County could develop stimulus policy

GENEVA – County Board members could be faced with deciding whether they should alter plans for farmland preservation to fund economic development.
County development officials asked the board Tuesday to consider developing a policy that would create an economic stimulus program. The program would offer incentives to businesses and developers by reimbursing fees, paying for site upgrades and other compensation.
Local officials, including some from Sugar Grove, appeared Tuesday to support the program as a way to bring in businesses and jobs during a recession.
To fund the program, the board could allocate funds from the riverboat program, which is supposed to go toward economic development, education and other community programs.
The county has $1.5 million to 2 million in unappropriated riverboat funds, set aside for farmland preservation, said Board Chairwoman Karen McConnaughay.
But that money could go toward an economic stimulus program, she said.
McConnaughay said although farmland preservation is important, it’s not necessary now – when developers aren’t seeking to develop on farmland – to put the funds elsewhere. The preservation program purchases development rights from farmers to preserve the land in the county.
She cited the county’s 10 percent unemployment rate.
Board member Bonnie Kunkel, D-Elgin, stated her concerns about pulling money from one program to fund another.
“We need to know what we’re not going to spend money on,” she said.
McConnaughay said if the board chooses to shift the farmland money, it doesn’t mean the program won’t be funded again in the future.
Rich Young, development director for Sugar Grove, said he supports a stimulus plan for the county and believes that his village would benefit.
He said a food distribution company currently in another county could decide to move its offices to Sugar Grove if there’s such a plan in place.
Young said the company is considering Sugar Grove or moving to Wisconsin and could bring 40 new jobs to Kane County.