Township Updates Policy to Protect Property

Libertyville Township board members recently approved the addition of statements to the farm bid process and application to prevent people from farming township property without a lease.

The addition states that any person found using township property without the proper agreement or payment would be disqualified from bidding on township property for three years, unless the board, “in its sole discretion, determines that there are equitable considerations that warrant a lesser disqualification period.”

Previously, the 2002 Farm Program Procedures and Protocol manual under the Farm Bid Process, and the Farm Bid Application, did not specify whether people could be disqualified from bidding for improper use of township property.

The other addition prohibits subleasing township property and may also disqualify the person from bidding for the use of township property for three years

Libertyville Township Supervisor Kathleen O’Connor says the issue of people using township property without an agreement started around 2002.

The township currently does not have a system in place to recoup monetary loss from misuse of township property.

“We really don’t have the ability to fine folks. We don’t have those types of ordinances, so our hands are really, on some level, tied,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor hopes the additional statements would help prevent similar situations from happening again.

Currently it cost between $70 and $110 to lease an acre of township property. A typical lease last for three years and offers the option to extend for two years.