'Onion' award to the forest preserve

Were I to have the pleasure of creating awards, I think an "Orchids and Onions" category might be appropriate. Based upon recent articles in the Daily Herald, it would not be difficult to select the first nominees for these honors.

The West Chicago Planning Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals and the development committee of the West Chicago City Council should, without a doubt, share the "Orchid" award. Their actions in approving the petition to annex and rezone 200 acres along Klein Road demonstrated that they, not the DuPage County Forest Preserve District, know what is in the best interests of the city. Based on the future vote of the entire city council, we might have to include them in a share of the award.

The not- so-coveted "Onion" award goes to the DuPage County Forest Preserve District, for playing the dreaded "we'll-condemn-the- land" card in order to grab a major portion of the same acreage.

This is not the first time the district has played that game in the name of "protection." Several years ago, it obtained land along Prince Crossing Road in West Chicago using the same tactics. Land that is not maintained, serves no real purpose other than to increase the district's acreage totals and reduces the amount of land on the tax rolls. Approximately 50 percent of the land in Winfield Township is off the tax rolls. Wayne Township's non-taxable land is rapidly approaching the same percentage, and we ask why our taxes are so high.

One must wonder if all of the forest preserve district's holdings in the western part of the county is for ecological purposes or, as stated by Forest Preserve Commission President Dewey Pierotti before a joint meeting of the Wayne and Winfield committeemen, the forest preserve concentrates on buying land in the western part of the county because land in other parts of the county is too expensive.

Possibly if the forest preserve showed more dedication in maintaining and making portions of its present holdings more user friendly, it would be easier to believe its intentions were ecologically sound and not based on politics and in response to the vocal minority.

Gene Rennels

West Chicago