Homer Township officials want to sell two farms that were bought as part of the township’s open space initiative to help fund an event center, but some residents say they want to fight to preserve the open land.
Township Supervisor Steve Balich said the township could make about $4 million from the sale of the Purdy and Paul farms. The Township Board voted 5-0 Monday to authorize the sales.The Purdy Farm, an 86-acre open space site on the corner of Gougar and Bruce roads, was the first piece of property the township bought as part of its open space program. The Paul Farm is a 56-acre site on the south side of 151st Street between Gougar and Farrell roads.
Homer Township voters in April 1999 voted to issue $8 million in bonds to buy areas across the township as part of its open space plan. About 65% of residents approved the bond sale, which eventually bought about 200 acres of land, including the Paul, Purdy, Welter and Trantina farms. Many of these areas continue to be farmed.Township documents from 1998 said that open space may be leased back to farmers to promote conservation of soil.
“I’m totally against the sale of these properties,” she said. “Is it all about the money or is it about preserving the area for current and future residents? It should be preserved. I don’t want to lose the beauty of nature and everything that comes with it.” Snyder, who helped pass the referendum and was secretary of the Homer Township Land Acquisition Committee for Open Space, said the committee carefully created a plan and a map of potential properties to buy to show to the public, which agreed with their plan. She said she anticipates a legal battle and wondered how much taxpayer money the township will spend fighting the open space plan voters once approved.“The properties have not been sold yet,” Snyder said.
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