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Now on Twitter!
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Follow Commissioner Goslin on Twitter for live updates during County and Forest Preserve Board Meetings and to find out what he's working on in the District and what he's been reading in the news.
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Now on Facebook!
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Connect with Commissioner Goslin and let him know what's on your mind.
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New Conservation Science Center at Chicago Botanic Garden
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On September 23, the Chicago Botanic Garden opened its new
Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center. The center is a 38,000-square-foot building that serves as a
laboratory and research facility. Nearly 200 plant scientists will use the facility and provide
leadership on solutions for plant conservation problems caused by climate
change, habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive species and pollution.
The Plant Science Center features dedicated teaching
facilities and house the country's first-ever doctoral program that focuses
exclusively on plant biology and conservation, offered in partnership with
Northwestern University. The building sits on 4.5-foot pillars and is designed
to earn a gold LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The center is surrounded by and built over a Rainwater Glen that
will collect and filter stormwater runoff from the building and adjacent
parking areas.
The Visitor Gallery in the center of the building runs the length of the Plant Science Center and features eight interactive exhibits explaining the
essential role plants play in everyday life and the critical role garden
scientists are playing to preserve and better manage natural plant communities. Also open to the public is the 16,000-square-foot green roof and overlook with
interpretive panels educating visitors about the benefits of green roof
gardens.
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Hinsdale Land Proposal for Bemis Woods
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At the Forest Preserve Real Estate Committee in September, the Village of Hinsdale submitted a proposal for a long-term lease of an isolated parcel of Forest Preserve land, Bemis Woods. This proposal provides for continued use of a portion of the land (known as Duncan Field) for athletic purposes, as well as some funding for restoration of the remaining acreage of Bemis Woods.
Today the FPD Board approved the continued discussion of Hinsdale's proposal with FPD staff. I do
not support Hinsdale's plan in its present form, but I do support
further discussions. Given the fact that the current proposal does not align with the District's land
management policy, it seems unlikely negotiations will lead to an acceptable
solution, but no harm will come from allowing the District to explore the possibility of a
workable option that supports and enhances its preservation work. If at any point the Forest Preserve District concludes that the proposal will be inherently inconsistent with its land management policy, those discussions can end.
As a Forest Preserve District Commissioner, I take seriously my responsibility to ensure the District' mission to preserve and restore natural lands is upheld. Throughout my tenure as a Commissioner, as well as a former Chair of the FPD Real Estate Committee, I have continually turned down proposals by schools, municipalities and others for use of our precious preserves. I will continue to vote against any proposal regarding the use of FPD land that does not respect both the mission and land management policy of the District
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Forest Preserve District Code of Ordinances
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It was February of 2006 when I first introduced a resolution calling for the codification of FPD Code and not until March of the following year was an agreement approved by the Board for the purpose of compilation and codification of code, ordinances, and
resolutions of the Forest Preserve District. Now, over three years later, I am happy to report that the compilation of
the entire, up-to-date Forest Preserve District of Cook County Code has been completed.
The FPD has contracted with the Municipal Code
Corporation to regularly publish and update the Forest Preserve District
Code and to make the Code available to the public through a link on the
FPD's website--this function will be available soon.
Municipal Code
Corporation, the oldest and largest codifier of local government Codes, also provides this service for Cook County--check it out here.
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FPD Bond Rating Upgrade
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Fitch Ratings has upgraded the rating
on the Forest Preserve District's approximately $115 million in outstanding
general obligation bonds to 'AA-' from 'A+', with an outlook
of "Stable".
The upgrade is based on the District's improved financial
performance, management initiatives and low direct
debt levels.
The upgrade reflects positively on the District's efforts to match its
expenses to anticipated revenues while ensuring that the corporate fund balance
remains at or above the levels required by the Find Balance Policy.
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Recycling Hall of Fame Award
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On September 23, the Forest Preserve District of Cook
County was presented with the "Recycling Hall of Fame Award" from Keep Chicago
Beautiful (KCB). In presenting the award, KCB President Joyce
Kagan Charmatz highlighted the District's ongoing efforts through the years to
encourage its visiting public to recycle their waste and help reduce the public
trash stream.
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In the District
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Disbursements
Ardmore Associates, Chicago, Illinois -
$6,408.30 for Renovation of Five (5) Limestone Shelters
Master Project, Chicago, Illinois -
$302,338.20 for
Limestone Shelters
Forty 7 Construction, Lockport, Illinois - $50,872.73 for
Resurfacing Parking Lot an Crabtree Nature Center
Tallgrass Restoration, Schaumburg, Illinois - $19,867.25 for Herbicide Invasive
Vegetation
Pizzo & Associates, Leland, Illinois - $82,501.14 for Shoreline Management of Multiple Sites
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Let's
have a conversation! As always, feel free to
reply to this newsletter, send me an email or give me a call about any
Cook County issue.
Sincerely,
Gregg Goslin, Commissioner
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