NW Illinois News

City of Byron City Council met Oct. 1.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The DeKalb County Forest Preserve Operations Committee met for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting at the Legislative Center’s Freedom Room in Sycamore, Illinois on Thursday, September 25, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Those Members present were Mary Cozad, Meryl Domina, Benjamin Haier, Tim Hughes, Joe Marcinkowski, Chris Porterfield, and Chair Roy Plote. A quorum was established with all seven Members present.

Forest Preserve District Superintendent Terry Hannan was also present.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

It was moved by Cozad, seconded by Marcinkowski and was carried by voice vote to approve the agenda as presented.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Haier moved to approve the August 28, 2025 minutes as presented. Hughes seconded the motion, and it was carried by voice vote.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no public comments.

REPORTS TO COMMITTEE

Superintendent Hannan presented the July–September 2025 Quarterly Report, highlighting ongoing maintenance and public use of the forest preserves, including mowing, trail upkeep, building maintenance, and educational programming at Russell Woods. He reported on the construction of a new porch for the historic Miller–Ellwood cabin at the Hoppe Heritage Farmstead and the creation of a unique Black-Eyed Susan human sundial on the property.

Upcoming capital projects include asphalt and crack-sealing improvements on the DeKalb– Sycamore Trail from Bethany Road to Borden Avenue, scheduled for 2026. Hannan also announced receipt of a $30,000 DeKalb County Community Foundation “Building the Future” Grant for the Genoa-to-Kingston Trail (G2K Trail) surfacing project, beginning in late September 2025, and acknowledged continued assistance from the County Highway Department.

Recent donations included $13,067 to the Forest Preserve’s Endowment Fund from Barbara Parness and $400 from a Riverwood Preserve neighbor to support prairie restoration. He noted the acquisition of 26.88 acres along Little Rock Creek in Hinckley under a five-year contract and the final payment due in December 2025 for the 63.2-acre Haines Prairie acquisition.

Finally, he announced the upcoming Jeff’s Trees Volunteer Planting Event on October 11, 2025, at Afton Forest Preserve, continuing a 20-year tradition of community tree planting and memorial bench donations.

RESOLUTIONS

Superintendent Hannan introduced Resolution FP-R2025-015, which places the preliminary budget for FY2026 on file for public inspection. He additionally explained that the budget will not increase from 2025 to 2026, and that the most-up-to-date budget forms will be available at the October meeting.

Chair Plote discussed the comparison of levy revenue and general fund allocations, confirming that the budget remains unchanged.

It was moved by Marcinkowski, seconded by Domina and was carried by a 7-0-0 roll call vote to forward Resolution FP-R2025-015: A Resolution Placing the FY2026 Budget and Levy on File for Public Inspection to the full Board of Commissioners recommending its approval.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Haier moved to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing Land Acquisition per 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) at 6:20 p.m. Hughes seconded the motion and it carried by a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Those Members voting aye were Cozad, Domina, Haier, Hughes, Marcinkowski, Porterfield, and Chair Plote. None were opposed and no one was absent.

The Committee entered back into their Open Meeting at 6:43 p.m.

OLD BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

The Committee briefly discussed the bird migrating season.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Haier and seconded by Hughes to adjourn the Committee Meeting at 6:50 p.m. The motion carried.

https://www.cityofbyron.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10012025-47