Published: September 06, 2008 07:07 pm         

Money the big question in Kickapoo's future

OAKWOOD — The ideas are out there, but it’s simply an issue of money and who provides it that will decide the future of Kickapoo State Park.

The park, which dates back to 1939, was among more than 20 sites announced for closure by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. With the announcement came questions about local management of the park.

Vermilion County Conservation District Director Ken Konsis has fielded a number of those questions as people looked to the district as a possible way to keep the park open.

Konsis admits that money-wise it’s a difficult proposition. The district could manage the additional 2,842 acres and 22 deep-water ponds, but funding is different.

“Tax-wise, the Illinois Conservation District tax is limited to 10 cents on a levy for your general fund,” he said. “I’m at 8.9 cents, so what’s that leave — a penny for Kickapoo?”

He also pointed out the additional expenses expected by taking such a venture. As of late, Kickapoo had been run with a scant staff of three people. Konsis said he would want a staff of about six to handle all the work there.

And then there’s equipment, which Konsis doesn’t believe the state would leave behind for the next owners.

“So we’re going to have to buy enough trucks, tractors, all new equipment,” he said. “That’s going to be a half-million dollars right off the top.”

And looking to the state for funding assistance is not an avenue Konsis feels comfortable in going down. County departments such as Vermilion Manor Nursing Home have been left waiting on funds promised by the state in the past, sometimes months at a time.

So Konsis said he’s eliminated the state coffers as a solid possibility.

“I don’t think that’s an option,” he said. “Even if they did, would you trust them for dedicated funding year after year after year to keep something like that open?”

In the end, he insists the county conservation district could handle the running of Kickapoo State Park.

“We would manage it, no doubt. We can do that,” he said. “But the funding would have to be there.”

Where that funding could come from is up for discussion. The county has put together a budget with no tax increases for the second straight year, but just two times in the last six years.

CITY’S VIEW

The city of Danville also has dealt with tight budget concerns.

Nonetheless, Mayor Scott Eisenhauer said he has asked Konsis to put together a report laying out what the budget would need to look like and what funds would be necessary if the conservation district took over Kickapoo.

The two will meet about the issue in the next two weeks.

Eisenhauer stressed the information is not a decision, pointing out the city’s money constraints.

“What people fail to realize is Kickapoo is 1½ times the size of Kennekuk,” he said. “So there would be a considerable impact on the conservation district budget for asking them to take over that acreage.”

A considerable impact in other areas is already a fear because of the closing. Tourism dollars, up last year in Danville, are a point of concern.

“I’m extremely disappointed in the governor’s decision,” Eisenhauer said. “It continues to highlight his ignorance toward the impact tourism has on communities and the state as a whole.”

As an example, the annual Wild Wild Wilderness race staged annually at Kickapoo State Park is coming up later this month. The race, now in its 29th year, attracts hundreds of runners from around the area. The Kennekuk Road Runners have invited Blagojevich to the event to show the impact of the park offsets any costs.

Vermilion County Board Chairman Jim McMahon said the board will vote on a resolution to be sent to the governor supporting Kickapoo and taking a stand against the park’s closure.

OTHER CONCERNS

Kickapoo management questions aside, Konsis has several areas of concern arising out of the expected closure of the park. Participants in activities such as hunting, fishing and mountain biking — all popular at Kickapoo — will start looking for new areas to enjoy their hobbies.

“They close (Kickapoo) and I’m going to get hit with all kinds of requests to put mountain biking in, which I really don’t want to do,” Konsis said, adding the same goes for horse back riding and the fishing.

“That’s going to put more pressure on Lake Mingo and Lake Vermilion,” he said. “Lake Vermilion is about maxed out with everything.”

And losing those is just the beginning.

“The other thing is it will force people to go out of the county, so you’re losing money there,” he said.

If the closing happens, the conservation district faces difficulties in two projects being put together — one entailing a bicycle path from Urbana to Kickapoo and the other setting up a scenic river path from Kickapoo to Kennekuk.

Konsis said he still is holding out hope for Kickapoo.

“Optimistically, I hope it doesn’t happen. But you can’t trust politics. What will happen, I don’t know.”