Illinois Conservation Voters©

 

 

County Board Blindsides Blind Veteran

Vietnam War veteran Thomas Ditzler has a calm demeanor, but I could hear a slight crack in his voice when he told me over the phone, "I learned on the radio today that I don’t even own the title to my own property". He went on, I tried calling my attorney, but the receptionist said he was in a meeting…I called later in the day and she said ‘Is it anything important?’ His voice trailed off again.

This could be the sorry conclusion for this veteran, who is legally blind as a result of his service for our country, and is desperately seeking to learn what his legal rights are. His County government has used every trick in the book to sneak away this family’s land, which they have owned and lived on for the last 33 years. Mrs. Ditzlers tells how they came to live on the 18 acres located on the southwest side of Winnebago County, just outside of Rockford. "We were told (by Veteran Affairs) to find a place we could live for the rest of our lives. We found this beautiful place, and made it our home."

Mr. Ditzler listens to the radio everyday to learn his fate, while friends and neighborhood groups work frantically to learn what they can do about condemnation of his property. The neighbors report that ‘Quick Take’ is an eminent domain process by which government can take possession of a property without the owner’s permission. Kristine Cohn, Winnebago County Board Chairman, has sought this rarely used action through the State Government. It turns out, State Representative Doug Scott (D-67) was tapped to do the legal work in Springfield last summer. Recently, Representatives Winters (R-69), Wait (R-68) and Scott (D-67) voted in favor of taking this property. Wirsing (R-70) voted no.

What makes Thomas Ditzler and his property so worthy of all this attention? Did they find the prospect of building a road through wetlands with Indian burial mounds on its banks irresistible somehow? Who could resist the prospect of having to infill the wetlands the length of this 8-acre tract, 4 lanes wide and 100 ft. deep (lowlands are 80 feet below level ground)? Utilizing existing parallel roads located ¼ mile in either direction from where they want to build somehow lost their appeal. Well, using an alternative route would mean they no longer would have to buy replacement wetlands somewhere else to try and make up for the destruction of Mr. Ditzler’s wetlands (Correction: the Counties wetlands – according to the radio).

What about the Indian burial grounds? According to Mr. Prorok, States Attorney’s Office in Winnebago, the County Board members don’t even have to pass a resolution asking for authority for Quick Take. Knowing all of this, County Board Chairman, Kristine Cohn, recommended during the April 13^th regular meeting that they go ahead anyway (Why should Native American Indians have better treatment than a blind Veteran?).

"Now they are talking about taking my house" Mr. Ditzler continued, during our phone conversation. Maybe that was because he wouldn’t let them cut down the trees in his front yard next to the road the day before. I told him to not worry; he didn’t have to decide anything right now. He said, "I know, I don’t have to decide anything – they make all the decisions for me". I told Mr. Ditzler I had the phone number of a National Agency that might be able to help him. I started to give him the number when he quietly said, "I’m sorry – I can’t see to write down the number…"

Mr. Ditzler does not want to give up. To learn more, or if you can help, visit the Illinois Conservation Web site at www.mccv.com or send mail to: Illinois Conservation Voters, P.O. Box 9, Fox River Grove, IL 60021 Fax to 847-658-7079