Time to election new board members
Several years ago, the Lake County Forest Preserve used public money that they received by referendum vote by the constituency of Lake County to purchase the land at Fort Sheridan. Fort Sheridan, at that time, included a golf course, such designation of a golf course remaining on the site is attached to the deed of the property. As such, the golf course "runs with the land," or shall always be present with the land.
Enter the LCFPD, who by purchase of the property accepted the property "as-is," with the deed restriction that a golf course remain on the property. Being fully informed of the conditions attached to the deed, the LCFPD bulldozed the existing golf course and in so doing "bulldozed" the people of Fort Sheridan who had been "promised" that a golf course would remain on the property. A promise, incidentally, that is enforceable by the deed restriction.
The cost of rebuilding that which was bulldozed is astronomical. Given the economics of the area, a course arrayed with windmills and AstroTurf would not carry a par 3 rating, and never would it be able to host a tournament of any kind, save for one for those under the age of 10. An appropriately designed and outfitted course would cost around $25 million dollars give or take a few hundred grand. The only way a course could be competitive in the marketplace of the North Shore would be to do it right, thus making the LCFPD a division of Kemper Sports Management, which manages golf courses in the area.
The bell has been rung, people, the LCFPD blew it. There is no longer a golf course at Fort Sheridan, and if you want another one, you can pay for it again, with more money from your referendum funds, 25 percent of which can go toward infrastructure, a yarn I'm sure will be spun by the board president herself as soon as she figures out how to manipulate the funds.
We elected these people to office to represent our interests. I don't golf. It is a breach of my fiduciary trust in YOU, Lake County Board members, to spend referendum dollars in a manner that does not benefit more than the North Shore constituency. It is malfeasance of office to expect the constituency to continue to tolerate misguided spending and self-serving agendas. You are subject to the Constitution of the state of Illinois and to an ethics code that you are breaching by virtue of your presence on the board by the decisions you are making.
I want change on the county board. In order to effect change, you must elect new leadership. Out with the old (those who have been in office more than two terms) and in with those who are fiscally responsible, which does not include the sitting president of the LCFPD.
Holly Donaghy
Vernon Hills