CALHOUN: Committee provides update on opposition to AltonWorks national park plan
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
By Steven Spencer
The local committee dedicated to the Great Rivers National Park plan met last Wednesday, Jan. 15, to provide updates on their progress in gathering opposition for the AltonWorks plan to designate 135,000 acres in Illinois and Missouri as a national park.
The committee has been hard at work gathering petition signatures as well as letters of opposition from various organizations and municipalities in both states.
The meeting was led by Jane Brangenberg, Manager Calhoun County Farm Bureau, Scotty Bryant, President of the Illinois Federation for Outdoor Resources (IFOR), and Mark Wagner, Vice-Chairman of the Jersey County Board. They told those in attendance that more than 5,000 signatures have been gathered on petitions and 20 different organizations have issued their support in opposition, but they are still looking for more signatures and organizations and municipalities that could be impacted by the designation of a national park in the area to voice their opinion.
At this time letters in support of the opposition have been received from Congresswoman Miller Mary, State Representative C. D. Davidsmeyer, Senator Jil Tracy, Calhoun County, Jersey County, the City of Grafton, the City of West Alton, Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, Batchtown Sportsman’s Club, Calhoun County Farm Bureau, Delta Waterfowl, Missouri Department of Conservation, IFOR, Illinois Commercial Fishing Association, Midwest Turkey Gobblers Chapter, Migratory Waterfowl, Mississippi Valley Hunters and Fishermen Association, Missouri Trappers Association and more.
Brangenberg said there are still letters of opposition that the committee has not yet received but feels they have made a fantastic start.
Wagner said at the time of the last meeting, the Calhoun County Commissioners were the only ones who had issued a resolution of opposition to the creation of the national park but Jersey County followed quickly as word spread throughout the area.
Although things slowed down recently due to holidays and the reorganization of different county boards, Wagner said the fight is far from over.
“We still have more work to do and I know we can get more letters of opposition. They’re out there. There are people that want to they just haven’t done it. We just have to get them involved,” Wagner said.
Bryant said the committee plans to stay vigilant and encouraged the public to inform the committee on any type of details they may find, no matter how far-fetched, so that they may continue to investigate.
“Make no mistake about it they’re not going to go away. They made it clear in a meeting with them that they didn’t care if it happened this year or 20 years from now,” Bryant said. “IFOR’s stance is not now, not ten years or 100 years from now. We don’t want it period.”
Following the meeting, the committee provided packets with details on the opposition to Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer and a representative from Congresswoman Miller’s office who were in attendance.
The committee also thanked the members of the public who have been vocal in their opposition and working to gather petition signatures.
“The passion and things I’ve seen about this community chokes me up to watch,” Bryant said. “I hope all of you, and all of your friends and family, stay vigilant over this until hopefully someday we’ll be able to stand here and say this is all over.”
More information on the AltonWorks Great Rivers National Park plan, the community’s response to the plan, and letters of opposition from the Missouri Department of Conservation, Jersey County, Calhoun County, Congresswoman Miller and more can be found at rivercountynews.com.
