Board separation – “wait and see”

The sponsors of legislation to separate the Forest Preserve District and Cook County boards put the legislation on pause after being asked to do so by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

Friends of the Forest Preserves and its 15 coalition partner organizations mobilized their members and supporters, and we all worked hard last year to get the legislation passed in Springfield.  All indications were that the legislation was on track to pass, thanks to the calls, letters, visits, and press generated by everyone’s efforts – along with important behind-the-scenes work of many.  All that work is deeply appreciated and will be influential in the long run.

Bill sponsors Senator Don Harmon and Representative Elaine Nekritz agreed to the President’s request.  President Preckwinkle wants a chance to improve District operations before the boards are separated.  She has indicated to Friends that she is not opposed to the idea for the long term but believes that she can do good in the short term.  She has an impressive record, and her belief is not unreasonable.

Friends has known from the beginning that passing this monumental legislation would be a difficult task, and we are committed to seeing it through – no matter how long it takes.  We feel that this is an essential better-government reform that is the only method for removing the conflict of interest for elected officials running the County and the Forest Preserve District.

________________________

It’s time for Cook County to have a separately elected board for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, allowing voters to elect Commissioners on the basis of candidates’ positions, credentials, experience and interest in forest preserve governance. Separating the board would not create a new government entity because the District is already a separate taxing body.

The Forest Preserve District is currently governed by the Cook County Board – the same board that oversees the largest integrated court system in the country and the second largest health system. Separating the boards will eliminate the conflicts of interest inherent in the current system of governance and allow for better oversight of the Forest Preserve District.

“This would be truly historic,” said Steve Packard, a Friends’ founding board member. “It would be the single-most important step forward for the Forest Preserve District since it began buying land in 1915.”

Municipalities fighting passage of utterly vital stormwater policy

Forest Preserve District of Cook County staff and Commissioners are being bombarded by municipalities that do not want to have to adhere to the new stormwater policy, even though it will actually result in better protection for their communities. They fear added costs will suppress development.

Friends of the Forest Preserves, along with its coalition partners, need your help to ensure that the Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners passes the Stormwater Management Policy. The policy is a crucial measure needed to further protect and preserve the ecosystems and resources in the preserves, as well as neighboring businesses and homes.

The District has developed and tested this policy over the past several years and  some communities, like Elk Grove Village, are embracing it in order to improve stormwater management in their community along with protecting their cherished forest preserves (Busse Woods). Supporting this policy is also essential in showing support for the District and its progress with continuing to propose environmentally beneficial policies such as this and the Land Policy.

Issues:

• The forest preserves of Cook County store 80% of the stormwater in Cook County, while they only occupy 11% of the land area.
• When stormwater is delivered through poorly designed and maintained systems it causes significant damaged through erosion and sedimentation.
• Stormwater is delivered to the forest preserves in too high of a volume, too forcefully, too warm, and full of contaminants, and therefore most of it is harmful to the people, along with the plants and animals, that use the forest preserves.

Solutions:

• The customized volume, velocity and vegetation controls in the stormwater policy are imperative to prevent stormwater from inundating these precious natural resources and ultimately the surrounding residential and commercial areas.
• The policy effectively curbs erosion and settles out pollutants that otherwise would flush into our waterways.

We need your help:

Urge your Cook County Commissioner to adopt the stormwater management policy because we need strong flood protections for the preserves and surrounding communities.  The cost of these measures are far better than paying to fix damage and compensate for losses to our preserves and nearby homes and businesses.

Call, email, or write you commissioner and ask them to vote to pass the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Stormwater Management Policy because it serves to protect the forest preserves of Cook County along with the communities that surround them. Follow this link for the commissioners’ contact information or call us and we can help you get in touch with them.

More Information

Benjamin Cox, Executive Director

(312) 356-9990

benjamin@fotfp.org