DuPage forest candidates differ on Blackwell facility

Nearly four years after the DuPage County Forest Preserve Commission voted to put a fleet maintenance garage at Blackwell Forest Preserve near Warrenville, it still hasn't been built.

Now the two forest preserve candidates vying for the chance to represent District 6, which includes Warrenville, have differing views on whether the site chosen for the facility is in the right spot.

Incumbent Commissioner Shannon Burns says she doesn't support the planned location.

Burns' opponent in the Nov. 4 election disagrees, adding he would like to see work start on the project.

"It's a long-standing issue," said Al Murphy, a West Chicago Republican. "The current facility is in poor, deteriorating condition."

Right now, half the district's vehicle maintenance work is done at an existing Blackwell facility. The rest is done at Churchill Woods Forest Preserve near Glen Ellyn.

As part of the district's plan, a new $7.5 million, 29,000-square-foot garage with 16 bays would be constructed near McKee Marsh off Mack Road.

However, the project has been delayed, in part, because the district is trying to finalize a deal for water service from Warrenville.

To get things moving, Murphy is calling on the district to ask West Chicago to provide water service. He says getting water from West Chicago could save the district millions of dollars.

"That would hopefully bridge the gap and allow them to start construction," said Murphy, who owns a hardware store in West Chicago.

Burns said a new maintenance garage should have been built a decade ago.

"The maintenance people are working in substandard conditions," she said. "It needs to be updated."

But the West Chicago Democrat said the district never did a needs assessment to determine whether the Mack Road site is the best spot for the facility.

"Unless that gets done," Burns said, "I'm never going to be in favor of that location."

She said she's hoping the board will do "some due diligence" before moving ahead with construction.

Still, Burns said she realizes the maintenance garage may be built at Blackwell anyway.

"I am willing to consider that it may end up there," said Burns, who is a small-business owner.

If that happens, Burns said she will push for the district to reduce the size of the garage. She also wants steps taken to screen the building so neighboring homeowners don't have to look at it.

"I'm confident that if it ends up there, it will end up there in a different shape than what we started with," Burns said.

Whoever wins the race between Burns and Murphy will represent District 6 for a 4-year term.

District 6 includes all or parts of Warrenville, Batavia, West Chicago, Wheaton, Winfield, Carol Stream, Bloomingdale, Hanover Park, Bartlett, Wayne and St. Charles.