Please remember the FPDCC Budget hearing tomorrow, Nov. 12, 1p.m., Cook County Building, 118 North Clark, Chicago, Il. Room 569. After discussion with a few other user groups, forest preserve staff and commissioners we are revising our request to: Eliminate all equestrian fees. We feel once we achieve this goal we can better work on safety, education, service, recognition of single tracks, outside of the budget process. I realize this meeting is not an option for most you. A small group of us are car-pooling down at 11 p.m.. If you can attend please do. You can register to speak at: https://surveymonkey/s/cookcountybudget2014 This is a text of my statement. Feel free to e-mail your commissioners in support of our cause. Many of you live in other districts than Palos and need to communicate with your commissioner. You can find out who represents you and contact information at: cookcountygov/portal/server.pt/community/government/226/leadership November 12, Public Input FPDCC Budget Meeting, Cook County Building, Chicago, Il. I am here today to plead with the commissioners and Board President to support an amendment to eliminate all equestrian fees in the Cook County Forest Preserve. I do not believe you have been given accurate information to make your decision or answer your questions in this matter. We would be happy to meet with any commissioners to document or clarify the information I am presenting today. Equestrians are the only users of the multi-use trail system that pay a fee. There are other user fees in FPDCC for exclusive use of specialized facilities (golf, snow mobile fields, dog parks etc., shelters) or for large groups (over 25). Like other groups, we contribute significantly to the Forest Preserve in time and dollars but are the only group charged a fee to use the unpaved trails. This is discriminatory. Current fees are excessive, and are not comparable to multi - use fees of the five collar counties. Kane, DuPage, Will, and McHenry Counties provide multi-use trails for horses. None of these charge equestrians any fees. Some of these did charge fees in the past and have eliminated them. Lake County provides both multi-use and exclusive use trails for horses, which makes them not a true comparable. Their fee is $35 for county residents, $70 non-resident. Even with figuring in Lake County the averages are $7.00and $14.00 far below the current combined horse and rider fees of $34 and $54 that Cook County charges. The current fee structure most likely costs more to administer than it creates in revenue. In December 2012, Fees and Permits indicated a total revenue of $22,794. September, 2013 was below that figure, even though the estimated income in the budget is always significantly higher than the actual income. Cost of purchasing the metal tags, printing, postage, personnel costs, travel costs, enforcement costs, court costs far exceed the revenue. Cook county needs to make the fiscally responsible decision that both Will and DuPage already have, and eliminate equestrian fees. In addition, please consider: While the exact reason for the creation of the fee is unclear, there is no reason for the equestrian fees today . Unjust punitive fees discourage volunteerism, communication, education efforts by user groups. While Cook County Forest Preserve are superior trails due to natural topography, Flora and Fauna and location, the amenities provided minimal when compared to the collar counties. The level of service and communication with some departments in the Forest Preserve has been completely unacceptable adding to frustration. Southwest Area horsemen are middle class working people of all races and ages and deserve to be treaty fairly by the county. “The forest preserve should be free to all people if we can afford it…” You can afford it. You cannot afford not to continue the discriminatory, unjust, and counterproductive current fee structure . Susan Collins President, Palos Hills Horsemen’s’ Association rosscollins@hotmail 708-599-7581/708-334-2323
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 22:49:46 +0000
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