The LaSalle County Taxes, Elections & GIS Committee on Oct. 21 discussed five bids for the county-owned former Enchanted Forest/Grand Bear property and agreed to refer the matter to the full county board after city officials said they want a reuse compatible with Utica’s zoning and tourism strategy.

Committee chair Doug Traeger opened the discussion by describing the surplus-auction process and saying the county, acting as trustee, received five amended bids for the site. He said bids ranged from a low amendment to a high offer and that only two of the amended proposals matched the city’s stated preferred uses.

“The best bid is the…indoor sports components of the 5 that we have to look at,” Traeger said, describing one bidder’s plan for an indoor sports complex. He added the county cannot decide alone because the property was returned to the trustee after unpaid taxes and the county must present the bids to the full board.

Village attorney Herb Klein said the village wants a use that “promotes the current uses that are out there” — lodging and recreation tied to Starved Rock State Park — and warned that a tire-recycling site or other industrial uses would not be allowed under Utica’s zoning and would not generate tourism dollars. “I don't think you would want that either right next to Starved Rock State Park,” Klein said.

Village President David Stewart told the committee the property has been vandalized repeatedly and needs substantial work. “The property does need a lot of work,” Stewart said. “The longer it sits there I think the worst that the property is going to get.” He said one bidder’s plan to create an indoor recreation/sports facility would align with the village’s goals and generate sales tax.

Traeger and other committee members discussed options including convening representatives from taxing districts (city, school district, drainage districts and others) to weigh in on the preferred long-term use and the relative value of higher bids versus compatible uses. County staff advised that the committee cannot award the property and that the full county board will make the final decision.

The committee agreed to ask the chairman to meet with representatives of the city of Utica and other taxing bodies and to bring the bids and any cross-district recommendations to the full county board for action at an upcoming board meeting.

Next steps: the committee will forward the five amended bids and the city’s comments to the full board and the chairman will arrange meetings with Utica and other taxing districts before the full-board vote.

Votes or formal actions on the bids were not taken by the committee; the item was recorded as a referral to the full county board for decision.