Huntley residents fishing for catch-and-release ordinance

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Updated: November 30, 2011 12:31AM

HUNTLEY — After a moment of silence to honor those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and those who have given their lives in the defense of freedom since then, the village board opened the floor to public comments at Thursday night’s board meeting.

Resident Andrew Bellenie made an appeal to the board for a catch-and-release fishing ordinance to be enacted within the village limits on all village-owned ponds.

Bellenie is a six-year resident who said he bought his Southwind subdivision home because of its location along the neighborhood stormwater management pond. He said he and other residents enjoy fishing with their children and spend time teaching them about ecology and the importance of releasing the fish they catch back into the pond.

“The ponds need a balanced population of largemouth bass, bluegill and catfish,” Bellenie said.

His said his reason for wanting the ordinance enacted is because a neighbor who recently moved in has been removing the fish from the pond at a rapid rate.

“Six weeks ago, he moved in. Since he’s moved in, he’s decimated” the bass population, Bellenie said.

“The catfish are bottom-feeders, they eat anything dead and dying. The bluegill eat mosquito larvae and the bass keep the bluegill in check. These three species have been adapted to ponds and are compatible with many kinds of other fish….He is taking the breeding stock — the large bass and large bluegills. He does a lot of fishing,” Bellenie said.

After a brief discussion, Village President Charles Sass obtained consensus from the board to authorize the village attorney to draft an ordinance limiting fishing to catch-and-release only in the village’s ponds at the Southwind and Wing Point subdivisions.

A draft of the ordinance is expected to be approved at the Sept. 22 board meeting.

Bellenie said he felt “very favorable” regarding the board’s quick action on the measure.

“They accepted it really well. I can’t see a reason not to do this. I’m confident they will make this happen,” Bellenie said.

In other business, officials said the Route 47 widening project is causing some large traffic backups, and new traffic patterns are being implemented as small portions of roadway are being paved with concrete. Since Thursday, traffic was using new pavement from Algonquin Road to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

Old pavement is scheduled to be removed on the east side of Route 47 between Main Street and Reed Road beginning Monday. Trustee Harry Leopold said he was “glad to see the new lanes opened” on the project that has been going on for the past two years.

Sass noted that Kreutzer Road would be closed for five days beginning Sept. 26 for resurfacing.