Settler's Hill view inspires hope and doubt in Kane County
Kane County Forest Preserve Commissioner Phil Lewis and a group of his fellow commissioners used SUVs and pickup trucks Thursday morning to reach the 150-foot summit of the old Settler's Hill landfill to get a better idea of what a $3.88 million NCAA-quality cross-country course could look like at the site.
“We've got $9 million to really turn this place into something for the public,” Lewis said to the group.
It's easy to see how the former landfill would be a popular public attraction while standing on the summit.
Green grass under your feet gives way to trees and shrubbery as your eyes travel from the ground up. There are butterflies and dragonflies. A blue heron soars through the sky followed only a couple of minutes later by an eagle.
You can see Tri-Cities landmarks, thanks to the unobstructed view the elevation provides: St. Charles city hall, Third Street Courthouse, the Campana Factory, Fifth Third Ballpark and, on the distant horizon, part of Willis Tower in Chicago.
But it's not just the scenery that makes the old dump a potential draw. Several Kane County Forest Preserve commissioners, such as Lewis, believe the elevation of the summit could give excellent views of a cross-country meet.
The project is several years into discussion, planning and investigation. About a week ago, the first financial feasibility study showed a cross-country facility would lose between $50,000 and $146,000 through its first 10 years of existence. Believers like Lewis, however, think there are ways to cut operating costs and still create a winning project.
But not everyone is a believer.
“My biggest fear is doing some environmental harm out here and not having enough money to fix it,” Commissioner T.R. Smith said.
Making cross-country a reality means building a course that doesn't jeopardize the membrane on the landfill that sits below three feet of clay and additional topsoil.
“There's 10 tons of vehicles sitting here right now,” Lewis said, expressing confidence in the landfill's integrity. “They used to drive semis up here.”
“As I stand here, I'm sinking into the ground,” Smith replied.
Ken Anderson, Kane County's director of environmental and water resources, said parts of the landfill have settled 4 to 10 feet in the nine years since it closed, but most settling should be done by the 10-year mark.
Inside the landfill, Waste Management harvests enough methane gas to generate nearly one-third of Geneva's electricity.
Commissioner John Martin of Geneva is somewhere between Lewis and Smith in terms of his prognosis for the site. Martin saw the financial report earlier this month as a starting point for the forest preserve district to seek private investments and find volunteers who would help with the bottom line projection.
On Thursday, he picked out landmarks in the distance while trying to calm fears. He didn't win over Smith.
“I like the idea of an observatory and walking trails,” Smith said. “But as far as making it a commercial venture, I don't know that it will pay for itself. That study that was presented showed it's just not going to make any money. Black hole is a great term.”
Commissioners will continue to debate the plan, but so far discussion hasn't left the initial committee level at either the forest preserve district or county board level. That leaves many potential votes to either move forward or move on hanging in the balance. There are several commissioners, such as Theresa Barreiro, who remain somewhere between “no” and “maybe.”
“It's a nice idea,” Barreiro said while taking in the view. “But …”