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Aurora Beacon-News
March 4, 2002

Commentary: Choose eastern corridor for outer belt

By Kevin Hogle
Village President of Big Rock.

When the proposed outer belt issue began to heat up and it became evident that the Illinois Department of Transportation had every intention of recording a corridor that runs through Big Rock and Kaneville without so much as a public hearing in Kane County, I was stunned. I couldn't imagine such a large impact project being forced upon these areas without any consideration for the people who live there.

As president of the Big Rock Village Board, I then spoke with the Big Rock Township Board, and it was decided that these two units of local government wanted to hear from our constituents. It was decided that together we would co-host a meeting where our community could express their opinions to us. I also invited everyone else who would have an interest in how we as a community would feel about this project, including Dennis Hastert's office, IDOT, Kane County Board Chairman Mike McCoy, Kane County Board representative of District 26 Jan Carlson, state Sen. Chris Lauzen and state Rep. Pat Lindner, and the Conservation Foundation. The meeting was well attended, and not one person spoke in favor of the outer belt being placed in the "central corridor."

Since that evening, I have remained quietly on the sidelines watching as suddenly more and more meetings on the roadway were organized, and the pros and cons have registered in with their respective feelings.

Big Rock Township was one of the earliest settlements in Kane County, with the first settler arriving in 1835, followed in 1836 with settlers from New York, Vermont and such faraway places as Ireland and Wales. This land has been farmed ever since. Not only is our soil one of the richest in the world for farming, but Big Rock has a proud farming heritage with many of the farms passing from one generation to the next. We don't want our style of life to change. Is this wrong? This fact should be commended and respected by others, especially our elected officials.

Kane County has a 2020 plan that is admired by other units of government. The Kane County Board should be commended for their foresight in adopting this plan and sticking with it. All of the western townships of Kane County should fight to remain green. Big Rock does not want to become another overcrowded parking lot.

Aurora, Montgomery, Yorkville and Sugar Grove have all come out in favor of the outer belt. I hope that IDOT is listening to them. Give it to them by choosing the "eastern corridor." Put the roadway where it is wanted ó in their community, not ours.