Geneva OKs 2-year farm lease

GENEVA – Aldermen approved a two-year farm lease with Pitstick Farms of Maple Park for the 2020 and 2012 growing season.

The 245 acres the city owns was put out for bid and Pitstick Farms was the only one responding, officials said. The acreage is part of the Prairie Green Preserve. Pitstick Farms has leased this land for farming since 2004, officials said.

Aldermen voted 8-2 in favor at the March 2 City Council meeting and with Mayor Kevin Burns also voting yes, the total was 9-2.

Prior to that vote, aldermen voted down an amendment to change it to a one-year lease 7-3.

Aldermen at the Committee of the Whole Feb. 18 voted 5-5 the previous week with Burns breaking the tie, making it 6-5.

Before Burns voted to break the tie, he said everything Kilburg recommended requires a policy discussion – which they have not had.

Third Ward Alderman Dean Kilburg had objected to it being a two-year agreement because it is a commodity – that is, an agricultural product – if there was a drought in one of those years.

Kilburg had recommended a one-year lease that would give city staff time to look into federal subsidies for farmland such as the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program or the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative for that acreage.

Staff researched Kilburg’s suggestions and found that the city did not qualify for the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative because Kane County is not in that program; and the city is not eligible for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program because it is a unit of government.

The city could try to qualify for the Conservation Reserve Program at the December 2020 enrollment period, but there is no guarantee of a contract and anticipated annual payment is $205 per acre, according to staff’s review.

The cash rent Pitstick Farms is paying the city is $261 per tillable acre for both seasons, according to the contract.

Fifth Ward Alderman Craig Maladra said when the city advertised for bids to farm the land, it was for a two-year lease.

“I’m not comfortable pulling that rug out without having a good reason to do so,” Maladra said. “The Pitstick family negotiated with the city in good faith. … I think that to back out at this late point would be to make us not a good-faith business partner.”

Maladra said alternatives for that land will be available after the Pitsticks’ lease is up.

Fourth Ward Alderman Gabriel Kaven agreed.

“We’re already at the point where this is what the city had asked for – which was a two-year proposal,” Kaven said. “I would still like to look at what other options we may have, but I think that we can still take a look at those and institute whatever changes those would be after this two years is done.”