Power towers, organic farm are on the horizon

A handful of "no" votes joined the handful of people protesting deals Tuesday that will change the way land is used in two Kane County Forest District preserves. It wasn't enough to derail either proposal.

Commissioner Barb Wojnicki attempted to coax her colleagues to vote against a plan that will now erect ComEd power lines and towers within the Muirhead Forest Preserve. The preserve, in Plato Township, is within her district. Wojnicki pointed out the Muirhead family, which still owns a Frank Lloyd Wright farmhouse in the preserve, opposes the power tower deal. They see the ComEd deal as a slap in the face to the agreement made during the sale agreement with the forest preserve district.

That argument won "no" votes from Commissioners Deb Allan, Myrna Molina and Monica Silva. Commissioners Maggie Auger and Don Ishmael abstained. But the remaining commissioners all voted in favor of the deal.

Area historical societies and preservationists vowed to fight against the deal when it comes before the Illinois Commerce Commission this spring. If the ICC gives its stamp of approval, the forest preserve district will receive a 20 percent bonus payment from ComEd for pushing the deal through so quickly.

ComEd was already set to pay the district $319,000 for the right of way to place the towers along a rail line in the preserve. A 20 percent bonus could mean another $63,800 in the district's coffers.

The commission also approved a deal with a Barrington-based organic farm that will see 150 acres of the Brunner Forest Preserve near Carpentersville leased for commercial purposes.

Critics chastised the plan as "mission drift" that goes against the idea of preserving land for open space. But commissioners praised the deal as a way to preserve the existing barn in the preserve while also providing some educational opportunities for visitors about organic farming. In addition to rent, the district will also receive a cut of the profits from goods sold by the business that originate at the Brunner farm.

"This is a great use of our barn," Auger said. "Here is a farmer who is willing to change the farm from row farming to an organic farm without the use of pesticides. I believe it's a good opportunity for our forest preserve."

The preserve is in Auger's district. There were no "no" votes on the deal. Commissioner Phil Lewis abstained.