Yorkville Dam Action Letter
Sample letter to State legislators

Dear _______________,

I am writing in regard to the project that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is about to embark on to replace the Glen Palmer Dam on the Fox River in Yorkville, Illinois.

I believe that this project is a misguided use of taxpayer funds to rebuild a dam that has been shown by an independent study commissioned by the IDNR to be harmful to the environmental health of the Fox River. It is unconscionable that IDNR funds, monies that are ostensibly to be used to protect the natural resources of the State, will be used to rebuild a structure that does nothing but harm to the ecology of the Fox River.

Particularly in a time when State funds are depleted, having the taxpayers of the State pay $6-7 million (or more) for a project that only does harm to the State’s natural resources is outrageous.

If the City of Yorkville thinks that a rebuilt dam will be a boon to their community (an opinion I believe is misguided), then they should be responsible for paying for it, not the rest of the citizens of the State.

Please investigate this matter and stop this waste of taxpayer dollars on an unnecessary engineering project that will harm the environment for the next 50-75 years.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,