Promises, Promises... Enough Said

Thanks to my Uncle Harry (Jr.) for this post-election pearl of wisdom! Just click on the above rectangle. For those of you that do not know what this truck does, just look at the license plate for a clue.

Time To Cut Up That Pie

Prior to voting to put the referendum on the ballot, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County Commission spent a lot of time establishing a plan for which parcels we should try to purchase. We came up with $100 million worth of properties from which to pick. We figured that we might not get some of the properties. Or that the price may be too high for others. On the plus side, there is always the chance that we might get a grant or donation to leverage the money we have. In any case, we have a list of properties that we will in the near future attempt to obtain.

"But you have $68 million to buy land with!"

Up till now, I have had 4 requests to buy land with the referendum money to essentially stop a proposed development. Of course, none of these are on our list. Essentially, none of these properties will help us to accomplish our mission. Nor will they improve our Preserves. Some of these might obtain some District participation to help find a workable solution. Mostly with in kind services. However, our job is not to solve other's development problems.

So what is the intention of the Commission? Basically, it is to improve the quality of our Preserves. Read this on our website 'The Forest Preserve District will allocate the monies toward its plan to acquire 500 to 600 acres of land, restore native prairie, wetland and forest habitats and construct and improve trails and recreational areas. Lands planned for purchase will enlarge and connect existing forest preserves and other open space and contain high-quality natural habitats. Trail-improvement plans include segments to expand and connect regional trails along the West Branch of the DuPage River and Salt Creek.'

And This... And This...

What I listened to in college

The answer is YES

The unofficial result of Tuesday's referendum vote was a strong yes for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. A little over 65% of the voters said yes to more open space. In the next month or so we should be making bids for quite a few properties. That is because as part of our planning process we identified important parcels to obtain and have already done some of the initial leg work. I predict that by this time next year we will have expended more than 50% of the money from this bond issue. Also, we should see some capital projects starting.

Alot will be happening in our preserves over the next 2 or 3 years. Come on out and enjoy your growing preserves.

At Least They Have A Sense Of Humor!

Perhaps someone should have told Sen. Kerry that he doesn't have the privilege to revise his public comments that he is afforded in the Senate. The Senator was supposedly speaking about education. Then he opened his mouth and inserted his foot. Whether he was insulting America's finest or botching a joke about the President (as he claimed later), he didn't look that smart. At first he was indignant and not about to apologize. But when several Democrats called for him to apologize he relented and finally did apologize. Sort of. He basically said he was sorry that others 'misinterpreted' his comments. I think that Democratic Rep. Harold Ford Jr., running for the Senate in Tennessee, had it right when he said "Whatever the intent, Senator Kerry was wrong to say what he said.'

Maybe Sen. Kerry should use this photo in his campaign literature if he decides to run for President in 2008.