Campton hopefuls diverge on Fox Mill open space
Candidates seeking one of three, 4-year seats on the Campton Hills Village Board have differing views on how the situation over open space in the Fox Mill subdivision - which some say should be turned over to the Kane County Forest Preserve District - should be resolved.
Incumbents Michael Millett and Michael Tyrrell are challenged by Joe Carpenter, Nick Girka, Robert Santoro and Wendy White-Eagle.
At least one new trustee will be elected next month since Jim McKelvie, who was appointed to fill a vacancy, is not seeking another term.
Decades ago, when the Fox Mill subdivision was developed, 275 acres of open space was to be deeded to a public entity to control and maintain. The forest preserve district wasn't interested and Fox Mill's homeowners association assumed responsibility of maintenance, charging each homeowner a monthly fee to cover costs.
The village board hired a law firm in 2016 to try to broker a compromise between the forest preserve district and the homeowners group, but residents and trustees are wary of spending more resources on litigation.
Tyrrell, who was appointed trustee to fill a vacancy, said the initial development plan mandated the land go to the forest preserve. He said he is worried a precedent might be set if the forest preserve doesn't assume control over the land. He compared the situation to a homeowner mowing part of a neighbor's lawn and then claiming ownership of it.
"There is an ordinance that says that land goes to Kane County," Tyrrell said, adding negotiating a settlement is preferable to a lawsuit.
Millett, a trustee since 2008, said on the one hand he wants all entities to follow development rules. On the other hand, if the association has the maintenance covered, why change it.
"We have no way to compete with the forest preserve, legally, to fulfill this obligation," Millett said. "We're not going to scare the forest preserve. We're just going to aggravate more of our residents who want this to go away."
Carpenter says the homeowners association is doing a good job and it should stay that way. He opposes spending more money on lawyers. "I'm not sure (the forest preserve) would maintain it in a way the community would want it maintained," Carpenter said. "There needs to be a resolution. But the village spending money forcing Fox Mill residents to spend money doesn't make a whole lot of sense."
Girka, who has served as village clerk since spring 2015, believes village trustees should stay out of the matter and let the homeowners association and the forest preserve ink an accord. He says the village can't force the forest preserve to take the land.
"There's no reason for the board to stick their nose in this anymore. It's between the homeowners association and the county," Girka said.
White-Eagle, who serves on the village's plan commission, said she he would lean toward a compromise idea floated by Village President Harry Blecker to have the homeowners association sell the land to the forest preserve for $1 a year and have the district maintain it. She doesn't want trustees to spend any more money on lawyers.
Santoro could not be reached for comment.
Candidates in Campton Hills
What: Former Campton Hills Village President Patsy Smith has organized a forum for candidates running April 4 for the village board and the Fox River and Countryside Fire/Rescue District board.
When: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday
Where: Bell-Graham Elementary School, 4N505 Fox Mill Blvd., Campton Hills.
Who: 9 a.m. candidates mingle with audience; 9:30 to 11 a.m. Campton Hills trustees forum; 11:15 a.m. to noon fire district trustees forum