Resource committee backs letter supporting RS 2477 litigation funding and grant application

KANE COUNTY — The Kane County Resource Development Committee voted Feb. 18 to back a grant application and authorize the committee chair to sign a letter supporting continued state funding for RS 2477 litigation.

A county staff member told the committee the litigation has been ongoing for years and that Kane County has been the only local government contributing out-of-pocket to legal costs. “We’re asking for $1,500,000 to cover 3 years,” the staff member said, describing past legislative support and a prior contract that capped annual reimbursements at $500,000.

The staff member said the county is working with PLIPCO (spelled variably in discussion as Plutco/Flipco/PLIPCO in the transcript) to apply for OHB access-protection grant funds and requested the committee either prepare a letter of support or sign one provided by county staff. Committee members discussed the process for drafting and signing the letter; the staff member offered to prepare a draft for signatures if that was preferred.

Mike Noel moved that the committee “support it and have Carrie sign it as the chairman of resource,” and the motion was seconded. The committee voted in favor.

Committee members voiced long-term commitment to the litigation and support for the grant effort. One member described prior legal victories and the continuity of outside counsel handling RS 2477 matters, noting the litigation’s multi-decade timeline. The committee did not specify a dollar-by-dollar vote tally in the transcript; the motion was recorded as carried.

Next steps: staff will prepare the letter and the committee will provide signatures to accompany PLIPCO’s grant application. The committee did not set additional conditions or amendments during the recorded motion.

(Reporting note: direct quotes and procedural actions are taken from the committee’s Feb. 18 recorded discussion.)