SPRINGFIELD – Today, a bill to cede portions of the Shabbona State Park to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation passed the Illinois House of Representatives with a vote of 63-42-1. In response, State Representative Brad Fritts (R-Dixon) released the following statement:
“I am deeply concerned with the passage of Senate Bill 867,” said Rep. Fritts. “I am not outwardly opposed to conversations regarding honoring an agreement made in 1829, but there are many glaring issues with this legislation that this bill’s sponsor never addressed.
“I am immensely frustrated that this bill’s sponsor, who lives three counties away from Shabbona State Park, refused to listen to the voices of people actually living in this community. As the State Representative for this area, I had many in-depth conversations with Shabbona residents and released a survey for my constituents on this issue. The response is clear: residents have many concerns about this legislation as it is written.
“Senate Bill 867 does not include any protections for landowners who currently reside on land included in the land transfer agreement. The bill does not include any regulations surrounding the type of development permitted. The bill also does not address that the State of Illinois is giving away a State Park, worth tens of millions of dollars, without regard for the taxpayer or the residents who utilize the park.
“Unfortunately, the majority party in Springfield decided that winning political points should supersede crafting good public policy on what may be one of the most critical pieces of legislation this Assembly has ever seen. There was no regard for local residents, for the taxpayers of Illinois, or for the landowners who are now in legal limbo regarding their ownership of this land.”
For more information about Representative Fritts, visit RepFritts.com.
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