board authorize Supervisor Anderson to sign three offers to purchase the Corron property, as a single farmstead purchase, subject to the approval of the Township electors. The motion was seconded by K. Judy. On a roll call vote Supervisor Anderson and Trustees Manser, Gillen, Judy, and Kupar voted aye. The motion passed. R. Manser moved the Board authorize Bill Davis to negotiate alternative purchase plans for property 1-1. The motion was seconded by D. Gillen. On a roll call vote Supervisor Anderson and Trustees Manser, Gillen, Judy, and Kupar voted aye. The motion passed. J. Kupar moved the Board direct its legal council to investigate and report back to the Board on what is needed for the Township to incorporate, in an amount of time not to exceed 10 hours work. The motion was seconded by R. Manser. On a roll call vote Supervisor Anderson and Trustees Manser, Gillen, and Kupar voted aye. Trustee Judy abstained. The motion passed.
Adjournment: R. Manser moved to adjourn. J. Kupar seconded the motion, and the motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:18 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted
Richard Johansen
Clerk