Jersey County Board approves Resolution of Opposition to AltonWorks’ National Park idea
By Steven Spencer
The Jersey County Board voted to approve a Resolution of Opposition to the AltonWorks vision to convert 135,000 acres along the local riverfront into a National Park.
The board voted unanimously to pass the resolution on Tuesday, Oct. 8, citing a number of issues including a lack of public informational meetings and consultation with the counties and villages that would be affected, and the impact the National Park designation could have on hunting and outdoor recreations.
Board member Sandy Hefner presented the resolution and made a motion for its approval during the Tourism Committee report and the motion was seconded by board member Jeremy Beasley.
“Now, therefore, be it resolved by the board of Jersey County that the Jersey County Board will work with neighboring counties, impacted organizations and agencies, to lead a thoughtful and thorough community process in opposition of any proposed plan to designate any land in and around Jersey County as a National Park,” Hefner said.
During the board’s discussion, Vice Chairman Mark Wagner voiced his concern and opposition to the idea and read from a prepared statement.
“I’m opposed to the AltonWorks proposal,” Wagner said. “Although the Alton riverfront looks promising the National Park is a terrible idea for Jersey and Calhoun counties. I will not advocate for the Alton Riverfront though because the decision should be up to the Alton mayor and city council on whether they believe the idea is a good fit for them. AltonWorks proposal would combine U.S. Army Corps of Engineer property, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Missouri Department of Conservation and Illinois Department of Natural Resource property under the umbrella of the National Park Service. The National Park Service’s mission is to preserve the natural and cultural resources of this country. They do a terrific job. A great example of this is the Indian Cliff Dwellings out in Arizona. The National Park Service has 84 million acres. The budget is $3.8 billion. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a different mission. It is to work with others to protect, conserve, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and other habitats. Wetlands acquired with the Duck Stamp dollars help purify water, aid, in flood control, reduce soil erosion and sedimentation and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities. The park service does none of this. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ mission is to deliver vital engineering solutions in collaboration with partners to secure our nation, energize our economy and reduce disaster risk. The Corps Engineers manages 12 million acres of land and water, 4.3 million acres provide significant waterfowl use. Their budget is $8.6 billion, and some change. So, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers budget has less land but their budget is twice what the National Park Service’s is. If we turn this land over to the National Park Service these areas will have less money to operate on. The National Park Service as you can see does not fit well for the needs of our community. Also, there is common misconception that the National Park would beautify our current Pere Marquette State Park. However, it would be competing against other National Parks with no additional funding. The National Park Service currently has a maintenance backlog of $22 billion, whereas three years ago it was roughly $13 billion. Lastly, Jersey County would lose tax revenue from farm leases, hotel-motel tax, and loss of public safety tax from Pere Marquette State Park. This is a bad idea. That’s why I oppose it.”
Before approving the resolution, the board heard from multiple residents about the National Park idea during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Janet Jones, President of the Jersey County Trail Riders, said members regularly ride at Pere Marquette State Park and asked the board how the designation of a National Park might impact riding trails. However, with limited information provided to the board, Chairman Gary Krueger said they know little more than what has been published in the newspaper. The county also assured the public that the board opposes the idea and would keep the public as updated as possible.
“If there’s something that the county can be in the loop about we’d be happy to put it on the website for the public, but at this point we haven’t been notified. If it comes to that we’re happy to post it on our website,” Jersey County Clerk Pam Warford said.
Andrew Jackson, City of Grafton Ward 2 Alderman, also spoke during public comment. He said the topic is on the agenda for Tuesday, Oct. 15, Grafton City Council meeting.
“We have reached out to AltonWorks a couple of times requesting additional information. We had a list of questions presented last month by Dan Ebbing, the Chamber of Commerce President, which they have answered,” Jackson said. “Our issue has really been what the boundary of the park might potentially be as it comes through Grafton. There’s a lot of implications of different things as far as property and personal property. The map that AltonWorks has provided is not very detailed, but it would appear that the northern border of the park as it leaves Alton and goes west towards Grafton follows the bike trail. It appears to follow the bike trail as it goes through Grafton and then west to the edge of Pere Marquette State Park.”
Jackson said that although AltonWorks has said no personal property would be incorporated into the park, if the boundaries follow the bike trial that wouldn’t be the case. He said a written description of the property and border has been requested but not received yet.
“There’s a few properties in Grafton that might be affected by that including the Loading Dock, Wind Rivers Condominiums, the marina,” Jackson said.
While the AltonWorks plan for a National Park wasn’t on the agenda for the Alton City Council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 9, the council did approve $68,250 in funding for Alton Forward to purchase 350 laptops for “low-income unconnected households.”
Alton Forward is the nonprofit arm of AltonWorks and lists AltonWorks CEO John Simmons and his wife Jayne Simmons as the primary benefactors.
Alton City Council also discussed a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Gordon Moore Park Improvements. Improvements would include new concessions area, locker rooms, restrooms, multipurpose space and office space at Lloyd Hopkins Field.
Planning and Development Director Greg Caffey said the application for the grant has been approved by HUD but the financial documents have not been executed. Caffey said the city would be using Madison County’s borrowing capacity and the county is actually the applicant for the funding. Although the project benefits the city the county would execute the documents.
Members of the council said the idea had never been brought before the council or presented to the public and questioned why CDBG money would be used for collateral.
Director Caffey told the council that the cost of the project size, $4 million, makes it unsuitable for a traditional bond obligation, and assured the council that public hearings had been published and held but no public comment had been received.
Alton’s Committee of the Whole also met last week and discussed the laptop funding. Both meeting agendas, and minutes from the City Council meeting, are available on the City of Alton’s website. Recordings of both meetings are available on Riverbender.com
On Thursday, Oct. 10, AltonWorks posted a statement on their Facebook page mentioning their National Park idea and the Alton Riverfront Commission.
The Alton Riverfront Commission meets regularly on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 2 p.m. at Alton City Hall in the Council Chambers. However, the Tuesday, Sept. 24, meeting was at AltonWorks.
“Late last year, AltonWorks publicly shared a long-term idea to create the Great Rivers National Park to help highlight the region’s crown jewels: The Mississippi and its confluences with the Illinois and Missouri Rivers and the lands around them,” the post reads. “Over the last nine months, members of our team have been meeting with hundreds of people from across the region about this concept to gather feedback, ideas, and concerns. We have dozens more meetings and events planned throughout 2024 and 2025 with outdoor sports organizations, citizens and local, county and state government leaders. Most recently, AltonWorks hosted a meeting of the Alton Riverfront Commission. Appointed by the Mayor and Alton City Council, this City Commission is made up of citizens representing various river interests across Alton. During this meeting, the Commission heard from a representative of the US Army Corps of Engineers who discussed efforts to master plan Alton’s Riverfront through the Corps Planning Assistance to States Program. Stay tuned as we share more information over the coming weeks about the idea and answer some of your frequently asked questions.”
The Alton Riverfront Commission meeting agenda and minutes have yet to be posted online and the Alton City Clerk’s Office and Mayor’s Office were unable to provide a copy of the agenda. Employees in the clerk’s office said they had been unaware of the change in location until the day of the meeting but posted a note on the doors of city hall.
Alton Mayor David Goins was unavailable at press time to provide details on the September Alton Riverfront Commission meeting, the statement from AltonWorks, and confirmation of when public notice was given regarding the change in venue for the commission meeting.
A copy of the Jersey County Board’s Resolution of Opposition can be found online at jerseycountyillinois.us.
More information on the AltonWorks idea and the response from the Jersey and Calhoun residents can be found in a previous article online at rivercountynews.com.
A comment from Congresswoman Mary Miller regarding the response from Calhoun County and Jersey County can also be found at rivercountynew.com.
