Kane forest board doesn't get mission

Kane forest board doesn't get mission

Once again, the Kane County Forest Preserve District has demonstrated why forest preserve commissioners should be elected separately from county board members. Instead of acting solely in the interests of our forest preserves, they are playing "Let's Make a Deal" with ComEd over the routing of huge new steel towers to carry power lines.

Nobody wants these towers on their property, for obvious reasons. They render a lot of space unusable, they're ugly, and there are health concerns.

While power lines have to go somewhere, there shouldn't be an automatic assumption that forest preserves are less valuable than farm land or any other property. The farmers in Sycamore, including Commissioner Mike Kenyon, have been vocal in their opposition to routing the lines on or near their property. But who speaks for the preserves, if the elected commissioners won't? For our right to have preserves that are natural and beautiful?

President Hoscheit has been willing to trade land use in the preserves for cash. Mike Kenyon is more than willing to allow high power lines in the preserves to help out the adjacent farmers because "that's part of our mission - helping people."

No, it isn't. The commissioners need a remedial course in just what the mission statement is: "To acquire, hold and maintain lands within Kane County that contribute to the preservation of natural and historic resources, habitats, flora, and fauna; and to restore, restock, protect and preserve such lands for the education, recreation, and pleasure of all its citizens."

Carol Grom

Sleepy Hollow