Lemont Loses Annexation Fight

Updated, 12:50 p.m. Lemont has lost its battle to stop Palos Park’s annexation of forest preserve land that would serve as a bridge to other Lemont Township land.

Commissioners Boykin and Suffredin cast dissenting votes. Boykin called the county’s action one that sets a dangerous precedent for any future battles between municipalities.

With the intergovernmental agreement approved, Palos Park will be allowed to annex a small portion of forest preserve land in exchange for the municipality providing Lake Michigan water to a nearby police facility. Lemont officials argued that the annexation would allow Palos Park the contiguity needed to annex Lemont Township properties owned by Cog Hill Golf and Country Club, Gleneagles Country Club, Mid Iron Golf Club and Ludwig Farm.

“I first want to thank all of the residents who took time out of their busy schedules to call and email county commissioners in regards to this issue. Although the outcome of today’s vote was not what I hoped for, myself and the village board and all parties involved will continue to work on other options, to make sure we keep the local properties within the village of Lemont. I want to thank everyone for their continued support.

“We are exploring our options we have open to us right now,” Reaves said. ”We will continue to update the citizens of Lemont with our next action plan.”

Stay tuned for additional comment and details.

Original Story, Reported Chronologically

“This is a very sad day for us,” said Kathy Henrikson of Lemont Township. “It’s sad because the people petitioning to leave Lemont are our neighbors.”

One of just several impassioned pleas from Lemont residents in attendance at Tuesday’s Cook County Forest Preserve District Board meeting, where they will discuss a proposed annexation by Palos Park. The board will consider allowing Palos Park to annexing a small portion of forest preserve land in exchange for the municipality providing Lake Michigan water to a nearby police facility. Lemont officials argue that the annexation would allow Palos Park the contiguity needed to annex Lemont Township properties owned by Cog Hill Golf and Country Club, Gleneagles Country Club, Mid Iron Golf Club and Ludwig Farm.

“If the district needs water, I can get you water,” Lemont Mayor Brian Reaves tells the committee. “I’m willing to continue these discussions to help the district in any way.”

Next up to the mic is Lemont Township Supervisor Steve Rosendahl.

“By voting to approve this annexation, you will be providing the gateway for Palos Park to become part of Lemont Township. I don’t think the forest preserve district, or the board, is in the land planning business for Lemont Township. ... Locally, we should be responsible to plan for our community. ...

“Step back. Decisions today will allow an annexation in the middle of Lemont Township ... and the people making the decision ... none of them are accountable to the 22,000 people of Lemont Township.”

Lemont Township High School District 210 Board President Mike Shackel speaks to the committee about the drastic impact uncontrolled growth could have on the schools.

“We have no idea what’s going on that property,” Shackel said. ”We urge you on behalf of the citizens of Lemont to stop this and let the municipalities work this out by themselves.”

Commissioners question why the school districts have not planned ahead for what is presumed to be certain development and growth of that Lemont Township land.

Next to speak is District 113-A Board President Cindy Kelly, accompanied by Superintendent Dr. Courtney Orzel. Kelly enumerates the district’s accomplishments, such as digging out of the state’s financial watch list to attain secure financial status and bringing back programs once eliminated due to cost.

“The proposed annexation will have a devastating affect on our financial recovery,” Kelly said.

Kelly said that no one from Palos Park has reached out to the school district regarding potential development—”We have received nothing.”

“We’ve been pinching pennies, we’ve done everything,” Kelly said.

Commissioner Larry Suffredin questions how immediate of an impact the proposed annexation would have on the board. And again pressed to learn if Lemont representatives attempted to open discussion with Palos Park. Kelly said that as a first step, the school districts issued resolutions in formal opposition of the annexation.

“The resolutions were kind of a declaration of war, and then you asked for a peace treaty,” Suffredin said. “That’s not opening the door. ... What I’m trying to understand is why, the two governments, the school districts ... were not talking.

“I have concerns again on the whole issue of regional planning, especially for a district who has been on the state’s financial watch list.”

Lemont Police Chief Marc Maton steps up to the podium, noting that Lemont officers are often the first on the scene in Lemont Township, often 15 minutes ahead of other units.

“As Lemont grows and calls for service increase, there’s always pressure to increase patrol,” Maton said, noting that there is a lag of increased service, behind growth. He needs more staffing now, Maton said. ”Is it fair for Lemont residents needing police services to wait because officers are tied up in other jurisdictions?”

Village Administrator George Schafer addresses the issue of local control. The impact of local decisions are felt most strongly by those in the local area.

“The properties being discussed today represent a significant portion of Lemont,” Schafer said. ”Because the potential impact to our community is so substantial, the Lemont community has invested substantially in planning for the area in question. ... I ask the board to look at this from the standpoint of who is the best to make the decision of what should be put in our backyard.

“The county is being used as a pawn so these property owners can circumvent local control.”

Commissioners continue asking why Lemont and Palos park have not connected for discussion of annexation. Schafer contends that while he has not reached out to Palos Park, nor have they reached out to Lemont.

Commissioner Steele wants Mayor Reaves to answer why the Village has not been able to work with landowners to make their desired land development happen.

Reaves said he has talked with landowners, offered free water, free taps. ”We always want to work well with our neighbors.”

Trustee Paul Chialdikas steps up next, quotes annexation legislation that states that forest preserve land should remain under county jurisdiction to avoid land conflict between municipalities.

Trustee Rick Sniegowski asks that the forest preserve district stay out of the matter.

“Let us work this out amongst ourselves,” he said. “We don’t need your help in this.”

Lemont resident and District 113A Board member Dave Molitor wants Commissioner Sean Morrison to abstain from voting, due to his residency in Palos Park and representation of Lemont Township as a conflict of interest.

Former Lemont District 113A board member Lisa Wright calls for better transparency in process.

“Commissioner Morrison, we’re here, we’re all playing nice in the sandbox today,” she said. “Tell us how this would benefit us.”

Gleneagles Country Club owner Mike McNulty calls Lemont’s efforts to stop annexation as “continued efforts to strongarm” his family into annexing into Lemont—something they do not want.

“It would be economic suicide for us to annex into Lemont. ... Clearly this is a win-win for all citizens of Cook County. My family as landowners are not the bad guys here.”

Howard Ludwig takes to the mic, noting volunteer efforts and contributions to Lemont schools and community causes. Mayor Reaves is ”trying to demonize” his family, Ludwig says. Ludwig says his family believes Palos Park allows them to attain the highest market value for any proposed housing to be built on the land.

“Mayor Reaves, how dare you try to tell my family and our neighbors that our land is your land. ... I would never consider annexing to the village of Lemont.”

Cog Hill CEO Frank Jemsek calls the annexation proposal a well-thought out concept, and says he’s confident the club will host national championships as a part of Palos Park.

“The Jemseks aren’t known for making quick decisions,” said Katherine Jemsek, Cog Hill president. She notes that current planning efforts will help contribute to make Cog Hill a “national destination,” and that their goals most closely align with those of Palos Park.

Palos Park Mayor John Mahoney speaks next.

“We have long enjoyed a cooperative relationship with the forest preserve district, and value the partnership,” Mahoney said.

Palos Park’s codes will not affect forest preserve’s use or control of the land, Mahoney said.

“Ultimately, the proposal supports the goals and objectives of forest preserve district and Palos Park,” he added.

One commissioner asks why the municipalities did not get together to discuss the proposal.

Mahoney calls it “difficult”, said the two had “what I thought was a strong relationship” prior to a month ago. He says they tried to speak with Lemont school districts after they passed resolutions opposing annexation. He states he contacted Mary Ticknor, but did not call Cindy Kelly. He believes he would be ”absolutely” be able to have a good working relationship with the school districts.

Forest Preserve District Superintendent Arnold Randall said they approached Palos Park for water; Palos Park, uneasy with the request, recommended annexation. He stressed the importance of the police facility which the water provided Palos Park would serve.

“We don’t have a lot of locations where we would need this kind of water and sewer service,” Randall said. The police facility and a possible future campground would call for this kind of water and sewer service.

“We have a well system in this location that has failed ... and we’d like something that is less vulnerable.”

Commissioner Morrison motions to put the annexation to a vote. Commissioner Boykin motions to defer; Suffredin seconds.

“The mission of the forest preserve is not to cede local land to one town, to acquire Lake Michigan water,” said Commissioner Richard Boykin. “We should not be involved in local disputes. This is not the right thing for the forest preserve to do. This is a local matter, and we should allow local municipalities to work it out. ... I am concerned about what type of impact this is going to have going forward, for other communities. ... Maybe we shouldn’t be in the business of determining what community is going to endure harm for the sake of Lake Michigan water.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for our superintendent, however I wish he had not put us in this position. ... This is a bad precedent for the county.”

Boykin’s motion to defer fails.

Matter of annexation goes to a role call vote. Boykin speaks that “what we’re doing here today is not the right thing. I want to commend all of those residents from the Village of Lemont. I believe that our action today will set a bad precedent for this board, and this is not what we want to do, in terms of choosing one village over another.”

Commissioner Fritchey said residents’ accusations of back-handed deals and corruption in the board ”do not help your cause.”

Sean Morrison votes in support of annexation, as it’s for the “betterment” of the forest preserve district.

Commissioner Suffredin said he is worried that there are other forest preserve lands that can be used as “annexation bridges” by municipalities.

“The fact that Palos Park that has not sat down with the schools, and that we have a school district that has been on financial watch ... I vote no, and I hope that all the parties will come together. And I hope that the emails will stop,” he said.

Watch live here.

Read More:

• No Answers Yet as Forest Preserve Board Pushes Annexation Item to Committee
• Mayor Says Annexation Would ‘Split Lemont in Half’, Tells Residents ‘We Need Your Help’
• Golf Outing Relocated as Land Dispute Rages On
• Lemont School Districts Oppose Annexation
• Info on Village of Lemont Website