By Gail Peckler-Dziki Correspondent
The Twin Lakes Village Board was nearly unanimous is approving a resolution opposing the development of the Hackmatack Wildlife Refuge. Kevin Fitzgerald was the lone no vote.
Trustee Aaron Karow asked, “Why is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife getting involved?”
Village president Howard Skinner expressed concern that with US Fish and Wildlife involved, the public’s ability to use the land would diminish. “No motorized vehicles like snowmobiles,” he remarked.
Skinner was also concerned that bicycles might not be allowed.
Fitzgerald commented that McHenry County in Illinois, one of the involved areas, already had many bike trails. “I can’t imagine McHenry going for something like this if it might endanger the use of those.”
Trustee Tom Connolly commented that if they voted against it, “They will come back and tell us what they really plan to do, in black and white.”
Concern about private land included in the area was expressed. According to the Hackmatack information website, private land within the refuge boundary would not be subject to any more restrictions than land outside refuge boundary. The private land may be used for any purpose allowed by local land use regulations, it may be sold or inherited by heirs and may be annexed by an adjacent municipalities and developed.
Hackmatack is the Algonquin word for tamarack tree. It is also called the larch and is the only deciduous conifer. The Hackmatack study area is 350,000 acres with Burlington on the north, Fox Lake on the east, Crystal Lake on the south and Harvard and Lake Geneva on the west.
For ore information, visit /www.hackmatacknwr.org/about.htm.
May 8 recall primary to be held at Lakewood
The Tuesday, May 8 recall primary for governor and lieutenant governor will be held at Lakewood Grade School, 1218 Wilmot Avenue. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
The village will place signs around town, with one large sign in from of the village hall two weeks prior to the recall primary. The village will look into the possibility of putting the information on the floating bulletin boards at the Sentry.
Yard waste and recycling
The yard waste recycling center has resumed seasonal operation. It is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, weather permitting.
During the month of April, the village is collecting electronic waste at the recycling center at no extra charge. Residents can bring electronic devices including televisions, computers, monitors, CD and DVD player, and VCRs to the center during hours of operation. The devices are banned from the landfill, will be recycled.