Comments on: Forest preserve makes quiet move on tax caps

By: rockfordteaparty

rockfordteaparty — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:32:44 +0000

Thank you for getting this information out there…this is some stunning information and we have only ourselves to blame. As a Lame Duck he is going to stick it to us the taxpayers and the best we can do is to keep a record of these sorts of betrayals for future reference so that we can thwart any moves he may make for future public office.

By: Georgine Arena

Georgine Arena — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:12:19 +0000

Update on the Forest Preserve Districts tax cap amendment- Representative Chuck Jefferson stood up for taxpayers. The bill failed to pass! Go Representative Jefferson!

By: Mike Woolery

Mike Woolery — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:59:20 +0000

The “hardwoods” cut from the areas I saw were poor quality. Species such as box elder is not even a good firewood species. And then throwing in this quote:
“a landowner in Shirland Township, he was concerned about the price paid for the hardwood portion of the clear-cut, saying, “I sold some soft maple recently for $200 a board foot.””
This is incorrect by several orders of magnitude! The current value of soft maple (silver maple) is closer to $0.20 a board foot…for specialty buyers, such as coffin manufacturers, they might tack on an extra couple cents, but to report that kind of dollar value is grossly inaccurate. The most valuable hardwood in our area by far is black walnut. The top 1% of veneer quality logs might bring as much as $10.00 a board foot. Average walnut veneer is closer to the $2-3.00 range.

I don’t know if this landowner was mistaken, possibly he was paid $200 per THOUSAND board feet (a common way of talking about value and volume). If this is the case, that equals 20 CENTS per board foot, which makes a lot more sense to me. I really wish that some better fact checking was done, instead of reprinting obvious mistakes that add to the misunderstanding of the issue.

By: Brian Leggero

Brian Leggero — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:51:25 +0000

P.S. you have to say which term you will be running for one of the 6 year terms or the 2 year term on the statement of candidacy and petition sheets.

By: Brian Leggero

Brian Leggero — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:49:46 +0000

Candidates wishing to run for Winnebago County Forest Preserve Commissioner can start getting petitions signed March 27th, 2012 for the November 6, 2012 election (at least 100 signatures are needed I suggest getting twice as many to help avoid an objection to your candidacy). It is the same petition as running as an Independent for office. The WCFPD wants candidates to come see them first but that is only so that they can see who’s running and how to put people on the ballot against them it’s not fair but they do it. Completed Petitions and Statement of Candidacy as well as a Statement of Economic Interests can be filed in the Winnebago County Clerks Office starting June 18th, 2012 until June 25th, 2012. Hope that helps anyone considering running. I’m considering not running for the office again and helping other candidates instead because I will be seeking election to another office in 2013 that needs much more help and positive change than the Forest Preserve District but I will still be involved in watching what is happening on the WCFPD board.
Brian Jenkins Leggero

By: Georgine Arena

Georgine Arena — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:21:29 +0000

This is an amendment added to a bill about mosquito abatement. That’s rather appropriate. Giving this group the ability to govern themselves was a huge mistake. They have misused their power and they need to be held accountable.