TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF OCTOBER 2, 2014
COMMITTEE ON REAL ESTATE
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authority to commence negotiations with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for a thirty-nine year lease on District real estate located in Fulton County, Illinois for public recreational use
Body
Dear Sir:
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources ("IDNR") has requested to lease District real estate located in Fulton County, Illinois, including, but not limited to 440 acres of real estate on the former Wier Farm, for public recreational use, fishing and camping. The 440 acres on the former Wier Farm are currently under permit to the County of Fulton for public recreational use, camping, and fishing. The permit is set to expire December 31, 2014 and is for a nominal fee of $10.00. It is recommended that said permit not be renewed and instead be part of any lease entered into with IDNR.
IDNR has not yet specified how many acres it is interested in leasing, other than the initial 440 acres at the former Wier Farm. The acreage and any improvements proposed by IDNR will be set forth when authority is sought from the Board of Commissioners to enter into a lease with IDNR.
As the IDNR is a unit of the State of Illinois, staff is authorized under the District's leasing statute to negotiate terms and conditions of a lease rather than award a lease pursuant to the statutory leasing procedures. Any lease entered into will be subject to cancellation upon a one-year notice by the District if needed for corporate use.
It is recommended that any lease negotiated with IDNR contain a provision where the rent is a nominal fee of $10.00 since the site will be used for public recreational use.
It is requested that the Executive Director recommend to the Board of Commissioners that it authorize the commencement of negotiations with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for a thirty-nine year lease on District real estate located in Fulton County, Illinois for public recreational uses, camping and fishing, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
Requested, Ronald M. Hill, General Counsel, RMH:STM:kk
Recommended, David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Respectfully Submitted, Mariyana T. Spyropoulos, Chairman Committee on Real Estate Development
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for October 2, 2014
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