 National Association of Counties * Washington, D.C. Vol. 31, No. 9 * May 10, 1999 Previous story | Table of Contents | Next story Ill. county antes up $55 million to preserve green space
On April 13, Lake County passed a referendum preserving the county’s forests and natural habitats, initiated by voters’ concerns and participation. At the proposal of Lake County’s Forest Preserve Board of Commissioners (consisting of the 23-member Board of Commissioners), a county-wide public opinion study was conducted in 1998. "We did this to see what people want, to find out if we’re meeting their needs," said Carol Calabresa, president of the Lake County Forest Preserve and member of the Board of Commissioners. The survey included questions about citizen needs, their satisfaction with county services, and even how much they would be willing to pay for additional services. Survey results indicated a deep concern about the exploding growth of the community. "We found out that people are concerned about their quality of life, increased taxes, and having to build new schools (as a result of uncontrolled growth)," said Calabresa. "We also found out that people are willing to pay a reasonable increase." The survey also showed that "maintaining a balance between growth and open spaces was a concern for county residents," according to Andy Kimmel, director of Environmental Education and Public Affairs. Lake County then formulated a strategic plan that included the voters’ request for more trails, improved habitats, expanded forest preserves – all at the price tag which voters had indicated that they were willing to pay. As a next step, the county initiated a speaker’s bureau to reach out to different community groups through a variety of open forums that were attended by approximately 4,000 people. County commissioners led the effort to inform the public. "The public officials were the community leaders who helped organize the entire county," Calabresa said. "In Lake County, the entire board contributed money, attended public information meetings, and did mailings … I called on people, had lunch with people … (and) attended public information meetings" to get the message out. A broad coalition of community groups, including civic leaders, conservationists, and the private sector, also came together to spearhead a public information campaign. Groups like the Friends of the Preserve raised funds and campaigned for the passing of the referendum. And their hard work paid off. On April 13, Lake County voters approved a $55 million referendum with 66 percent of the vote. Of the total, $35 million is earmarked to purchase new forest preserves and to balance growth in Lake County, and $20 million to restore wildlife habitat, create new trails and improve public access to new and existing forest preserves. The next step for the Board of Commissioners will be to purchase the new land, create new trails and restore the natural habitats. "We plan to keep the voters informed so they know that the money is being spent responsibly," said Kimmel. The county is also pursuing partnerships with the federal and state governments as well as cultivating private partnerships. Officials believe that the success of the recent referendum has its roots in a history of like-minded initiatives. In 1993, the county passed a similar referendum that gave the county $30 million for forest preservation. The county also seized an opportunity when W.W. Granger, a large distributor of institutional products, decided to relocate their headquarters. Through a cooperative negotiation involving the county and local government, the company decided to donate a forest preserve on its new campus worth $14 million. Additionally, the county was able to broker a deal with the federal government in the closing of the Fort Sheridan army base. That agreement secured the county approximately 125 acres of forest land at a low cost. But, of all the initiatives, this most recent referendum has garnered the most funds and protects the most land. "We built on a successful track record and succeeded, even with competing measures on the ballot," said Steve Messerli, executive director of the Lake County Preserves. Coinciding with Lake County’s efforts, neighboring Kane, Will and DuPage counties have recently passed $70 million each in forestry initiatives. According to Calabresa, the counties are combining efforts on regional trail connections to join their bridges and trails. Some might wonder how Lake County was able to pull together so many resources to pass their initiative. To Andy Kimmel, the answer is clear. "The Chicago region is being faced with rapid growth ... the voters have indicated that it is important to maintain a balance between open space and growth." The Joint Center for Sustainable Communities, a collaboration between NACo and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, supports initiatives such as this through its partnership with USDA Forest Service Cooperative Forestry division. Managing and protecting lands, curbing urban sprawl, promoting responsible decisionmaking, and encouraging smart growth through greater multi-jurisdictional cooperation are the goals of the Joint Center as well as of the Forest Service. For more information on this issue and other resources, contact the Joint Center at 800/696-1667. (Nolish is an intern at the Joint Center for Sustainable Communities) |
When people cast their vote at the ballot box, they choose the candidates that they anticipate will best represent their concerns. The Lake County (Ill.) Board of Commissioners takes this process very seriously. When their voters speak, they listen.