Kane Co. mine not justified

Dear Kane County Board,

After reading the article “Kane forest board, Dundee Township supervisor locked in war of words” in the Daily Herald on Oct. 12, I am uncertain whether mining is for creating lakes or raising funds. In either case, mining is just wrong.

The article noted, “The idea behind the mine is to save money on the gravel needed to build Longmeadow Parkway.” Since when is it justified to exploit the natural resources of a forest preserve? Should we therefore not dig up the topsoil and sell that, too? What about the very trees of a forest preserve? Why not just sell the land itself if you are just looking for money?

Since when are any of these obligations of the forest preserve? It should be very clear that mining will harm any forest preserve as it is removing the land. Mr. Hoscheit was quoted stating, “There was some discussion in the past about creating lakes on forest preserve property” and “we'd go through a long, open discussion process.”

The forest preserve's mission is clear: restore, restock, protect and preserve; and these have nothing to do with creating a lake were there was none before. As has been clearly and factually stated, there is no evidence that supports creating lakes.

If there is so much concern about comments about mining, why not make a motion to clearly state “no mining will be done in the Forest Preserve District of Kane County?”

David Poweleit

Carpentersville