St. Charles’ newly formed Dam Task Force to hold first meeting

St. Charles’ newly formed Fox River Dam Joint Task Force will meet for the first time next week.

The meeting will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 28, at city hall, 2 E. Main St. It will be the first of several meetings where the task force will examine the potential environmental, economic, and recreational impacts that the removal of the St. Charles Dam would have on the city, park district, residents and businesses.

A recent study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommends the removal of nine dams in Kane County, including the St. Charles Dam.

The St. Charles City Council voted to create the task force in February to engage the public, solicit input, and analyze relevant information and possible impacts.

The task force has nine members. There are five city council representatives (three elected officials and two residents), three St. Charles Park District representatives (one or two elected and one or two residents), and one representative from the River Corridor Foundation.

“The Fox River is at the very heart of our community and I don’t feel like the issues pertinent to St. Charles were adequately addressed in the U.S. the Army Corps of Engineers report,” Mayor Lora Vitek said in a news release. “I think it is important to gather more information specific to the economic and recreational impacts surrounding dam removal and to solicit public feedback before any decisions are made.”

The task force will solicit input from consultants and the public, provide updates and collect feedback on the process before making final reports to the city council and park district no later than March 1, 2025.