Jacksonville residents can weigh in on land swap

JACKSONVILLE — Residents are being asked to weigh in on a potential swap of 380 acres in the city's upper watershed for 40 acres of land adjacent to Forest Park.

The city would receive nearly $845,000 in the deal, which could be used to repair the reservoir dam, but the deal might increase off-highway vehicle use in the area.

A public hearing will be held on the matter Tuesday, July 6, at 7 p.m. in Old City Hall, 205 W. Main St., during the City Council meeting.

City officials and members of the Motorcycle Riders Association have been in negotiations on a deal that would give the MRA acreage higher in the 1,800-acre watershed adjacent to land it already owns.

A 40-acre parcel owned by the MRA, which has improved parking and is located next to the lower watershed near the reservoir, would help the city consolidate its holdings.

"We have a conceptual agreement that has been under consideration for two years," said City Manager Paul Wyntergreen. Closing the deal would probably take another year, he said. The City Council must approve any transaction.

Under the proposal, the MRA would pay about $845,000 as part of the swap.

An appraisal put the value of the city acreage, with timber, at $1,140,000. The MRA land is valued at $166,000, with timber, according to the proposal. But the city would also have to provide reimbursement of $131,000 for the value of parking improvements made with a state parks grant for OHV facilities.

The MRA would seek grant money for the purchase from a State Parks Department fund derived from gasoline taxes paid by OHV users.

Opponents of the swap say the exchange would boost OHV use in the watershed.

"More OHV land would allow for an increase in that use," said Steve Casaleggio of Jacksonville. "You just feel that there is plenty of opportunity for that now and adding more land for it doesn't seem right."

Once the land is sold, it's gone, said Casaleggio, adding that OHV use could damage the watershed.

"I think everyone understands that (OHV use) tends to degrade the surface conditions and allows for runoff of silt and damages the watershed," said Casaleggio.

Proponents say the swap will provide Forest Park with increased parking and consolidate managed areas.

"The work all along has been to consolidate property ownership up there," said Tony Hess, who has worked to develop Forest Park for seven years.

"It really establishes a good partnership between the city and the MRA to manage all the lands up there," said Hess.

MRA membership would also need to approve any deal.

"We see it as a good-neighbor policy," said Steven Croucher, president of the MRA. "This is kind of the first step with what will be a lot of work for our organization and the city."

Provisions in the proposal include:

• Creation of a mutual stewardship management plan by both groups for the watershed area.
• An easement granted by the city to MRA for DMV-licensed vehicles only on Reservoir Road to reach the 180-acre parcel. At present, unlicensed OHVs can use the road for access.
• Placement of a conservation easement by the city on 1,080 acres of the the lower watershed.

Money derived by the city from sale of property can be used only for capital improvements or purchases.

"The most obvious capital asset will be resolving the issues on that dam," said Wyntergreen.

State agencies and the city's insurer have called for removal, repair or breaching of the reservoir dam. A study prepared earlier this year determined cost estimates for dam work ranged from $192,000 to $1.7 million.