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_ BULLDOZERS RUSH IN, WHERE ZONING BOARDS FEAR TO STAND FIRM 
In our county there is an area known as Round Bottom because of its peculiar bowl-like contours; its steep slopes are 
covered with an Oak-Hickory forest; and several winding streams such as Sugar Creek, Court Creek, and the Spoon River flow 
through it. Until recently, we residents of Knox County were under the impression that the area was to be acquired by the 
State for a park; and we were pleased that a much needed “green belt” would be preserved, as our county has already lost 
much land to strip mining and intensive farming. 
About seven months ago, a notice appeared in the Monday edition of our local Paper announcing that a hearing for a dam 
would be held in Springfield on Wednesday at 8:00 A.M. — a legal description of the area followed, along with the name of 
_ the owner — a subsidiary of The International Paper Co. Since the hearing was to be held in Springfield, we assumed that this 
was to be a State project; and we immediately wrote to all the agencies involved plus the usual State officials. After two 
_months, more letters and several phone calls, we finally learned that this was entirely a local project, and we must see our 
own County Board of Supervisors. 
In the meantime, there had been two local hearings in the Townships where the proposed dam and land development 
_ would be located; and we had stirred up a lot of public interest in the hearings. In fact, we had temporarily blocked a zoning 
request to change the area from Conservation to Rural Residential-Recreation, which would have given the owners unlimited 
freedom to develop the area. In addition we learned that the stream which the dam was to impound was severely 
contaminated by wastes from a strip mine slurry pond which drained into it; and much of the ground-water was also polluted. 
The ground-water would probably be further contaminated by the proposed development, as the area is too steep for a 
| central sanitary facility, and individual septic tanks would have to be installed. 
Mrs. George Ward, whose husband is head of the Biology Department at Knox College, and | went to Springfield to find 
out why the State had given permission for a dam when all these problems were present, which had not been properly 
investigated. It seems that John Guillou, chief of the Division of Waterways had issued the permit; and the Department of 
Conservation had endorsed it. This was done two years ago, after someone sampled the water from two wells in the area and 
decided that it was not too acid for fish, and so approved the project. 
Although the Zoning Board of Appeal had originally recommended that the area not be re-zoned, the Board had “‘last 
minute” meeting with American Central Corp. and reversed itself just prior to making its report to the County Board of 
Supervisors two days following. Had this not occured, the Conservation zoning would not have permitted building lots 
less than three acres; and it would not have been profitable to develop the land. The Board, not unexpectedly, approved the 
decision of the Zoning Board, 26 to 4; and within two weeks American Central moved in with bulldozers and began 
| destruction of the forest and construction of the dam. 
In the meantime | had written to the Environmental Defense Fund to see whether we had any grounds to obtain an 
‘injunction to stop construction. They referred us to several people in Illinois, but by the time we received the reply, 
‘construction was underway, we have, however, aroused support from local citizens, who have turned out in good numbers to 
attend the meetings; and we are watch-dogging the Planning Commission of the County Board. Even though we haven't 
‘stopped the development, we have pointed up the need for better local and state laws; and we have brought to light the 
‘inadequacies of our uninformed County Board. 
Alice Palmer, Chairman of State Affairs 
1198 N. Prairie Street 
Galesburg, Illinois 61402 
BIRDERS’ HELP NEEDED IN BALD EAGLE RESEARCH 
: 
A dozen nestling bald eagles were color-marked last summer in conjunction with important ecological studies at the 
‘Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota. If you see eagles with color marks painted on their wings, carefully note what 
color(s) is (are) on which wing (some are marked on right or left wing only, some both), and write Dan Frenzel, University of 
innasot St. Paul, Minn., 55101, giving date, time, place and other relevant sighting information -- i.e., birds they’re seen 
with, etc. Most of the eagles with any blue markings are also radio-marked; if you see one of these call Mr. Frenzel, collect if 
necessary, at (612) 272-1712 or 644-0348. 

