Category: Permits

Harms Woods Designated 25th Illinois Nature Preserve

10/24/2019

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting
October 22, 2019

The Forest Preserve Board meeting spent 40 minutes of the hour on the consent agenda thanking various employees for their time served.

The IL Nature Preserve Commission thanked the Forest Preserve District (FPD) for preserving species and habitat in many spots throughout Cook County. Harms Woods is just the most recent designation in the FPD as a nature preserve.

Superintendent Randall reported that attendance is up, that fall is a lovely time to visit the forest preserve because there are fall colors and no insects. Permits go on sale November 15 and on-line use should make it especially easy.

He thanked an employee for almost single-handedly updating the website, particularly with regard to mobile-friendly access. He mentioned Ryan Lothian by name and said that otherwise it would have cost the FPD more than $100k to update and improve the website. Check out the updated website.

Observer: Amy Little

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Proposal to Remove 635 Trees Under Consideration by Cook County Forest Preserve District Board

7/26/2019

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Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board Meeting - July 23, 201
Meeting held at Brookfield Zoo

Board Actions:

Moved to committee: A request for authorization for the Forest Preserves of Cook County to grant a license to Nicor “to locate, operate and maintain 7,368 linear feet of 36-inch and 24-inch natural gas pipelines along the north edge of the Busse North Forest Preserve and Nature Preserve”. The new license will replace the existing license agreements which go back to 1958 and 1970. The existing pipelines currently cut through the Nature Preserve and are of different sizes which makes inspection difficult. The location for the new pipelines will run along and parallel with the south edge of the I-90 right of way. Nicor has requested a 66-foot-wide license area for the “construction, maintenance, safety, and inspection of the pipelines”. This construction access area will require 635 trees to be removed. Referred to committee. Item 19-0284.
Moved to committee: A motion to engage with a web-based evidence management system for the Forest Preserve Department of Law Enforcement. From a Request for Proposals, two responses were received. Quicket Solutions, Inc. was determined to be the most responsive and cost-effective. The system includes training and support for approximately 117 sworn law enforcement officers, sergeants and command staff and 6 civilians. The goal is to move from a current paper based tracking system to a digital system. Item 19-0320.

Other discussions of interest:

Stuart Strahl, PhD. President and CEO of the Chicago Zoological Society, gave a presentation on the background, history and current programs/outreach at Brookfield Zoo. Five thousand animals and five hundred-fifty species are represented at the zoo. 87% of Americans live in highly urbanized environments and benefit from access to the animals. and natural park space available at the zoo.

Observed by: Laura Davis Meeting Length: 1.15 hours

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Opening Day for Cook County Forest Preserve Permits Changed to November 15

10/17/2018

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Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting - October 16, 2018

What did the Board Decide:

Agreed to move the opening day for permits from January to November to accommodate folks planning events in 2019, more mild weather in November than January, and some folks have less cash after the holidays than in November.
Board approved a 3 year, competitive bid contract for Billy Casper Golf, from Virginia, to staff and manage better coverage for park golf and pavilion facilities. Forest Preserve staff were unable to meet all the demands from constituents.
Wampum Lake and Thornton-Lansing Road Preserves were elevated to Nature Preserve status which is the highest level of protection and indicate important natural and cultural significance.
An agreement was renewed with University of Illinois Prairie Research Institute to continue research in Cook County Forest Preserves.

Observer - Laura Davis Meeting Length : 11am until around 3pm. With a 1/2 hour lunch break

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Harms Woods Designated 25th Illinois Nature Preserve

Proposal to Remove 635 Trees Under Consideration by Cook County Forest Preserve District Board

Opening Day for Cook County Forest Preserve Permits Changed to November 15

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