DuPage district remap draws forest preserve worries

After having to move twice when county legislative boundaries were redrawn, DuPage County Forest Preserve Commissioner Roger Kotecki doesn't want to pack up again.

That's why he asked for forest preserve representation at Tuesday's inaugural county board redistricting committee meeting.

"It would be better if there had been a joint meeting set up or better if the forest preserve had a vote," he said. "It's not too late to correct that mistake."

State law currently binds the forest preserve commission and county board together when it comes to representation mapping. There are six districts. Voters pick three county board members and one forest preserve commissioner from each district.

Committee Chairman Pat O'Shea said forest preserve commissioners will have "input in the process," but Tuesday's meeting was about starting that process.

Forest preserve officials are pushing for legislation that would cut any legislative binds that remain from when forest preserve business was overseen by the county board. Forest preserve attorney Bob Mork said that legislation has stalled in Springfield. The forest preserve district became a separate entity nearly a decade ago.

Forest preserve leaders want to completely divest themselves of the county board over concerns that the county board could go to nine representative districts after the 2010 census figures are released. That would require the forest preserve commission to follow suit, which would cost taxpayers more than $150,000 in additional salaries for the three new elected officials.

Mork said the original separation of the forest preserve from the county board was based on the idea that it would not increase the number of elected officials. When the district separated, the county board shrunk from 24 members to 18.

But county board member and redistricting committee member Jim Zay had concerns about the forest preserve and county having two different sets of legislative districts if the forest preserve is allowed to separate, which he said could confuse voters.

The committee also approved a $150,000 preliminary budget for the mapping process. Member Debra Olson expressed concerns about setting a figure without knowing how the money would be spent. O'Shea said about half of the budget would likely be spent on consultants needed to help draw the map.