MINUTES OF THE REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING

Transcription

1 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING A regular scheduled meeting of the Elk Grove Park District, Cook County, State of Illinois was held on October 10, 2013, in the Administration Building of said Park District. called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. and upon the roll being called,, being physically present at such time and place and the following Park Commissioners, also being physically present at said time and place, answered present: Thomas E. Cooke, President, and Commissioner William B. O Malley, Vice President, and Commissioner Ralph C. Souder, Treasurer, and Commissioner John R. Walz, Secretary, and Commissioner Robert R. Biedke, Commissioner Administrative Staff: Mike Brottman, Executive Director Tom Busby, Director of Finance Tammy Miller, Director of Leisure Services Ben Curcio, Director of Parks and Planning Tom Klaas, Fox Run Clubhouse Manager Visitors: Martha Baur, Early Childhood Coordinator Ron Woodworth, Athletics Coordinator APPROVAL OF MINUTES questioned if there were any additions or corrections to the September 26, 2013 Regular Meeting. advised on page 6 of the minutes, under the roll call vote for Payment of the Bills, did not have a vote registered. moved to approve the minutes of the September 26, 2013 Regular Meeting, as amended. seconded the motion. The minutes were approved by a voice vote. LEISURE SERVICES UPDATE Tammy Miller, Director of Leisure Services, introduced Ron Woodworth, the District s new Athletics Coordinator. Ron is a graduate of the University of Saint Francis in Joliet, and recently worked for the River Trails Park District as a Recreation Coordinator.

2 Ron Woodworth commented that he is looking forward to starting in Elk Grove and he appreciates the welcome he has received. Tammy Miller advised that Ron will start attending the Athletic Associations meetings next month, and he will be sitting in on budget meetings. commented the Athletic Associations are very important in our Park District and as the Athletics Coordinator; he will play an important role. Ron Woodworth commented at River Trail Park District, he was responsible for youth and various adult athletics programs, leagues, and events. The Youth Soccer program was the largest with 600 participants. commented we have a large volunteer group that has quite a turnover from year to year, so communication is very important. Tammy Miller introduced Martha Baur, Early Childhood Coordinator. Martha Baur reported the Early Childhood area had a record number of participants in their Summer Camps, and she was very pleased with the camp director and summer staff. After Summer Camp was over, they started right into Preschool staff training, where they discussed words that begin with the letter I such as Influence, Impact, and Innovation. This year there are 213 children enrolled in Preschool with some on the waitlist, which is their largest enrollment in many years. Staff is looking to reconfigure the classes for next year to allow more children to enroll. Kindergarten Club has its highest enrollment ever, and they are looking at hiring an additional teacher to split the class. She would also like to have the opportunity to have a visible program, such as a Kindergarten Club, on the west side of the Village. This week the Preschool classes are visiting the Farmhouse Museum. Staff has been working very hard seeking accreditation for the Preschool program from the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation. They have started the self-assessment part of the accreditation that includes having a Parent Group which met for the first time last week. commented that he appreciates Martha Baur doing what she can to help the children on the waitlist for Preschool. questioned how staff has handled the reduced hours due to the Affordable Care Act. Martha Baur advised it has been a challenge with staff morale and having to reduce hours, but she has tried to spread out the available hours evenly among the staff. commented that as a parent with children in the program, Martha Baur and her staff do a wonderful job with the Preschool program. 2

3 Tammy Miller commented although the bottom line is important, the quality of the Early Childhood program is outstanding. Tammy Miller continued with the Leisure Services update as follows: The Fitness Center numbers are down due to the Pavilion Aquatics renovation, but the members will be back when the pool reopens. Our Personal Training revenue continues to stay higher than it was last year. The TR program has brought in more than double the amount of revenue than Racquetball did during the same timeframe last year. Most of the renovations affecting the Fitness Center are now complete and our patrons like the way they look, although we are still addressing the resurfacing of the track entrance. With the additional open hours at the Carousel and Jumps n Jiggles, the revenue has also increased. Parties remain very popular in the Carousel and staff continues to work on selling open hour parties as well as the party extras. Pirates Cove and Rainbow Falls both had good numbers in September. State Senator Dan Kotowski is sponsoring a Job Fair at the Pavilion on October 21 st, which will have 125 tables. Tammy recognized the Pavilion Custodial staff for all their hard work for the numerous set-ups they do for special events. Saturday, October 12 th, is the Museum program Cemetery Sleuths, in which participants will visit a cemetery in Bensenville where members of the Schuette, Biesterfield, and Ollman families are buried. Doggy Trick or Treat is October 19 th, at the Hattendorf Center, and the registration deadline is tomorrow. Our biggest indoor special event is the Halloween Fest on Friday October 25 th. Last year we hosted over 1100 participants and this year our new dance company, Pavilion Dance Connection, will be performing. PARKS AND PLANNING UPDATE Ben Curcio, Director of Parks and Planning, reported the Parks and Planning update as follows: Staff continues to work on fall cleanup including irrigation and pruning. They are also working to complete the 2013 Capital projects. Rainbow Falls has been winterized and all the pools have been painted. The Johnson Park playground renovation is almost complete. The District will be hosting an Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCS) pruning training in November. Staff have also been marking all the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) trees that need to be removed. GOLF OPERATIONS UPDATE Tom Klaas, Fox Run Clubhouse Manager, reported the Golf Operations update as follows: The weather continues to be nice, so the course has been busy. The Club Championship was September 21 st and 22 nd, with 45 players participating. Steve Dlugosinski was the Men s Overall Club Champion, and Nancy Laser was the Women s Overall Champion. The Three-Club Championship is October 12 th, and the 7 th Annual Pig Roast is on October 20 th, with 70 already signed up. On October 1 st, Fox Run hosted the Mid-Suburban Girls Conference with really good golf being played. 3

4 Conant High School hosted the Regional Meet at our course on October 9 th, and both Elk Grove and Conant girls qualified. The Maintenance crew has finished aerifying the fairways, and will be starting on the greens on Monday and Tuesday. Thanks again to the Parks staff for their help last month on the course. Finally, as in the Parks Department, we will also begin removing 12 to 13 ash trees that are dying due to the EAB. BUSINESS SERVICES UPDATE Tom Busby, Director of Finance, reported the Business Services update as follows: The 2014 Proposed Capital Projects for the Committee of the Whole meeting on October 24, along with the list developed by staff for the future Capital Projects, to be discussed at the meeting on November 18 th, was distributed. EECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE Director Brottman spoke about the recent passing of one of our employees, John Garbrecht, who worked with the Athletic Field Maintenance crew. John was a respected employee who will be missed by many. Director Brottman announced the retirement of Greg Thalmann, Superintendent of Golf Operations, who will be retiring in November, after working 31 years with the District. The Pavilion Aquatics renovation project is going extremely well, and is on time and under budget. Mike Rink, Construction Manager, would like to have a Special Meeting with the Board to discuss the project. Staff is starting to take bookings for parties to be held beginning February 2, 2014 for the new facility. PAYMENT OF BILLS moved to authorize Director Brottman to make payment of the bills in the amount of $101, for September 26, 2013, and $930, for October 3, seconded the motion. 4

5 Elk Grove Park District SUMMARY LIST OF BILLS PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL ON OCTOBER 10, 2013 SUMMARY BY FUND: 09/26/ /03/2013 CORPORATE FUND 41, , AUDIT POLICE LIABILITY RECREATION FUND 40, , PAVING & LIGHTING FUND MUSEUM FUND SPECIAL RECREATION ASSOCIATIONS 3, , BOND & INTEREST FUND 2012 CAPITAL PROJECTS 11, CAPITAL PROJECTS 831, FO RUN GOLF LINKS FUND 15, , $101, $930, ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED SESSION moved to adjourn to Closed Session per 2(c)(1) for the Purpose of Discussing Personnel. seconded the motion. The Regular meeting of October 10, 2013 adjourned to Closed Session at 7:45 p.m. 5

6 RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION After discussion regarding personnel, moved to reconvene to Open Session at 9:29 p.m. seconded the motion. ADJOURNMENT moved to adjourn the Regular Meeting of October 10, seconded the motion. The Regular Meeting of October 10, 2013 was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, John R. Walz, Secretary 6