Save JTC

Hunters ?

kestrel — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:54:48 +0000

In viewing this site, one will see that the majority of initial persons commenting are from the sports afield & hunting communities.

There’s a good explanation for this.

Yes, fundamentally JTC is a training base where thousands of military and law enforcement personnel have trained. These individuals have come in, received their training and moved on. Training sessions vary from a couple of hours to a duration of about a week. Military and Law Enforcement personnel come to JTC when orders are given to do so or when there’s a training session they’re interested in participating. As a result of this nature of involvement at JTC, a very small percentage of personnel who have trained there are aware of its current “Excess Property” status and the potential of the facility’s closing.

In addition to training, the JTC also offers an opportunity to sportsman and women to utilize the facility for sports afield. This privilege is open to everyone (civilians, veterans, military and law enforcement personnel) via a fair, lottery system for a set number of permits. Hunting privileges encompass turkey, small game, waterfowl and deer. The seasons, licensing and limits are run in accordance with IL DNR and Federal regulations. In fact, the regulations at JTC are a bit more stringent. Wildlife management at JTC is top notch as is its hunting privilege management. Hunter Sign In and Out are required. Also, all hunters are aware and appreciate that Military and Law Enforcement training are top priority at JTC. Because of this, areas are often closed to hunters and hunting.

The hunting community that utilizes JTC, does so potentially on a daily basis over a period extending the hunting seasons (Aug - Jan). As a result, sportsmen and women are intimate with JTC and its status. They’re dedicated to keeping the facility open in service of Illinois Military and Law Enforcement personnel. They’re also dedicated to preserving the JTC property and the privilege JTC has made available to them.

Get the Word Out Activity

kestrel — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:42:10 +0000

Jan 26 - participants at 2007 year review meeting signed petition and had taken petitions to have other supporters sign

March 1 … sports afield applicants signed petition

March 4 Herald News advised of JTC status with request for assistance in communicating cause to general public

Support Petition Sign-up Here

kestrel — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 21:14:01 +0000

Show your support of saving the Joliet Training Center for local military and law enforcement training by adding you name and comment below, under “Comment”.

CenterPoint Land Use Proposal

kestrel — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:34:27 +0000

Local residents are in the dark concerning discussions and a proposed land use proposal by CenterPoint to expand its Intermodal operations. At risk is loss of extensive acreage to low tax and low job yeilding waste. If this goes through, it will also impact the local area with significantly increased truck traffic, road damage; as well as further taxing the already lean infrastructure (police, fire, pubic works) that will be required to support it. Will County residents deserve better land management and opportunity to improve its community - for the present and future. What is proposed here reflects poor land use, very limited long term tax income and job opportunity, as well as destructive actions on the environment and community.

Save JTC - The US Army Joliet Training Area

kestrel — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:16:19 +0000

On January 26th, sportsmen and women attending the JTA 2007 review meeting were disappointed to be informed that the JTA facility had been listed on the US Army’s Federal Excess Property List and that military and law enforcement training there had been suspended, as of January 1, 2008.

Discussions are in process at the federal government level concerning what to do with the JTA property.Also, during this meeting mention was made that Center Point Properties, the firm leading the CenterPoint Intermodal project, south of JTA in Elwood has presented to local government a proposal for land use (of over 3,500 acres) to extend the CenterPoint Intermodal project. This proposal encompasses the land just north of JTA. CenterPoint Properties is a subsidiary of CalEast Global Logistics that is a joint venture with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.

Attendees were shocked with the news of JTA’s potential closing. They were also disappointed by the proposed plans of CenterPoint which could turn the 3,500+ acres, north of JTA, into large warehouses and extended asphalt parking lots. It is realized that CenterPoint’s proposal will yield unfriendly environmental land use, limited jobs and a weak tax base for the surrounding communities. It was also realized that the CenterPoint plan could also encompass the JTA property and therefore become an easy-out for the US Army to dispose of the JTA property.

As a result of the news, attendees signed a petition to keep the JTA open for military and local law enforcement training operations. Attendees also indicated they’d work towards getting the word out to the local public, military personnel, government and sporting groups to build support of keeping JTA open and functioning.