Title
Joint resolution authorizing an intergovernmental and license agreement with the Lake County Forest Preserve District (LCFPD) stating the terms and conditions for the construction and maintenance of the Buffalo Creek Wetland Mitigation Bank, and designated as Section 01-00000-00-ES.
Staff Summary
• Buffalo Creek Wetland Mitigation Bank: LCFPD Intergovernmental and License Agreement.
• It is necessary to mitigate for impacts to wetlands caused by the construction of improvements to designated routes on the County highway system.
• The use of a wetland mitigation bank is an environmentally appropriate and cost effective way of handling the mitigation of said minor wetland impacts.
• Lake County will construct, establish and administer a wetland bank on the Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve property.
• The LCFPD will maintain the wetland bank, with reimbursement from Lake County.
• This County Board, at its meeting of August 9, 2016, appropriated $2,285,000 of County Bridge Tax funds for the construction of the Buffalo Creek Wetland Mitigation Bank.
• The resolution authorizing an agreement with the LCFPD identifies the terms and conditions for the construction and maintenance of the Buffalo Creek Wetland Mitigation Bank and the construction of a trail on LCFPD property.
Body
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the construction of improvements to designated routes on the County highway system sometimes result in minor impacts to adjacent wetlands; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to mitigate for impacts to wetlands caused by the construction of improvements to designated routes on the County highway system; and
WHEREAS, the use of wetland mitigation banks is an environmentally appropriate and cost effective way of handling the mitigation of said minor wetland impacts; and
WHEREAS, Lake County and the LCFPD entered into an agreement effective April 28, 2000, and terminating April 28, 2018, providing for a land exchange and allowing the County to acquire a license from the District for the purpose of creating “wetland banking credits” that could be used for future public roadway improvements; and
WHEREAS, Lake County will construct, establish and administer a wetland bank on the Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve property; and
WHEREAS, the LCFPD will maintain the wetland bank, with reimbursement from Lake County; and
WHEREAS, this County Board, at its meeting of August 9, 2016, appropriated $2,285,000 of County Bridge Tax funds for the construction of the Buffalo Creek Wetland Mitigation Bank; and
WHEREAS, Lake County and the LCFPD are desirous of entering into an intergovernmental and license agreement stating the terms and conditions for construction and long term maintenance of the wetland as well as construction of a trail on the LCFPD property, a draft copy of which is attached hereto.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by this Lake County Board, that the County Board Chair, the County Clerk, and the County Engineer of Lake County, Illinois, are authorized, and are hereby directed to enter into an intergovernmental and license agreement between Lake County and the LCFPD stating the terms and conditions for the construction and maintenance of the Buffalo Creek Wetland Mitigation Bank and the construction of a trail on LCFPD property, and designated as Section 01-00000-00-ES.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Engineer shall transmit, in writing, the final agreement, and any amendments, to be executed by the County Board Chair and the County Clerk.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on October 11, 2016.