Dark Sky Park and Ice Adventures

Tonight's first of the year Champaign County Forest Preserve Board meeting kicked off with a fairly large audience, including new staff and folks behind the Dark Sky Park project. All board members were present except Sarah Livesay, as were the interim Executive Director Mary Ellen Wuellner and Finance Director John Baker. The agenda is available here.

All of the agenda items passed unanimously so I'll focus on the highlights.

The interim Executive Director was made the permanent Executive Director. More on that from the News-Gazette article from the previous post. The board was complimentary and there was applause around the room on the motion carrying.

The motion for "Designation of Middle Fork River Forest Preserve as a Dark Sky Park" passed with fanfare and applause as well. Commissioner Herakovich said it was a long time coming. Director Wuellner thanked the people behind the project and the Citizens Advisory Committee for the heavy lifting on lightscape management and others. This included David Leake whose only additional comment was "Let's do it!"

More on the project from the News-Gazette here. Excerpt below:

Forest preserve district hoping you'll see stars at Middle Fork

...
This year, park-goers with an eye to the sky may realize it's even darker.

Since fall 2016, after a suggestion from David Leake, director of Parkland's Staerkel Planetarium, Kuntz and Champaign County Forest Preserve District staff have been making specific lighting changes at Middle Fork that have it poised to become the first certified Dark-Sky Park in Illinois. There are only 55 in the world, and 39 of those are in the United States.

"It looks pretty promising," Leake said of the park district's chances to achieve the designation this spring after its application to the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is submitted early this year.

The association's Dark-Sky Places Program was started in 2001 "to encourage communities around the world to preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education." The program has five types of designations — dark-sky communities, parks, reserves, sanctuaries and developments. Each has its own set of parameters that must be met to achieve the distinction from the international group.

Members pointed out the possibility of astro-tourism, camping advantages, as well as excitement in the area, including the Mayor of Rantoul. Commissioner Hays pointed it out this may be the only "dark sky" rated park in Illinois and possibly the only one at a county level.

Earlier in the meeting they introduced a few new members to the Citizens Advisory Committee (more information here, but as of tonight not yet updated with new member names).

Concerns were raised about a possible future hog farm adjacent to the Southwest Middle Fork district area which was described as a potential "epic disaster" that the board should get out in front of. I believe it was Commissioner Hays who brought it up as well as possibly circulating information for opposition. The approval would be through the Department of Agriculture and simple NIMBY (not in my back yard) objections would probably not sway them as they generally approve due to the economic positives. Herakovich suggested staying in contact with the County Board and its land use committee on the subject.

A conference was attended by members and staff and included in various reports and future reports on what they learned in the various sessions. Diversity of staff considerations were discussed as well as two new staff members. A natural resources specialist and "GIS whiz" as well as a natural resource technician who was first out on the ice in an adventure the previous evening removing illegally dumped carpet rolls from the icy Sangamon River. Apparently someone felt dumping it off a bridge was a cost saver.

There was a potential vote on the purchasing policy was discussed, but eventually tabled until next month to get feedback on the approval before a vote. The changes discussed didn't appear to be substantive so much as necessary after seeing the challenges facing the staff on various tasks. All the changes were well within the required limits.

The highlights above covered what the agenda outline didn't make obvious (except perhaps that the F-150 they purchased has a tow bar, which would have come in handy for the carpet ice adventures). Another fascinating bit of County government that's always going on. If you're interested in learning more, check out their website's about page and check out the links. If you want to get involved check out the Citizens Advisory Committee and other opportunities under the "Get Involved" tab at the top of their website.