Impact Fees Could Save Your Life

Yes, it's true, impact fees could actually save your life, or the life of someone you love. Here, Elburn trustees Tom Burgholzer (L) and Craig Swan present a check for $105,660.53 to Elburn and Countryside Fire Protection District president Jim Feece and fire board secretary LeRoy Herra (R).

ECFPD Chief Kelly Callaghan was standing just to the right of LeRoy Herra. But, the flash made him blink in both of the pictures, so I had to crop him out. Sorry, Kelly, I'll take a few more shots next time.

Library Receives Impact Fees

Also on Monday night, Elburn trustee Jeff Humm presents Town and Country Library Board president David Burroughs with an impact fee check totaling $66,123.19. Elburn historian Larry Martin, library board member Dr. Dorothy Dirks, and Elburn trustee Gordy Dierschow seem pleased as well.

Impact fee agreements are negotiated as part of a community's annexation process. They help reduce the property taxes required to keep good government running, especially in areas affected by growth. When communities prematurely incorporate farmland, they lose the ability to compel the payment of impact and transition fees when that property is eventually developed. The end result is higher property taxes for everyone.

I can't imagine a situation where Elburn would annex open land without knowing in advance exactly what is going to be built on that land. Then, and only then, would we negotiate the best impact fee agreement possible for the benefit of our regional taxpayers.

I believe communities that ignore this "common sense" advice, and do so willingly, are acting irresponsibly. They place us all at peril for higher taxes or reduced services in the future.

It is unfortunate that the Campton Hills "activists" apparently do not understand this basic axiom of smart local government.

Fees Make a Big Impact

Last night, Elburn trustees Jeff Metcalf (L) and Bill Grabarek presented Lisa Wiet, president of the Kaneland School Board, with a check for $1,007,082.03. These impact fees were collected over a 16 month period. They were generated chiefly from the development of B & B's Blackberry Creek subdivision in Elburn.

It's not every day you get to to sign a $1 million check, so before the meeting all of the Elburn trustees took turns signing this important check.

I didn't see any hands shaking that badly, because impact fee checks for the children in our Kaneland School District are a pleasure to sign.

Sometimes a Photo Just Happens

Sometimes a good photo just happens. Dave Morrison tells me that I shoot my photos with the subject in the center too often. So I took this picture off our deck with Dave's critical analysis in mind.

I don't think this winter is through with us just yet.