The incumbent has voted to take 52 acres of forest preserve / Waukegan Savanna to allow the Waukegan Port District to expand the runway by 1,000 feet and allow WPD to tax district 8 residents for any shortfall of airport funding or fees. Switched her position on airport expansion and has been silent on environmental issues like ETO and coal ash plus silent on the Vista hospital trauma certification after many years in office. The plan for a new 7,000-foot runway is Projected to cost $186 million. The smallest local match is 5% (just over $9 million) which would increase the property tax levy by about $1.4 million for 20-years. The local tax could be much higher. That would be a $2.4-million levy at least through 2035. All without a referendum. According to last year's Waukegan Port District audit the Port Authority does NOT HAVE THE CASH FLOW FOR THIS KIND OF DEBT. The issue is taking 52-acres of the Waukegan (Forest Preserve) Savanna to build a new 7,000 foot runway will tax non-users of the airport. The Waukegan Port District airport needs maintenance, but any improvements will NOT benefit all District 8 residents. Any improvements need to be paid for by airport users. However, the $186,000,000 EXPANSION plan only benefits SPECIAL INTERESTS. Those interests should pay for any project costs not covered by federal or state funds. I will be a leader to justify any Airport EXPANSION plan and review its environmental and taxpayers/renters costs that benefit special interests.
Coal ash and Ethylene Oxide (EtO) air pollution. Toxic air pollution is causing District 8 major public safety & health problems. Land use (changes in zoning uses) is not controlled by the existing County zoning ordinance. Chuck will lead the efforts to integrate land use with zoning ordinances. This will allow the management of building permits just like the successful results of the Chicago Environmental Ordinance another Home Rule community. Chuck has solutions for the serious issues that effect of District 8. Uncontrolled ETO emissions from medical sterilization facilities and warehouse. Removal not just capping in place of Coal ash ponds. End or reduce the use of toxic chemicals like: ETO, PCB, Coal Ash, near homes, schools, and businesses, affecting the health of our children and the community at large. These toxic materials have been proven to affect the ability of future generations to advance economically. Chuck will initiate efforts to effectively use Lake County home rule cities until state and federal EPA can restrict use.
The Bond lawyers, quietly passed the Alternate Bond law in the 1990's. The Alternate Bond Law trumps the actual law creating the Waukegan Port District Authority which requires, a referendum to issue property tax backed bonds. It allows the Waukegan Port District with just 4 of 7 votes. And remember 3 or 4 of the 7 Waukegan Port District members do not even live in District 8. The Alternate Bond Law is 30 ILCS 350/15 Chapter 17, Paragraph 6925 Section 15. The two current Waukegan Port District Alternate General Obligation Bonds are Series 2015, $10 million, with a final annual payment in 2035. The other is Series 2019 $2.57 million with the final payment in 2038. Together the property tax levies against District 8 property owners of $1.05 million annually. So far, the Waukegan Port District has provided revenues other than the Property Tax each year to abate (avoid) the annual property tax levy until the airport expansion project. All without a referendum.
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Information was gathered about the site and project program ideas were developed through public input and assessment of our overall needs. A public open house was held in May to present site inventory and analysis information about the preserve and gather public input about future plan ideas. In addition, an online Information and Interest Survey was conducted to gather public input. View survey results.Site inventory and analysis findingsThe following maps were presented at the public open house:
Based on public input and our overall needs, two master plan concept alternatives were developed. The plan alternatives illustrate potential natural resource, recreation and restoration activities, and how they might be integrated into the site.A public open house was held in November 2009, and an online survey was conducted to provide opportunity for public comment on the plans. This input was used to develop the Conceptual Master Plan.
A preliminary Conceptual Master Plan was designed for the preserve, and reflects a combination of ideas from both of the concept alternatives previously reviewed by the public. A public open house was held on April 20, 2010, to give the public a chance to comment on the proposed preliminary conceptual master plan.
The Conceptual Master Plan was approved by the Board of Commissioners, and will be implemented as part of the Capital Improvement Plan budget process.Thank you to everyone who participated in the master planning process.