Community Updates

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Homer Township officials are not providing clear or timely information about their plans for the Open Space Program. Township officials have complained about information discussed on social media, yet that appears to be the only place they share information with the public on the Open Space Program. 

Trantina Event Center Workshop & the Fall/Winter Township Newsletter  We were expecting an announcement of the promised November workshop at which the Township would be presenting their plan for the Trantina Event Center. Instead, we received an expensive 4-color mailing, titled Fall/Winter Newsletter that is outdated, misleading and is missing a number of key facts. The Township’s newsletter doesn’t answer questions about what the Township is doing with the Open Space Program. It only adds to the confusion.

Trantina Farm’s Pole Barn was re-imagined as a multi-million dollar “Event Center” and now we really don’t know what the plan is.  The current township administration expanded the Pole Barn idea that voters approved and have planned a much larger project. In order to fund their plan, township officials sought to sell other Open Space properties to pay part of the costs to build a multi-million dollar Event Center. Selling Open Space was not part of the referendum to build just a Pole Barn. 

   The township’s attempt to sell the Open Space properties failed. So, what is the township planning now? 1500 parking spaces? 300 parking spaces? A pole barn? A multi-million dollar event center?  They could try to start the process of selling the Open Space properties all over again even though the state statute does not allow for the sale of the property. Or better yet, they could ask the Residents what they want!

What will happen with the Purdy Farm now? The bidder on the sale of the Purdy Farm, Genesis Land Development LLC, backed out of the deal to purchase the Purdy Farm. As a result, the township did not sell the Purdy Farm. According to Supervisor Steve Balich’s press release on Facebook, “… the Township will explore other options for the best use of the Purdy Property, including maintaining the current lease agreement, while retaining ownership of the real estate.” The township does not explain the “other options” and we will be watching to see what possible options the township may consider. Trustee Mike Bonomo mentioned on Facebook that the Tollway may have some interest in the property. We do not know what he is referring to and will await further information to trickle down to us via a variety of Facebook posts by township officials. 

Is the purpose of Open Space to generate revenue for the township? In the recent newsletter, Supervisor Steve Balich restates an argument he made previously about how to get the Purdy property (or other Open Space properties) to generate revenue for the township.

   The purpose of Open Space is much like a Forest Preserve and its purpose is not to generate revenue. Would we expect the elected officials of the County to sell off or develop Forest Preserves to generate revenue? No, we would not. This is the same situation with Open Space land; it is in a preserved type of status. If lands that are in a preserved status are sold off easily at the whims of elected officials, we would never be able to preserve any land for very long.

Is Forest Preserve Land Open Space? In the newsletter, Supervisor Steve Balich, says that “the Forest Preserve will always be Open Space”. We want to be clear that the Will County Forest Preserve is not in the Homer Township Open Space Program and should not be referred to as Open Space; it is Forest Preserve. The Forest Preserve and Open Space are separate ways to put land in a preserved status. Will County purchased and governs the Forest Preserve. Homer Township purchased and governs the Open Space. The Forest Preserve and Open Space are controlled by their own specific State Statutes that are different from each other.

   Residents of Homer Township approved the creation of an Open Space Program so that we could purchase and preserve additional land in Homer Township beyond the land already owned by the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Residents approved a bond for $8 million dollars to purchase 240+ acres of land which consists of the Purdy, Paul, Welter and Trantina Farms. This is Homer Township resident’s Open Space land that we decided by referendum to preserve. We have bought and paid for it. It is a public asset purchased with tax dollars. It is not an investment that should be cashed in as a revenue source to fund pet projects. 

  The argument Supervisor Steve Balich is trying to use is really his own opinion that our community has more than enough forest preserves and parks and the community doesn’t need or want the protected Open Space land. Supervisor Steve Balich and the township board have not asked the residents if they want more preserved land or less preserved land. Instead, they decided for you by taking action to sell Open Space. Citizens consistently vote YES to buy and protect land for parks, forest preserves and Open Space. Future generations will be thankful that we set aside some land as Open Space over 20 years ago. Our township has 240+ acres of Open Space. Our current township board voted to be able to put 190 acres of it up for sale, which would leave us with only 50 acres of Open Space.

What is the township going to do with the Welter farm? In the Newsletter Supervisor Steve Balich says, “we had to abandon” the Welter Farm Senior Development. What he does not explain is that the township was attempting to build a subdivision on land that is in the Homer Township Open Space Program and that State Statute says does not allow for a “residential subdivision” to be built on Open Space. 

   Since the township’s plan failed, officials have repeatedly made claims that deny that the Welter Farm is even Open Space! This is so they can attempt to develop it outside of the Open Space Statute requirements. When the township purchased the property originally, over 20 years ago, they went to great lengths to ensure they had 50 acres of Open Space as required by statute as the minimum size purchase of an Open Space property. Supervisor Steve Balich, has been in the Township government for over 20 years and has never said, until this year, that the Welter Farm was not Open Space. Balich was a Trustee for the Township at the time the Founder’s Crossing subdivision was created 20+ years ago; he should have understood this issue at that time. Balich was the Clerk of the Township so he should know where the records are and now he is the Supervisor. Why, after 20 years has Balich suddenly changed his position on protecting the Welter Farm as Open Space? 

Paul Farm Encroachment  Some property owners who are adjacent to the Paul Farm put things on the wrong side of the property line. The township’s solution is to sell them some of the public land they encroached on. If the township were to sell this land to those property owners, anyone else that by accident or on purpose also encroaches on township property will be able to claim they too should be sold land that belongs to the public. More importantly, the Township does not have the authority to sell Open Space land. The township has not sold any of the Paul Farm to adjacent landowners that we know of as of October 23, 2022.

Saving Open Space  We owe it to our children and grandchildren to save open space, to protect water as a natural resource and wildlife so future generations can enjoy them the way we do. Our Township’s land, water and wildlife are our natural heritage and we have a responsibility to protect and preserve them for future generations. Preserving natural areas, wildlife habitat and water resources and providing outdoor recreational opportunities play a very important role in preserving the quality of all life.

– From the team at Homer Open Space  

Our attorney sent Homer Township officials a letter on Monday, October 17, 2022 before the Township’s board meeting. Later that same evening he spoke during the public comment portion of the Township’s board meeting, before the vote to sell the property.

The letter sent to Homer Township officials outlines the township’s violations of the Illinois State Statutes and addresses the fact that the Illinois Township Open Space Act (ITOSA) does not allow for the sale of Open Space. 

This information is also available on our website, select “Stop the Sale” in the menu bar and drop down to “Attorney Letter”.

Letter to Township Officials dated October 17, 2022 from out attorney

Attached or available on our website at https://tinyurl.com/bdh95bvz

Video October 17, 2022 Township Board Meeting
Our Attorney speaks at the 38:20 mark

https://youtu.be/gJGRRcmK29I

Illinois State Statute Township Code for Open Space

(60 ILCS 1/Art. 115 heading) 

ARTICLE 115. TOWNSHIPOPEN SPACE

https://tinyurl.com/bdebumxh

– From the team at Homer Open Space 

We have read that some folks are wondering about the status of the GoFundMe account that was started to protect Open Space from being sold. To date, citizens have donated $14,075!. We have already paid $15,000 to retain legal counsel. $10,000 of which came from the GoFundMe, and the balance of $5,000 was paid by cash donations because there were not enough funds available yet in the GoFundMe at the time we needed to retain the attorneys. No GoFundMe money has been spent on any other items other than the legal costs. The balance of the funds raised remains in the account in case further action is needed.

Although the sale of the Purdy Farm fell through, we are still concerned about the status of Open Space parcels and we are unclear about what Homer Township officials intend to do with them.

• Township officials refuse to acknowledge that the Open Space State Statute does NOT allow Open Space lands to be sold once they become part of the Open Space Program.
• Township officials refuse to acknowledge that Open Space land use is determined by State Statute and not zoning.
• None of the township officials have stated that Open Space lands should be protected.
• Township officials have gone to great lengths to conceal their plans from the public.

So how can the public trust that the will of the people who voted to preserve open space will be respected and the Open Space land will stay protected? We can’t. Unfortunately, we are going to have to monitor every agenda, every meeting, and every vote and be prepared to take action to protect Open Space. Comments made by township officials imply they are still planning something for the Welter property. Could they be planning to develop it or sell it? We just don’t know because they have not been transparent. We hope further legal action is not necessary, but we want to be ready if it is needed. Citizens should not have to hire private attorneys to protect the land they already voted to protect. And yet, here we are. When we know for certain the Open Space land will be protected, then any remaining funds in the GoFundMe account will be donated to The Conservation Foundation a local non-profit organization dedicated to protecting rivers and lands.

– From the team at Homer Open Space 

Homer Township residents showed up finding crowded conditions and standing room only at the Township board meeting Monday evening, October 17, 2022. The overwhelming community sentiment was to not sell any land preserved as Open Space. Outrage has been building since last month when elected officials voted to list three open space properties for sale. (The Welter Farm was not put out to bid, but the potential to sell it was approved by the Township Board.) Although the vote was not unanimous, three elected officials did vote to sell the Purdy Farm and residents left feeling that the majority of officials denied the will of the community.

Less than 24 hours later we received word through our attorney that the buyer approved by the Township withdrew the bid and no other bids were to be accepted.  While we are pleased to hear that this particular sale is not going through, it does not address our overriding concern about township officials proceeding contrary to state statute. Comments made by township officials indicate they are determined to continue to seek ways to sell and develop Open Space. We are conferring with our attorneys to determine the next steps needed to protect our Open Space.

It was reported in the Daily Southtown on Tuesday, 9/17/22, that Supervisor Balich said, any attempt to sell township open space now would be presented to the voters for approval via referendum. We have heard that same promise before, just five months prior. In May after an attempt by the township to build a subdivision on the Welter Farm fell through when that developer backed out of the plan, Supervisor Balich indicated that going to referendum would be the best thing to do and even put a motion to that effect on a township agenda then removed it, never submitting the question to the voters. Then just four months later, in September (last month) and without voter input the Homer Township Board voted to approve a Resolution Authorizing the Sale of the Welter Farm, the Paul Farm, and the Purdy Farm. The sale of the Purdy farm fell through after the bidder withdrew their offer. Now Supervisor Balich is again saying that the sale of Open Space should go to Referendum. These statements made by Supervisor Balich about going to referendum follow a pattern and that is he says them before an election and then does something contrary after the election. We can’t trust that this same pattern will not continue.

We cannot thank you, the residents of Homer Township, enough for showing up to object in any way that you could to the sale of our Open Space, including reading the information we have provided, putting up a sign on your lawn, printing and distributing flyers, donating to the GoFundMe, forwarding our emails to your friends and showing up at the meeting. It took all of that to Stop this recent Sale.  We appreciate your continued support as we continue to work to Save our Open Space.  

– From the team at Homer Open Space 

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