Kankakee Times

Kankakee County’s Executive Committee met Thursday, Jan. 28, at County headquarters in Kankakee to tend to school and health department matters, veterans assistance, golf course taxes and other property matters, including nature conservancy areas.

Beginning with the status of golf courses in Kankakee County, committee members debated the nature of such properties, asking whether golf courses qualify as open space for assessment and taxation purposes and expressing a desire to achieve a consistent definition from one jurisdiction to another.

Committee member George Washington said that the golf course dilemma was “just another example of legislation being placed on the books for a specific industry which does not benefit the counties and it actually handcuffs the counties even more than they are already.”

With recent discussions in Pembroke Township about the acquisition of property by The Nature Conservancy and Fish and Wildlife Service, it was also observed that the conservancy has been assertively calling out delinquent taxes on unclaimed properties and negotiating purchases.

Since citizens had expressed concern about parcels being utilized in ways contrary to intended zoning and the potential negative impact on development, executive committee members discussed involving the Regional Planning Commission. Another potential solution involves the Nature Conservancy, the Field Museum and the Fish and Wildlife Service working together to coordinate a master plan.

In addition, an opening was announced for the Kankakee River Valley Forest Preserve district board, with a reminder that positions on other boards remain open; school reports were filed, and the Veterans Assistance Commission reported on transportation and court issues.

Kankakee County Administration offices are located at 189 E. Court St.