Kendall County Times

Oswegoland Park District Board of Park Commissioners met Sept. 21.

Here is the minutes provided by the Commissioners:

The Oswegoland Park District Board of Park Commissioners met on the above date at South Point, 810 Preston Lane, Oswego, Illinois.

CONVENING THE MEETING 

President Krahn called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Ginny Bateman, the Executive Director called the roll. Commissioners Behrens, Ijams, Krahn, McCallough, and Tartol were physically present.

Staff in attendance included: Rich Zielke, Nancy Zenner, Tom Betsinger, Chad Feldotto, Mike Fee, Laura Finch, Ginny Bateman, Grant Casleton, Mike Seffrood, and Nancy Casleton.

Lyle Rolfe, reporter for the Ledger-Sentinel was in attendance.

Erin Pell, Legal Counsel was in attendance.

Guests in attendance included: Mary Carney, Frank Carney, Bill Helgeson, Maria Helgeson, Jan Alexander, Lydia Villafane, Chris Helgeson, Frances Helgeson, Hector Casillas, Norma Lucatorto, Chris Casillas, and Maria Casillas.

Announcements and Changes to the Agenda 

None

COMMUNICATIONS 

Recognition of Visitors 

The following guests addressed the Board regarding their concerns with the District’s transfer of ownership of the Pfund property to the Township. Frank Carney shared that the neighbors attended the Village’s meeting on September 19 where the variance regarding the fence put up on this property by the Township was denied.

Krahn reiterated that the District is trying to do the right with the other governmental agencies involved and as he and the Park Board have said before, the District will gladly take this property back should the Township decide to give this property back to the District.

Frank Carney restated that the fence placed on this property by the Township has taken away access through this park. Norma Lucatorto also shared that when the Township did add a gate in the fence, the gate is very small and does not even allow her to push a baby stroller through the opening. In addition, Lucatorto shared that the stumps left from the Township removing trees presents a safety concern and as a result of the tree removal, residents can now hear traffic. Lucatorto wishes to have this property back to being a park.

Maria Casillas provided the Board with an updated petition that included 104 signatures signed by those against the changes made to make this property into additional cemetery space. Casillas also shared that it is upsetting that none of the neighbors were ever consulted regarding this change, nor given the opportunity to share their comments regarding this change.

Krahn shared that the agreement regarding this property between the Township and District clearly stated that the Township was responsible for contacting the property neighbors regarding any changes made to this property. Krahn continued by saying the District’s intention was to work with another governmental body. Krahn again stated that if the property is not working for the Township, the District would gladly take this property back. Krahn also confirmed that the Township is clear on where the District stands regarding this.

When asked by Jan Alexander what the District’s initial intent was for this property, Krahn responded that the District was given this property after the commercial development of the Walgreens and day care center were completed. This was an odd piece of land that was left over. The District never had plans to build a park on this property as it is too secluded and also to small in size.

In response to Jan Alexander’s inquiry about what the District would do if they got this property back, Krahn shared that the District would continue to mow it as they did in the past.

Guests Mary Carney, Frank Carney, Bill Helgeson, Maria Helgeson, Jan Alexander, Lydia Villafane, Chris Helgeson, Frances Helgeson, Hector Casillas, Norma Lucatorto, Chris Casillas, and Maria Casillas left the meeting at 5:49 p.m.

President Krahn recognized Tom Betsinger and presented him with a plaque congratulating him on his 20 years of service to the Oswegoland Community through his vision, commitment and dedication. In recognition of his service, an engraved paver will be installed in the brick paver walkway in Hudson Crossing Park.

Written Correspondence 

Zielke shared a letter the District received from the Oswego Public Library District thanking the Park District for providing a donation to their Summer Reading 2017 program that helped encourage over 3500 local children to engage and discover a love of reading at their local library.

Zielke also shared a letter received from IAPD/IPRA’s Illinois Distinguished Park & Recreation Accreditation Program congratulating the District on participating in this Accreditation program and for showing a continued commitment to meeting the highest standards of the park and recreation profession. The District’s official review will take place on October 25, 2017. Our District’s review will then be considered at the Review Team’s Committee meeting on November 20.

CONSENT AGENDA 

President Krahn listed items on the Consent Agenda as follows:

- Approval of minutes of the Committee of the Whole Board meeting on September 14, 2017. 

- Acceptance of the Treasurer’s report as of August 31, 2017. 

- Approving a Separation Agreement - Approval of Payables for the period of August 18, 2017  – September 21, 2017 in the amount of $483,178.32

Commissioner Behrens made a motion to accept the items listed on the Consent Agenda. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Tartol.

Roll Call: Ayes Commissioners Behrens, Tartol, Ijams, McCallough, and Krahn

Nays 0

Abstain 0

Absent 0

Commissioner Behrens made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Tartol.

Roll Call: Ayes Commissioners Behrens, Tartol, Ijams, McCallough, and Krahn

Nays 0

Abstain 0

Absent 0

BOARD BUSINESS

President’s Report

• No report.

Commissioner Comments

• Tartol shared her kudos to everyone involved in the Park Foundation’s first golf outing, noting that this outing was phenomenal and she hopes it becomes an annual event.

STAFF AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

Executive Director Report (as reported by Rich Zielke)

• No report.

Finance Director Report (as reported by Nancy Zenner)

• Zenner provided an update on the District’s Bond/Debt Certificate Bid process.

• Budget entry for staff closes on September 22.

Written Staff Reports

• Krahn thanked Kate Scholtes for her work on designing this year’s Brew at the Bridge t-shirts.

Fox Bend Report (as reported by Rich Zielke)

• The Senior Golf Championship took place on September 21.

Fox Valley Special Recreation Association (FVSRA) (as reported by Rich Zielke)

• Next meeting is September 26.

Foundation (as reported by Chad Feldotto)

• The Foundation’s Leon McNair Memorial Golf Classic, that took place on September 8, was a huge success. The Foundation had hoped for 80 golfers and ended up having 132. The Foundation is still calculating the numbers from this fundraiser, but acknowledges that this is definitely the largest fundraiser the Foundation has done to date.

• Next meeting is September 25.

Little White School Museum (as reported by Cathi Mundsinger)

• No report.

ACTION ITEMS

Commissioner Behrens made a motion to approve the District’s 2017 Environmental Report Card. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Tartol.

Roll Call: Ayes Commissioners Behrens, Tartol, Ijams, McCallough, and Krahn

Nays 0

Abstain 0

Absent 0

Oswegoland Park District ADA Policy and Transition Plan Zielke shared that the Americans with Disabilities Act of 2010 required government agencies to create a transition plan identifying items that did not meet ADA standards and defining a time frame to address them. In 2011, the District hired Recreation Accessibility Consultants to perform an audit of all park district parks and facilities for compliance with ADA standards. Their audit resulted in site reports which included lists of all non-compliant items for each location, a conclusion report with summarized recommendations, and a Transition Plan. The District has used the Transition Plan to address the deficiencies listed in the reports. Items that could be corrected within budgeted funds were taken care of at once, and the District has budgeted for large scale projects throughout the years such as:

• installing actuator doors at Civic Center, Prairie Point, and South Point

• installing accessible emergency exit doors inside Boulder Point

• constructing accessible entrances and paths

• paving gravel parking lots

• including accessible amenities with all park renovations

- benches, picnic tables, drinking fountains - playground equipment - replacing wood fiber surfacing with resilient poured-in-place surfacing

The 20 Year Capital Improvement Plan includes future projects to address ADA needs and serves as the District’s timeline for addressing items identified in the 2011 audit. The District also designs all new construction to comply with current ADA Standards. As a member of the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association (FVSRA), FVSRA provides programs and services to people with special needs and provides funding for ADA specific projects. This year, the District updated the Transition Plan by using the Inclusivity Self-Assessment Tool to ensure the District is creating an inclusive environment, developed evacuation procedures for people with disabilities, and prepared a Transition Plan Update to list the ADA improvements completed and planned for the near future.

Commissioner Behrens made a motion to approve the Oswegoland Park District ADA Policy and Transition Plan Update. The motion was seconded by Commissioner McCallough.

Roll Call: Ayes Commissioners Behrens, McCallough, Ijams, Krahn, and McCallough

Nays 0

Abstain 0

Absent 0

Commissioner Ijams made a motion to approve the District’s Emergency Evacuation Procedures for Individuals with Disabilities and to add this procedure as an Appendix to the District’s Safety Manual. The motion was seconded by Commissioner McCallough.

Roll Call: Ayes Commissioners Ijams, McCallough, Behrens, Krahn, and Tartol

Nays 0

Abstain 0

Absent 0

Commissioner Behrens made a motion to approve the District’s Departmental Goals for FY2017/2018. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ijams.

Roll Call: Ayes Commissioners Behrens, Ijams, McCallough, Krahn, and Tartol

Nays 0

Abstain 0

Absent 0

Commissioner McCallough made a motion to approve the Board Policy directing staff to prepare a Board Prospective Candidate’s Information Packet. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Tartol.

Roll Call: Ayes Commissioners McCallough, Tartol, Behrens, Ijams, and Krahn

Nays 0

Abstain 0

Absent 0

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Strategic Plan Update & Status of Goals Zielke shared that since the approve of the District’s Strategic Plan in July 2017, staff have been working to define their departmental goals to align with the Strategic Themes and Agency Goals as identified in the Strategic Plan. Zielke provided the Board with a list of the District’s long-term and short-term goals, along with the status of these goals, for their evaluation.

NEW BUSINESS

Zielke reminded Commissioners that a Committee of the Whole meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, October 12 at 6:00 pm at Prairie Point. Benson will be working with Commissioners to finalize a November date for another Committee of the Whole meeting.

ADJOURNMENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION

Following a motion made by Commissioner Ijams and seconded by Commissioner Tartol, the meeting was adjourned to Executive Session at 6:26 p.m. for the following reasons:

• Personnel – The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) of the Open Meetings Act

• Land Acquisition - The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) of the Open Meetings Act

• Review of Closed Session Minutes - The review of Closed Session Minutes for the purposes of approval by the body of the minutes and/or semi-annual review of the minutes, pursuant to Section 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) of the Open Meetings Act.

Roll Call: Ayes Commissioners Ijams, Tartol, Behrens, McCallough, and Krahn

Nays 0

Abstain 0

Absent 0

RECONVENE FOR ACTION ON ITEMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION

The meeting was reconvened at 6:57 p.m. where President Krahn stated that the Board did not discuss Personnel matters in Executive Session.

ACTION ITEMS

Commissioner Tartol made a motion that upon review and recommendation by staff and Legal Counsel, all Closed Session minutes, over 18 months old, shall be opened except the following as sufficient reasons esist to keep these minutes confidential at this time. The motion was seconded by Commissioner McCallough.

• September 26, 2006

November 14, 2011

• October 26, 2006

December 28, 2011

• June 21, 2007

December 28, 2011 (Special Closed Session)

• October 23, 2008

February 1, 2012

• October 27, 2008

January 21, 2013

• November 28, 2008

December 3, 2013

• August 27, 2009

November 20, 2014

• August 26, 2010

January 21, 2016

• August 29, 2011

February 22, 2016

Roll Call: Ayes Commissioners Tartol, McCallough, Behrens, Ijams, and Krahn

Nays 0

Abstain 0

Absent 0

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 6:58 p.m. following a motion made by Commissioner Behrens and seconded by Commissioner McCallough.

Roll Call: Ayes Commissioners Behrens, McCallough, Ijams, Krahn, and Tartol

Nays 0

Abstain 0

Absent 0

https://www.oswegolandparkdistrict.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/09.21.17-Official-Minutes.pdf