County Board against removal of land from tax rolls

The Union County Board of Commissioners has taken a formal stand against the removal of more land from local tax rolls.

The issue was on the agenda at this week's regular county board meeting. The meeting was Monday afternoon at the Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro.

County commissioner Randy Lambdin previously had shared concerns about the land issue which had  been voiced to him by a local resident.

In reponse to the concerns, Union County State's Attorney Tyler Edmonds drafted a resolution voicing opposition to acquisition of more local land by U.S. government agencies.

The resolution notes that the U.S. government, through the U.S. Forest Service, "currently owns a significant amount of real property within Union County."

"Such real property is not subject to property taxation" by the county or local taxing bodies.

The county does receive  payments in lieu of taxes on government-owned property which "are significantly less than the property tax revenue that would be received" by the county and the other local taxing bodies "if such land were held by private landowners."

The resolution notes that additional purchase of local property by the federal government "would further decrease the property tax revenues" received by the local governing bodies.

With those concerns in mind, the commissioners approved a resolution which formally "opposes efforts by the United States Government and U.S. Forest Service to purchase additional real property within Union County."

Certified copies of the resolution will be delivered to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, the chief of the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., and U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Ill.

Board Reorganizes

The county board on Monday also reorganized and elected officers for the coming year.

Randy Lambdin was elected as board chairman. John Garner was elected as vice chairman.

Other Business

In other business at Monday's meeting:

The commissioners approved a proposal to allow for the trapping of beavers at the county's Pine Ridge Lake (the former State Pond) near Jonesboro.

County engineer Kevin Grammer reported that a family of about eight to 12 beavers are causing problems at the lake.

The animals are damaging trees and blocking a water overflow structure at the lake.

A local resident has been given approval to trap the beavers. Grammer said plans call for the animals to be trapped this winter.