Department files, correspondence, etc.: Photographs, 1965

The material in this collection came from the background and informational files of two directors of the Kane County Development Department, Thornton “Tony” Ware and Frank Olson. In general, the material covers the years between 1960 and 1980. However, some of the files date as far back as 1957 and the creation of the department. Department Administration deals with the business and staff workings in the Development Department. Such information as annual reports, budgets, and correspondence to the county clerk about salaries and promotions is included in this series. Folder one has resolutions and short histories summarizing the establishment of the department. Also, in this folder are memoranda containing statements of development policy. The bulk of the collection is in the Planning Programs and Studies series. This series is arranged into eight subject subseries. Subjects covered are Zoning, Transportation, Water, Sanitation, Soil, Social Programs, General Development, and Published Studies. Zoning for cities in Kane County are followed by county zoning ordinances and policies. Counties other than Kane are included. Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS) progress reports can be found in the Transportation subseries. A cassette tape recording of a 1968 airport zoning commission meeting is included in the airport zoning folder. Flood mapping and water supply information are in the Water subseries. The open-file reports contain maps. Maps for some areas outside of Kane County are included in this subseries. Sanitation covers sewer system plans and refuse disposal plans. Land use and conservation materials are in the Soil subseries. The term Open Space refers to land set aside for park and recreational purposes. All other interests are covered in the Social Programs subseries. This includes information on hospitals, schools, pollution, and civil defense. Minutes of the Kane County Planning Commission are in the General Development subseries. Also in this subseries are comprehensive planning studies conducted for various cities and the county of Kane. The county study was a four year program of reevaluation and reports. It was accomplished with the aid of Barton-Aschman consultants. The last subseries, Published Studies, has been arranged chronologically. The third series, Planning Aids and Legislation, contains pamphlets and books on how to plan for development and what grants are available to fund such planning. In Other Planning Agencies and Organizations, Federal agencies are followed by state agencies concerned with planning and development. In the case of the Board of Economic Development, which becomes the Department of Business and Economic Development, its interests do not change, although the name does. Minutes of Lake and McHenry Counties’ planning commissions are in this series. The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission makes up the bulk of this series. Records for the NIPC include annual meeting minutes, minutes of advisory committees, copies of the commissioner’s report and the NIPC Planning Legislation Bulletin. The series ends with newsletters from the regional chapter of the American Institute of Planners (AIP) and the National Association of Counties (NACO). For more information on the NIPC and its activities, the Regional History Center does have that organization’s records in a separate collection. The addendum includes department files and correspondence, city and town reports and plans, the West Valley/Blackberry Project, and NIPC and other agencies reports.