Governmental Affairs Committee Meets
The Governmental Affairs committee met on Wednesday, June 19, at 7 p.m., with the following members present: guest Patrick Mehean from Drainage USA talking about soil maps and drainage reporting, Steve Warrick, Rick Johnson, chairman, Jim Robbins, Mike Robbins, John Andermann, John Kiefner, Gordon McCoy, Pat McDonald, Nick Reiher, George Beutel, Paul Siegel, Ryan Nugent and Mark Schneidewind, Farm Bureau manager.
Patrick provided a 40-minute presentation with questions and answers on his drainage work, maps, ideas, projects and how they were helping not only farmers but when development comes how it has helped with that as well plus the benefits to county government and municipalities. Rick commented it was a very interesting and educational report.
John Kiefner reported on what he has researched, developed and learned with farmland preservation and that it does not take a lot of money up front but could be supported by a local tax base. However tax credits is what several have looked at doing when signing up for giving up development rights yet the land can be sold, handed down to others in the family and continued to be farmed. The land is not taken out of agriculture and is a voluntary program. The committee asked for John and Mark to continue the process and meet up with some of the Mayors of different areas that have more farmland acres. They will do that sometime in the fall, as schedules are tight for July-early September.
Rick reported that Mark was placed on the County’s steering committee on road safety and represents Agriculture in the county. He has sent out a letter to approx. 24 Ag businesses seeking any thoughts they have to help with improvements around their place of business. The next meeting is set for June 27th, and Mark shared a timetable established by the County Executive’s office.
The committee then discussed the legislative barn meetings that are coming up July 29th at the Dave Kestel Farm and on August 5th at Warrick Farms. They have sent invites out and have 3 legislators coming right now to Dave’s with Steve’s a week later, so reservations will be forth coming. The committee discussed 10 different thoughts and developed 5 questions for each of these barn meetings and many are extremely important to Agriculture here in Will County. They have invited legislators to attend Family Fun Night in July and are working with Congressman Jackson to see if they can attend.
Rick reported that we have commented on about 30 different solar projects asking for some conditions to be met and followed to limit issues. He shared some of the letters we have sent to the county and to the solar companies and showed what we have worked on with the county on the special solar committee that includes SWCD, as well with them being considered at the county farm specialist for drainage, erosion and cover crops, which is all part of the maintenance package.
Planter rides were hard this year with the rain coming every other day. Steve is hosting the County Executive and some staff on their farm this Friday, June 21st, from 10:30 a.m. to 12-12:30 p.m. and have a tour set up, but no meal with all their tight schedules. Rick passed around a list of the Activator Trustees, and they were reconfirmed on who was serving for each of the state Congressional and State Senate Districts.
The farmland assessment committee is meeting in July to review assessment values. Rick reviewed the Carbon Storage bill, and we will need to visit with legislators on this based on the eminent domain language with pipelines now having this power because of the passed legislation making it more difficult to protect private property rights, water access bill which was held in committee is another bill we will have to watch carefully and then the wetlands may come back in veto secession if not for sure next general assembly and then the family farm preservation act which all 11 senators are on board just trying to get it funded.
The Nutrient Management Field Day is set for July 31st at the Kiefner Farm, and we have some fantastic speakers program which runs from 3-6 p.m., with a meal after 6 p.m. to invited guests. The Illinois Soybean Association is hosting a legislative update and farm bill program at our office August 29th at 7:30 a.m. with a light breakfast. The committee will be meeting with the Forest Preserve on the farm license work soon, and there was talk about the latest renewal of forest preserve bonds. Technically while taxes went down, the non-retirement of these bonds does result in taxes being kept in place that should have expired under the conditions of the referendum passed. But yes, the tax rate the public is currently paying will go down as the amount was different, and there was strong support 21 of the 22 board members on board.
They will send out invites to Reps LaHa and Sheehan to have a luncheon meeting over the next 3 months and combine rides for wheat can be done by Ryan Nugent and Kelly Reus. Mark reported on their wheat harvest down south with approx. 85 bushel per acre, no toxins, however, test weight was in the 57 range, lower than normal because of all the rain. Rick reported that the elected officials farm tour is set for August 9th, and they will tour Prairie Creek’s new development and construction of two 750,000-bushel grain bins off Route 45. They will then tour Misti Hill Vineyard which just broke ground on their new tasting room and winery. Pat provided an update on the roads and the NorthPoint project, construction and bridge and the toll bridge.
Rick then reported on the Threshermen’s Show set for July 18-21 at the Speiss Farm in Wilton Center, the Young Farmers Golf Outing on July 26th at Green Garden Country Club, the Will County Fair set for August 21-25, the Manhattan Bank having Britt O’Connell for a market and economic outlook on September 4th and the ladies have a market education program on the same day at our office 3:30 to 5 p.m., also with Britt.
SWCD Appreciation and Awards banquet is set for August 1st at their office, and the ag education teacher institute is going on this week. The group discussed the solar maps by township that was provided by the County Board Chairwoman’s office for us to better follow the many that have applied and which ones have not yet.
The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m., and the group then enjoyed a nice visit on farm issues following the meeting.