Committee approves $79,310 payment to Wetland Restoration Fund to cover Stonewater subdivision shortfall

A McHenry County stormwater advisory committee voted unanimously to authorize a $79,310 payment to the county Wetland Restoration Fund to purchase 0.77 acres of wetland mitigation credits for the Stonewater subdivision.

Staff presented the request and said the fee schedule used for this transaction is $103,000 per acre, producing a payment of $79,310 for the remaining 0.77 acres FourStar needs to meet phase-one mitigation requirements. The presenter reviewed a 2009 agreement between the then-developer (NRB) and the McHenry County Conservation District (MCCD) that originally allocated roughly 44½ wetland mitigation credits to address about 30 acres of impacts; MCCD completed two projects that yielded about 13.74 and 12.17 credits, leaving an unpaid balance of 8.73 credits.

"Because MCCD was still owed compensation, FourStar plans to come in and pay them that compensation that is owed to them," the presenter said, explaining that FourStar intends to make MCCD whole for work completed under the earlier agreement. Dan Favish of FourStar confirmed the district was paid for its portion "as of 30th of April," and said future phases will require a new wetland delineation and possibly new pricing or agreements.

Committee members asked how previously completed credits offset the current mitigation need and whether past compensation was being deducted from current obligations. Staff clarified that the outstanding 8.73 credits represent work already completed by MCCD that had not yet been compensated; Stonewater requires about 9.5 acres of mitigation for the phase under review, leaving the 0.77-acre shortfall the applicant is requesting to purchase now.

Caroline moved the motion to approve the payment; Abigail seconded. The committee conducted a voice roll call; all seven members voted "yes." The presenter said staff will provide an invoice/memo and coordinate payment processing and documentation once the check is submitted.

The committee also discussed the Wetland Restoration Fund balance and thresholds. Staff noted that with current receipts the fund sits above a $75,000 threshold previously agreed as a point at which the committee could consider releasing funds for larger projects; members discussed earmarking by watershed and forming a subcommittee to evaluate future project proposals.

The next procedural step is payment processing and an official memo to document the transaction; staff said they will follow up with the committee when the check is received and will circulate copies of paperwork to members.