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DuPage forest preserve making case to stay independent

Failed attempts by state lawmakers in recent years to return oversight of DuPage County's forest preserves to the county board have inspired the forest preserve district to go on the offensive.

The district is asking visitors to its website to sign a petition calling on state senators and representatives to keep the district independent. As of Monday morning, nearly 2,100 people have signed the petition, which went online in the beginning of July.

Commissioner Mary Lou Wehrli said the petition is a way to invite residents to share their opinions about the commission's historic split from the county board in 2002.

State legislators approved the separation in 1996 because of concerns about an inherent conflict between the county's development interests and the forest preserve's environmental mission.

Still, Wehrli said there have been "several political attempts to rock the boat," referring to two measures proposed since 2013 that would have eliminated the forest preserve commission and given its responsibilities back to the county board.

The most recent legislation was filed this year by state Rep. Deb Conroy, a Villa Park Democrat. But there's been no activity on the proposal since it was referred to a House rules committee in late March.

While the idea of abolishing the commission is considered dead for the time being, district staff members decided to post the petition.

"We thought it (the push to consolidate the district with the county) was done two years ago, and it came up again," district spokeswoman Sue Olafson said. "The whole idea of the petition is to be proactive."

In the petition, legislators are reminded about why the county board and forest preserve commission were separated.

"The forest preserve district must remain independent to ensure the protection of open space and preservation of natural resources entrusted to it by DuPage County's residents," the petition reads. "Land, wildlife and experiences in nature must be protected and preserved for future generations."

Wehrli said consolidating government is a good idea in certain situations. But she said history shows the county board shouldn't be overseeing the forest preserves.

Before the change took effect in 2002, county board members served simultaneously as forest preserve commissioners.

One commonly cited conflict involved the county board allowing Diehl Road to be built through McDowell Grove Forest Preserve near Naperville.

In addition, the combined county board and forest district voted to extend the life of the two now-closed landfills - Greene Valley near Naperville and Mallard Lake near Hanover Park.

"You've got to consolidate things that are workable," Wehrli said. "This clearly has a track record of not being a good consolidation."

The legislation approved in 1996 cut the county board's size from 24 members to 18 and created the six-member forest preserve commission.

If there's another attempt to eliminate the commission, Olafson said the district will send the results of the online petition to Springfield.

"Should it ever come up again," Olafson said, "we can demonstrate there are people interested in ensuring that this agency remains independent."

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