Resource Development Committee backs letter supporting RS 2477 litigation funding

The Kane County Resource Development Committee voted Feb. 18 to supply a letter of support for a state intermediary to apply for OHB access-protection grant funds tied to ongoing RS 2477 litigation.

A staff member told the committee that the County has a long history in the RS 2477 litigation and has borne litigation costs out of pocket. The staff member said the County previously had a five-year contract for outside counsel totaling $2,500,000 (not to exceed $500,000 per year) and that last year the legislature provided a one-year $500,000 allocation. "We're asking for $1,500,000 to cover 3 years," the staff member said, adding that the County is the only local government currently paying toward the litigation and that the request seeks to sustain broader state participation.

The staff member explained that PLIPCO (the state conduit named in the discussion) has agreed to apply for the OHB access-protection grant on the County's behalf and asked the committee to provide a letter of support to include with that application. The staff member said PLIPCO can draft the application and that the County could either prepare a committee letter itself or have PLIPCO include the County's signatures on a letter they draft.

Representative Mike Noel moved that the committee support the request and authorize Chair Carrie Glover to sign the letter; a committee member seconded the motion and it passed by voice vote.

The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; members verbally approved the motion by saying "aye." The motion directs staff to provide a letter of support for PLIPCO's OHB access-protection grant application in support of RS 2477 litigation funding.

Next steps: staff will coordinate drafting and signature logistics for the letter and include the letter with PLIPCO's grant application materials.