TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF JUNE 7, 2018
COMMITTEE ON REAL ESTATE
Mr. John P. Murray, Acting Executive Director
Title
Authority to issue a five (5) year permit extension to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to continue to use the boat ramp located on an approximately 50' x 8' area on Main Channel Parcel 15.05 and access road 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 (“Board”) 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 $62,840.49. The District reserved the right under ACBL's lease to renew these permits from time to time for these limited purposes. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (“IDNR”) is one such agency.
On July 14, 2011, the Board issued a permit to IDNR to use the boat launch to access the Main Channel for these same testing purposes. The permit, as extended, expires August 31, 2018.
IDNR has requested a five (5) year permit extension to continue using the boat launch for these same purposes. IDNR 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. Access to Parcel 15.05 is currently through Main Channel Parcels 15.02 and 15.04. These parcels are under lease to ACBL. Use of this access route is therefore subject to the written consent of ACBL.
The District's technical departments have reviewed this request and have no objections thereto. A nominal fee of $10.00 is recommended as IDNR is a governmental entity utilizing the property in furtherance of a public purpose.
It is requested that the Acting Executive Director recommend to the Board of Commissioners that it authorize and approve the issuance of a 5-year permit extension to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to continue to use the boat ramp located on an approximately 50' x 8' area on District Main Channel Parcel 15.05 and access road 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.
It is also requested that the Acting 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, John P. Murray, Acting 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 June 7, 2018
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