TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF NOVEMBER 16, 2017
COMMITTEE ON REAL ESTATE
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
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Authority to issue a 5-year permit extension to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to continue to use the boat ramp located on an approximately 50' x 8' area, and access road, of District Main Channel Parcel 15.05 in Lockport, Will County, Illinois, to launch and retrieve boats used to collect and analyze aquatic species in the Main Channel. Consideration shall be a nominal fee of $10.00
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Dear Sir:
Since 2009, the Board of Commissioners has issued permits to several governmental agencies authorizing the use of an approximately 50’ x 8’ area (“boat launch”) of Main Channel Parcel 15.05 located in Lockport, Will County, Illinois to launch boats into the Main Channel for the purposes of conducting surveys of fish populations and collecting fish species to determine the present effectiveness of the electronic nuisance barriers (“barriers”). The barriers are owned and operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”) and are located in the Main Channel north of 135th Street in Romeoville, Illinois. Main Channel Parcel 15.05 comprises 22.38 acres and is under lease to ACBL Transportation Services, LLC ("ACBL"), for operation of a barge transportation company. The lease commenced in 2016 and expires in 2055. The annual rent under ACBL's lease is $61,360.00. The District reserved the right under ACBL's lease to renew these permits to governmental agencies from time to time for these limited purposes. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) is one such agency.
On February 21, 2013, the District issued a five (5) year permit to FWS to use the boat launch for the purposes of collecting and analyzing aquatic species in the Main Channel and conducting sonar surveys to test the efficacy of the USACE’s electronic nuisance barriers. The permit expires April 30, 2018.
FWS has requested a 5-year permit extension to continue using the boat launch to access the Main Channel for these same testing purposes. FWS will be responsible for implementation of safety protocols for its boats and crews, and for coordination of its schedules with ACBL and with other entities also authorized to use this site for boat launching purposes.
The District's technical departments have reviewed this request and have no objections thereto. A nominal fee of $10.00 is recommended as FWS is a governmental entity utilizing the property in furtherance of a public purpose.
It is requested that the Executive Director recommend to the Board of Commissioners that it authorize and approve the issuance of a 5-year permit extension to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to continue to use the boat ramp located on an approximately 50' x 8' area, and access road, of District Main Channel Parcel 15.05 in Lockport, Will County, Illinois, to launch and retrieve boats to collect and analyze aquatic species in the Main Channel. Consideration shall be a nominal fee of $10.00.
It is also requested that the Executive Director recommend to the Board of Commissioners that it authorize and direct the Chairman of the Committee on Finance and the Clerk to execute the permit extension agreement on behalf of the District after it is approved by the General Counsel as to form and legality.
Requested, Susan T. Morakalis, General Counsel, STM:CMM:nhb
Recommended, David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Respectfully Submitted, David J. Walsh, 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 November 16, 2017
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