No gravel mining; you have my vote

The Kane County Forest Preserve District board is to be commended for efforts to preserve more open lands by asking permission from voters in an April referendum for the funds to purchase property and improve current preserves.

However, they must prove to voters that they will keep those lands for the public use in perpetuity. They can do this by passing a resolution, before April, that will forever ban gravel mining on any forest preserve property.

Too many board members seemed to think it was a good idea to create “lakes” on the Brunner Preserve by allowing gravel mining operations. While public outcry seems to have stopped this bad idea, I want some assurance from the board that this question will never be revisited.

Voters also need more information on which preserves are to be improved and how much land they are planning on purchasing. Will purchases be spread throughout the county? Exactly what improvements will be made and at which preserves?

Wanting to save open space in Kane County is a noble plan and one future generations will thank us for. The board must earn the public trust, however, with open discussions and by taking note of what the public wants in their preserves. People don’t want gravel mining that will destroy the land; they want a pledge that the land will indeed be conserved. The board must give that guarantee before April to earn my vote to spend $30 million.

Billita Jacobsen

Carpentersville