More on Mission, Vision, and Guiding Principles
Hanging on my office wall is a copy of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's mission, vision, and guiding principles. When I sit at my desk, I pretty much have to look at it. That is fine, because it serves as a constant reminder of what a Commissioner is suppose to do.
The District continues to pursue partnership opportunities. We recently approved a deal with the Village of Carol Stream. We had planned an extention of the West Branch Regional Trail to connect the West Branch Forest Preserve with the Timber Ridge Forest Preserve. Because of some fence requirements, some floodway construction and County permitting constraints, this trail segment would cost $1.5 million. Staff was strongly suggesting we pursue trail construction at an alternate location.
The Village of Carol Stream was planning some road improvements for Fair Oaks Road that runs on the east side of the West Branch Forest Preserve. Their plan was to build a sidewalk/trail along the road. Their problem, in order to complete the storm water ditches for the road, they required 0.3 acres of land from the District. The win/win solution was to connect the regional trail to the road improvements. The Village would spend the money that it was already planning to spend, while now having all of the stormwater needs fulfilled. The Village would build the trail, with the Distict paying for materials of a certain portion of the trail not in the original plans, some engineering and permitting costs for additional trail, and absorbing the cost of conveying the 0.3 acres to the Village. The estimated cost to the District of this was approximately $230,000. That seems like quite a bargain, to spend only 15% as much money, while using less than 10% of the land. An additional plus was that the land now being used was basically already developed land. The earlier route would have been through natural areas. With the money saved, we can still provide some access to the natural area that will be less intrusive to the plant and wildlife. And still have some money left over.
When I think about this, I realize that several of our other guiding principles were used in making this deal. We also expressed leadership, stewardship and management.
The District continues to pursue partnership opportunities. We recently approved a deal with the Village of Carol Stream. We had planned an extention of the West Branch Regional Trail to connect the West Branch Forest Preserve with the Timber Ridge Forest Preserve. Because of some fence requirements, some floodway construction and County permitting constraints, this trail segment would cost $1.5 million. Staff was strongly suggesting we pursue trail construction at an alternate location.
The Village of Carol Stream was planning some road improvements for Fair Oaks Road that runs on the east side of the West Branch Forest Preserve. Their plan was to build a sidewalk/trail along the road. Their problem, in order to complete the storm water ditches for the road, they required 0.3 acres of land from the District. The win/win solution was to connect the regional trail to the road improvements. The Village would spend the money that it was already planning to spend, while now having all of the stormwater needs fulfilled. The Village would build the trail, with the Distict paying for materials of a certain portion of the trail not in the original plans, some engineering and permitting costs for additional trail, and absorbing the cost of conveying the 0.3 acres to the Village. The estimated cost to the District of this was approximately $230,000. That seems like quite a bargain, to spend only 15% as much money, while using less than 10% of the land. An additional plus was that the land now being used was basically already developed land. The earlier route would have been through natural areas. With the money saved, we can still provide some access to the natural area that will be less intrusive to the plant and wildlife. And still have some money left over.
When I think about this, I realize that several of our other guiding principles were used in making this deal. We also expressed leadership, stewardship and management.
posted by Carl at 8:48 AM
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