Bulletins
"The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is pleased
to announce the pending acquisition of 94 acres near West Chicago known as
Klein Road West. Today, the Board of Commissioners authorized the parcel’s
purchase, using $12.32 million from the 2006 land-acquisition referendum."
Spring, 2009: Klein Fen Property Update
Friends of Klein Friend is pleased to report that the DuPage County Forest Preserve (DCFP) is in the process of finalizing the purchase of 94 acres of farmland west of Klein Road and north of the Meadow Wood subdivision.
Although we are tremendously heartened by this significant move toward preserving and sustaining Klein Fen, we are concerned that a sizable portion of the land remains open for possible development of a roadway. This six acre parcel is a crucial part of the Klein Fen recharge zone.
Storm Water Summit Update
New: Please see our detailed summary of this event.
Friends
of Klein Fen extends its gratitude to the many public officials,
community leaders, and concerned citizens who attended the October
28th, 2008 Storm Water Summit. Our conversation was
spirited and productive, and has helped us envision and begin to
plan for our next steps. Please check our site often for
announcements concerning future meetings, activities, and projects.
October 28th: Storm Water Summit
Date: Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Place: Wayne Township Offices
27W031 North Avenue
West Chicago, Illinois
The
purpose of this summit is to discuss the recent flooding issues we have
experienced in the watershed area of the West Branch of the DuPage
River.
Although the Friends of Klein Fen are hosting this event, Christopher
Stull, President of the
DuPage River
Coalition will facilitate the discussion, which will focus on
identifying key areas of concern and potential solutions.
Friends of Klein Fen has personally invited the following public
officials and community leaders to attend this summit:
Jennifer Hammer,
Land Conservation and Water Specialist,
Conservation Foundation
Jim Klienwachter, Land Preservation Specialist and
manager of
Conservation @ Home
Brooke McDonald, President,
Conservation Foundation
Mike Kwasman, Mayor City of West Chicago
Mike Fortner, State Representative, House District 95
Randy Ramey, State Representative, House District 55
Dewey Pierotti, President,
DuPage County
Forest Preserve District
Roger Kotecki, Forest Preserve Board Member, District 6
Jim Zay. County Board Member, District 6 (Chairman of
the Stormwater Committee)
Bob Larsen, Candidate for County Board, District 6
Dirk Enger, Candidate for County Board, District 6
Bill Newell, Wayne Township Supervisor
Ken Spitz, Wayne Township Highway Commissioner
John Millner, State Senator, District 28
All local residents who are interested in this issue are also invited to attend and participate. We welcome community involvement and feedback.
October 20th City Council Meeting
Please be advised that West Chicago’s
City Council is meeting on Monday, October 20th, 2008
at 7:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers. Among the
agenda
items is "Public Hearing: St. Andrews Golf Course Annexation
Agreement." This is an excellent opportunity for members of the
community to express their thoughts and concerns about this issue. We
encourage all to attend.
October 8th Update
New: Minutes of the October 13th Meeting
Several weeks ago, Friends of Klein Fen distributed a September Newsletter examining some of the serious storm water issues in our local community. In that newsletter, we outlined our plan to deliver a formal statement addressing water quality and storm water concerns to the City of West Chicago and other government agencies prior to the final approval of any Planned Unit Development on the St. Andrews Golf and Country Club property. This property is currently under rezoning consideration--for high density housing and commercial use--in West Chicago. Our October 8th newsletter includes a copy of that statement, a list of the public officials and environmental leaders to whom it was addressed, and an overview of our action plan, which includes a Storm Water Summit to be hosted by Friends of Klein Fen later this month.
Please be advised that the City of West Chicago’s Development Committee is meeting this Monday, October 13, 2008 at 7:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers. Among the agenda items under discussion will be the following: “Items for Consent: St Andrews Golf Course--Annexation Agreement Amendment, Annexation, Rezoning, Special Use Amendment, Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Text Amendment."
If you are interested in what the City of West Chicago is planning and how their decisions will impact storm water management issues and wetland conservation, this session is well worth attending.
Many residents have voiced their concerns and supported our organization’s initiatives with a tax-deductable donation. We thank you for your recent support, which assists us in securing the legal counsel and advice we need to continue our efforts on behalf of the community.
September 23rd Update
Our September Newsletter examines the impact of recent flooding. Effective storm water management is inherently related to informed stewardship of open land, and to wetland conservation and preservation efforts. Please join us in working to protect the wetland areas that play such a crucial role in protecting us from flooding, and in working to preserve the open spaces on which our wetlands depend.
