Forest Preserve District Meetings and Symposium (Consolidated)

May 2 2012 Regular Meeting
The meeting started with discussion and recognition of firefighters who battled and extinguished a marsh fire in Deer Grove in March.  Fortunately this fire happened to occur in an area where the Cook County Forest Preserve had just conducted training exercises with local firefighters so everyone was able to work together efficiently -- even though it was a large and unusual fire for suburban units to deal with.  It was started by an underage teenager who threw away smoking materials in a natural area.  It was not related in any way to the controlled burns that are a part of Forest Preserve management.

Two very positive developments were noted at the meeting:
1.  Re-emergence of Bald Eagles in the District.  Their nesting in Palos indicates that restoration of the preserves, and reduction in the use of pesticides and other degradations, is having a positive effect on the environment.
2.  The First "Wild About Nature" Science Fair winners were introduced and each spoke briefly about his/her project.  This was the first Science Fair hosted by the FPDCC.  Students in Grades 6-12 all researched or used data collected in the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and their projects were impressive.  Everyone enjoyed the introduction of the students.

Also at this meeting there was a Public Hearing under the Bond Issue Notification Act.  No one spoke in opposition to the issuance of the bonds.

Science Symposium April 19
This observer also attended the first Science Symposium offered by the FPDCC (for adults).  From 9 am to 4 pm about 250 people gathered to review and discuss findings and work of scientists employed by the Field Museum, the Brookfield Zoo, the Forest Preserves, Chicago Botanic Garden and various local universities.  Most of the attendees were scientists themselves.  It was amazing to learn about the sophistication and diversity of work that is going on in our Forest Preserves:  from racoon health to social anthropology.  It was also very encouraging to witness the great cooperation and good will amongst the institutions involved.  Using and recognizing the Forest Preserves as a source of good science is a tremendous development that is occuring under the Preckwinkle administration.

Regluar Meeting April 4 2012
This brief meeting started with much discussion of an upcoming Bond Issuance with the concern of following the appropriate public process while speeding it up in order to take advantage of the current low interest rate environment.  There was also discussion of the FPDCC's goal of increasing concessions with the goal of more healthy food.  And there was a quick review of the Watchman Program which has been reconceived and rewritten with more clear guidelines, better cost control, personnel management and overall monitoring.

There will be a Golf Championship called the "Conservation Cup" in the fall, 1st ever, and proceeds will benefit the CCFP Foundation, a 501c(3) organization.