Kane County EDB approves $30,000 for Duck Creek trail erosion repairs

The Kane County Economic Development Board voted to award $30,000 to a community-led effort to repair trail erosion at Duck Creek, Speaker 1 told the board during a presentation requesting funds. Speaker 1 said the cash would accompany $35,000 already pledged by the recreation and finance department and would pay for structural engineering and durable repairs.

The project team described broad local support — volunteers, local businesses and OHV clubs — and in-kind contributions of heavy equipment. "So today we're requesting a grant for $30,000," Speaker 1 said, framing the award as seed money to ensure the project meets state and county policies and creates a safer trail system for visitors.

Board members voiced support for the project’s anticipated benefits to visitor access and village-area businesses. Speaker 3 moved to give $30,000 to the project and Speaker 4 seconded. Speaker 2 called for a voice vote; after members answered "Aye," Speaker 2 said, "Motion passes and will be forwarded on to the commission for further action at the county commission meeting, which it's on the agenda for tomorrow." The board recorded no roll-call tallies in the transcript and advanced the item to the county commission for final approval.

Funding plan and next steps: the approved $30,000 is intended to be paired with $35,000 from county recreation/finance and additional planned $5,000 applications to the Outdoor Recreation Initiative and an OHV grant, plus volunteer labor and donated equipment. The board directed staff to forward the approved award and required paperwork to the county commission for final consideration at its next meeting.

The county commission will be the final decision-maker on disbursing the funds, and the board said it will follow up on required engineering reports and permit compliance before larger-scale work resumes.