Stroger attends meeting on redeveloping Rolling Knolls golf

Cook County officials indicated at a public forum with President Todd Stroger Thursday they will try to buy the entire Rolling Knolls Golf Course near Elgin, and an owner of the course who wanted to develop part of it said he would not stand in the county's way.

Rolling Knolls co-owner and Cook County Commissioner Tim Schneider said his family would make significantly more money if they developed part of the land at Bode and Irving Park roads into 90 homes and 42 townhouses, a plan that was given the green light last month by the Elgin City Council. But Schneider also acknowledged that to make that money his family would have to wait at least two years until the market comes back.

Schneider noted the potential conflict of interest with his family receiving county funds for the land while he sits on the forest preserve board. But he maintained that the conflict of interest is solved by his removing himself from voting on the matter, and by the county moving to take the land through eminent domain proceedings. He cited a county ethics board opinion that said handling the matter through the courts rather than through the board remove the conflict.

"Should the (forest preserve) choose to do so, my family is not going to stand in the way of that happening," Schneider told the crowd gathered at the Hanover Park Township Senior Center.

The issue arose after Chapel Creek resident Paul Halverson rose to ask Stroger to consider having the forest preserve buy the land instead of letting it be developed and annexed by Elgin.

Halverson, himself a former county employee, said such a move would preserve the land as open space and prevent traffic congestion in the area.

Forest Preserve Superintendent Steven Bylina, there with Stroger, assured Halverson the county intended to acquire the land. Bylina affirmed after the meeting that the county wants the entire parcel, not just what's left over from the development.

Nearby residents were apparently unconcerned about any potential conflicts of interest and instead applauded heartily when Schneider, who came up to the podium after Halverson and Bylina spoke, indicated he would forego development.

"As you know, in December the city council received our proposal and accepted our development of 92 single-family homes and 40 townhouses on our property. And it was our intent that when the economy came back for the housing market that we were going to develop that property," Schneider said.

"This property would be significantly more valuable in two years with a development on it. But also our family would like to leave a legacy in this area to all of you and to our families," Schneider told the crowd.

Schneider said he has removed himself from negotiations with the county and is instead letting his family handle the matter. But his comments made clear that the family would not object to the county buying the entire parcel. And Bylina confirmed the county would pursue the entire parcel.

Many nearby residents of the golf course had complained at the December Elgin meeting that developing the land would mean infinitely more congestion and headaches for the area.

Although most residents in attendance were there for news on the Rolling Knolls development, many did ask questions of Stroger and his staff about other aspects of county government. Stroger has initiated a series of "town hall" meetings since enacting his $426 million sales tax increase in 2008 in an effort to show suburban residents what services the county provides.

He was significantly more welcome Thursday in Bartlett than in a similar forum in Palatine in 2007 just after the tax was enacted.

One resident complimented the county clerk on its smooth elections and others had similar kind words. Still, another resident noted that her property values have dropped, but her taxes had not.

Stroger noted the county has not raised its property taxes in over a decade. He encouraged her to apply for a reduction through the county Board of Review.

Golf: Residents had resisted developing the course

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=9&type=video&item=286">Stroger at Rolling Knolls golf course meeting </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>