Political group forms to fight the creation of water authority

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DeKALB - A new political action group has formed to oppose the creation of the Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority, backed by a $30,000 contribution from a professional organization for Realtors. Citizens Against Water Authority registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections on March 19. The group has members in DeKalb, Boone and McHenry counties, the three counties that would be covered by the controversial water authority should voters opt for its creation. &#8220I'm the co-chair representing DeKalb County, and we have a co-chair in Boone County and a co-chair in McHenry County,” Steve Vidmar of DeKalb said. &#8220That's why we have to have so much money. That's a lot of ground to cover and a lot of voters to talk to.” Vidmar said the group's members believe the proposed authority would jeopardize property rights and take away local control of water resources. He also said it would create an unfair tax burden. If created, the authority will be funded by a property tax. The state requires candidates and political action committees to file campaign disclosure documents for any donations exceeding $500. The only donation currently listed in CAWA's disclosure filing is a $30,000 donation from the Illinois Association of Realtors. &#8220We've received other, smaller contributions, and we expect still more to come,” Vidmar said. Connor Brown, local government affairs director for the state Realtor association, said the association is &#8220concerned” about the potential water authority, which would have broad powers to regulate nonagricultural water use in the three counties. &#8220We're concerned about the creation of another taxing district, the many powers it will have, that local residents will lose control over local water resources, and that it will jeopardize property rights,” Brown said. &#8220We're concerned about giving power to a new layer of government that has eminent domain and condemnation authority.” Brown said the association includes the Belvidere Board of Realtors in Boone County, the DeKalb Area Association of Realtors and the McHenry County Association of Realtors, all of which he said oppose the authority. &#8220We have about 1,700 members in all three counties, so (the donation) breaks down to about $17 a member,” he said. Vidmar was vague about specific plans for the money, saying only that it will be used to campaign against the two referendums creating the authority. &#8220We're going to do everything a candidate would do to win an election,” he said. This is not the first time the Illinois Association of Realtors has become involved in local politics. Last year it funded a lawsuit brought by a Sycamore resident against the city and Sycamore School District objecting to the city's controversial transfer tax on real estate transactions. CAWA is at least the second opposition group to campaign against the water authority. In February, Kirkland resident Joe Wiegand created the Taxpayers Alliance of Northern Illinois for that purpose. Vidmar said the two groups are not related. Dana Herra can be reached at dherra@daily-chronicle.com.