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Updated 6/24/07
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Virgil's new asset: 1,100 Acre Forest Preserve
The Kane County Forest Preserve District announced in late July that it Massive forest purchase plan OKd by tiny Kane town of Virgilhad completed the purchase of 1, 100 acres of woods, wetlands, and farmland on the north edge of Virgil. The acquistion, to be called the Virgil Forest Preserve, is the first forest preserve property wholly within Virgil Township.In announcing the purchase, Forest Preserve District President John Hoscheit credited the efforts of Preserve Virgil with focusing the district on preserving open space in the township. The 1,100 acre preserve was formed from adjoining properties owned by seven landowners generally north and west of the existing village. Much of the land involved had been part of the proposal for the 2,600 home Founders Creek development. The land purchase was financed by part of a $75 million open space bond issue approved by Kane County voters in 2005. Prior to settlement and cultivation, the Virgil area was characterized by seasonal marsh land and grasslands. As such, the new forest preserve represents an important opportunity to recreate wetlands and grasslands on a scale that will encourage wildlife and outdoor recreational uses. As development in Kane County proceeds westward, it was crucial that property in the western townships be acquired to set it aside as open space and natural areas. |
Washburn elected Village President; Leblanc, Walker, and Seyller winVirgil
voters elected Debbie Washburn as Village President in the April
village elections along with Trustees Jamie LeBlanc, Peter Walker, and
Jay Seyller.
Debbie, Peter, and Jamie are newcomers to the board with Jay being returned for another term. They join sitting board members Bob Neisendorf, James Giannini, and Colette Petit. In 2005, Virgil voters elected three Preserve Virgil supported candidates to the Village Board to halt consideration of the proposed 2670-home Founders Creek development – and, in a special advisory referendum, voted more than 2 to 1 against the proposed development. Preserve Virgil helped initiate discussions with the Kane County Forest Preserve District to acquire the land in the proposed development as the Virgil Forest Preserve – now a 1100 acre recreational and natural asset for our village. With their votes, Virgil residents chose to continue the tradition of preserving their small town atmosphere. Special thanks go to Pat Probst for her courageous run for the Village Board in 2005 as a write-in candidate and then winning a lawsuit challenging her election. Her two years’ service on the board was key to stopping the sprawling Founders Creek plan. Voters say
‘Yes’ to Preserve More
In April Kane County voters approved $85 million in
bonds to purchase 3,000 to 4,000 acres as forest presrves. |
