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Archive for the ‘Public Safety’ Category

Arnold Randall

Arnold Randall, the general administrator of the Cook County Forest Preserve District, addresses the audience at the forest preserve’s public meeting in June of 2014 on what should be done with Horizon Farms at Countryside Elementary School. (Daily Herald Staff Photographer)

By Eric Peterson | Daily Herald

Cook County Forest Preserve District General Superintendent Arnold Randall has announced plans to step down next month, ending a distinct and productive 13-year tenure.

He will become the next executive director of the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, whose mission is supporting land conservation, artistic vitality and the regional collections of often overlooked people in the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina.

ince Randall’s appointment by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the forest preserve district has forged an ambitious Next Century Conservation Plan, celebrated its centennial, developed new strategic plans for its trails and habitat restoration, strengthened its partnerships including through the creation of an advisory Conservation and Policy Council, and opened five new campgrounds.

Randall credited Preckwinkle for providing the political will to improve the reputation of all aspects of Cook County government, including ending the practice of making the forest preserves a patronage dumping ground and embracing its original mission of land conservation and investment in equitable accessibility to natural areas.

About 15% of today’s trail system in the county’s preserves has been built during Randall’s tenure.

“The trails get millions and millions of visitors,” he said. “We recognized that improving that trail system was very important. … We looked at places where there had been a historic lack of investment.”

Read more here.

Related: Forest Preserves of Cook County Fully Opens Northwest Cook County’s Horizon Farm Preserve

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RCBH

“RCBH BRIDLE PATH ETIQUETTE AND RULES

The bridle paths include both public trails on county-owned property and private trails in Barrington Hills. Over 150 miles of these paths are maintained by the Riding Club of Barrington Hills. Everyone with a Forest Preserve of Cook County tag for their horse and license for the rider can take advantage of the public trails maintained by the Riding Club of Barrington Hills in the Cook County Forest Preserves. Trails located outside the Forest Preserve are for the exclusive use of Riding Club of Barrington Hills members and guests by stipulation of the land owners where these trails are located.

RCBH TRAILS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY – When the Riding Club of Barrington Hills (RCBH) was established in 1937, an informal agreement was entered into by neighbors, whereby mounted members of the Riding Club could traverse the landowners’ properties on horseback. Almost 80 years later, that relationship still exists. Our relationship, by its very nature, is a delicate one, we therefore ask you to follow the bridle path rules, to ensure that our system will continue to be viable.

  1. Riders must be current RCBH members in order to ride on the private trails, however RCBH members may bring a guest when they ride. The host club member is responsible for ensuring that their guest has signed the required waiver form before riding. Waiver can be found in the directory and is also available on our website https://ridingclubofbarringtonhills.org/online-waiver/
  2. Follow the RCBH bridle path markers, always stay on marked trail, be respectful of the trails and don’t ride if conditions would cause damage or leave hoof prints on the lawn. Don’t litter and where possible consider picking up manure after you ride.
  3. Current RCBH bridle tags must be displayed at all times when riding on private trails.
  4. Private bridle trails are for mounted riders only, no dogs, motorized vehicles or pedestrians allowed.
  5. If you open a gate, close it.
  6. Private trails are walk only.

RCBH TRAILS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY

The Riding Club of Barrington Hills maintains 65+ miles of trails within the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC) properties. These are multi-use trails. Riding on FPDCC trails is by permit only: to obtain these permits, please go to their website at https://fpdcc.com/things-to-do/equestrian/. Rules for riding in the FPDCC are available on their website at https://fpdcc.com/about/rules-regulations/.

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO CLEAR A PATH YOURSELF, PLEASE REPORT BLOCKED TRAIL TO THE TRAIL REP IN YOUR SECTOR.

TRAIL REPS ARE LISTED IN THE RCBH DIRECTORY AND ON OUR WEBSITE UNDER TRAILS.

The Sponsor certifies that the Applicant has adequate knowledge of the RCBH Bridle Path Rules to join the Club by entering information below and clicking [Submit]

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11.16.23 BOT Graphic

11.16.23 BOT Audio

Our Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting this evening beginning at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

  • ENGINEERING PRESENTATION – Trotter and Associates, Inc.
  • Levy and Assessment of Taxes for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2023 and Ending December 31, 2023 – Draft
  • [Vote] A Resolution Adopting a Regular Meeting Calendar for 2024 Resolution 2 23 –, and
  • [Vote] An Ordinance Regarding the Illinois Paid Leave For All Workers Act Ordinance 23 –

A copy of their agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

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RCBH-logo-4-830x455The Barrington Hills Park District Board will hold their monthly meeting this evening in person and via Zoom at 7:00 PM. The only item of note on their agenda is a, “Truth in Taxation Ordinance,” and, of course, no further information is provided. Truth without transparency is worthless.

A copy of their agenda can be viewed here. Instructions for accessing the meeting remotely can be found here.

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FPDCC White House

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County will present their long-term plans December 13th at Barrington’s White House.

The Barrington Hills Park District (Riding Club) posted the following on October 20th after previously publishing this meeting occur on November 8th:

Share your thoughts about  future development of Horiszon Farm and Spring Creek. The Park District will present your comments to the Forest Preserve representatives.

The next Forest Preserve Presentation will be:

Dec. 13, 2023  at 7:00 pm
Please note this is a change in date and location

Where:
Barrington’s White House
145 W. Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010
224.512.4284
Barrington White House 

What:
The Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC) developed a long-term, comprehensive master plan for Horizon Farm and Spring Creek which they will share with the public.

You are welcome to attend the meeting to learn the details of how this plan addresses conservation and recreational issues.

Learn more information about the FPDCC’s Master Plan.p”

As we shared in a previous post, “It’s concerning recommendations are being sent to the Park District only instead copying officials at the Forest Preserves of Cook County.

Therefore, we strongly encourage residents save their suggestions submitted to the Park District, and utilize the official Forest Preserves of Cook County Contact Form to directly communicate those recommendations under the, ‘Planning and Development,’ category. Make sure your comments reference, ‘Future development of Horizon Farm and Spring Creek.’”

Related:Barrington Hills Park District soliciting recommendations regarding, ‘Future development of Horizon Farm and Spring Creek

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VBH Entrance

Our Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting beginning at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

  • [Vote] A Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance of a Quote for Repair of the Cement Driveway on the Grounds of the Village Hall for the Village of Barrington Hills Resolution 23 –
  • [Vote] Resolution Adopting the 2017 McHenry County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan by the Village of Barrington Hills Resolution 23 –
  • [Vote] Remote Participation Rules (Primarily applies to Strauss and Hills)

A copy of their agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

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Locked Gun

Semi-automatic firearms behind a locked cabinet at a retailer in Springfield, Illinois, with a note to who can purchase such weapons |Greg Bishop / The Center Square

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square

Plaintiffs challenging Illinois’ gun ban hope a ruling out of a California federal court plays a role in the potential outcome in Illinois.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has justified the state’s gun and magazine ban he enacted earlier this year by pointing to several other states with similar bans. However, on Thursday, a federal judge out of California struck down that state’s ban on certain semi-automatic firearms with a permanent injunction.

Among other issues laid out in his 79-page ruling, the judge rejected California’s argument that actual use in self-defense shootings is the relevant metric of “common use,” a similar argument Illinois is making in defending the Land of Lincoln’s gun ban.

“An AR-15 under one’s bed at night is being used for self-defense even when the night is quiet,” Judge Roger T. Benitez wrote.

Benitez gave California 10 days to secure a stay from an appeals court on his permanent injunction before it goes into effect. California appealed to the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals late Thursday.

Second Amendment Foundation founder Alan Gottlieb is a plaintiff in California and in Illinois, where a case is pending in the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

“We already won at a lower court level in Illinois on this issue already,” Gottlieb said.

Read more here.

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RCBH Track

Per the Barrington Hills Park District website:

“Forest Preserve Master Plan Presentation for Horizon Farm & Spring Creek

When: Nov. 8, 2023 – 7:00 p.m.

Where: The Riding (Club’s) Meeting Room, 361 Bateman Road, Barrington Hills

What:  The Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC) developed a long-term, comprehensive master plan for Horizon Farm and Spring Creek which they will share with the public.

You are welcome to attend the meeting to learn the details of how this plan addresses conservation and recreational issues.

Share your thoughts with the forest preserve about their future development of Horizon Farm and Spring Creek. The Park District will present your comments to the Forest Preserve representatives.”

Editorial note: It’s concerning recommendations are being sent to the Park District only instead copying officials at the Forest Preserves of Cook County.

Therefore, we strongly encourage residents save their suggestions submitted to the Park District, and utilize the official Forest Preserves of Cook County “Contact Form” to directly communicate those recommendations under the, ”Planning and Development,” category. Make sure your comments reference, “Future development of Horizon Farm and Spring Creek.”

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RCBH Track

The Barrington Hills Park District Board will hold their monthly meeting this evening in person and via Zoom at 7:00 PM. Their meeting is scheduled to start with a Forest Preserve Master Plan Presentation for Horizon Farm & Spring Creek.

A copy of their agenda can be viewed here. Instructions for accessing the meeting remotely can be found here.

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racetrack-2048x2048

When: Oct 11, 2023, 7:00 p.m.

Where: The Riding Club Meeting Room, 361 Bateman Road, Barrington Hills.

What: The Forest Preserves of Cook County developed a long-term, comprehensive master plan for Horizon Farm and Spring Creek which they will share with the public.

You are welcome to attend the meeting to learn the details of how this plan addresses conservation and recreational issues.

Related:  “Horse lovers trying to save racetrack at Horizon Farm Forest Preserve, while bird and nature lovers question the impact,” “Forest Preserves of Cook County Fully Opens Northwest Cook County’s Horizon Farm Preserve,” “Park District hosting February 8th Cook County Forest Preserve District discussion,” “FPDCC holding Horizon Farm public meeting June 14th,” “FPDCC presents Horizon Farm update,” “Decadelong legal battle over Barrington Hills horse farm — eyed as huge forest preserve — may be nearing resolution

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