July 20, 2010 Meeting: Financial Reporting

The agenda and packet for the Glen Ellyn Park District July 20, 2010 meeting are online. This is a regular meeting.

I've proposed several changes to the way financial information is reported to the Board. It is important for the Board to have accurate financial information in order to make good financial decisions for the park district and to make sure our budgets and goals are met. Commissioner Kinzler has also suggested new ways to deliver financial information to the Board. My suggestions and the response from staff are on page 39 in the packet.

Glen Ellyn Park District board meetings are always open to the public and are held in the board room at the Spring Avenue Recreation Center at 7:00 p.m. Please join us!

June 15 Meeting Agenda: 2009 Audit

The agenda and packet for the Glen Ellyn Park District June 15, 2010 meeting are online. This is a regular meeting.

The 2009 Audit will be presented to the Board by staff and the auditors at this meeting. The audit is not online at the Park District website, but I've posted it here.

The 2009 budget ordinance was revised in February 2010 because several funds were over budget, including the capitals fund, which was $2.2 million dollars over budget. The audit shows that our 2009 capitals fund is an additional $1.8 million dollars over budget from our February numbers. As detailed on page 48, several other 2009 accounts are over budget from our February 2010 numbers. The Board will have an opportunity to ask the auditors about the report.

Glen Ellyn Park District board meetings are always open to the public and are held in the board room at the Spring Avenue Recreation Center at 7:00 p.m. Please join us!

This Saturday: Panfish Park Cleanup

Join the Glen Ellyn Park District at Panfish Park from 9am-noon this Saturday for a park cleanup. We will meet at the playground on Wilson Ave. Part of this park is owned by the Village of Glen Ellyn. We will be cleaning up the Glen Ellyn Park District property.

Please bring your own gloves and safety glasses. Pruning equipment and bags will be provided. All volunteers must sign a waiver on site prior to participating in any of the scheduled restoration projects. Glen Ellyn Park District staff will be at each work day to coordinate the work.

We will focus on the natural areas of the park and will pick up garbage and remove invasive species such as buckthorn and garlic mustard weed.

Also, our last scheduled work day is Saturday, April 17, Ellynwood Nature Preserve ( 801 Elllynwood, north side of Ellynwood Drive east of Riford Road)

Restoration work days are held rain or shine. Please dress for the weather and bring a friend! Volunteers of all ages are welcome to attend.

Thanks!
Melissa Creech

April 6 Meeting: Turf and ASFC

I missed posting about this meeting ahead of time, but here is a recap. The agenda and packet are online. The agenda changed and platform tennis was not discussed at this meeting.

There is a good summary of the Ackerman construction costs discusssion in this Daily Herald article from April 7: Glen Ellyn officials can't pin down final tally for fitness center

The GEPD Board voted 7-0 in favor of an intergovernmental agreement with District 87 for artificial turf at Memorial Field with modifications. Specifically, we approved an 8 year, $160,000 agreement rather than the 10 year, $200,000 that was proposed by District 87.

This Saturday: Manor Woods Cleanup

Weather for Saturday: Sunny and 55! It's a perfect day to be out in the woods.

Join the GEPD at GE Manor Park from 9am-noon for a park cleanup. We will meet at the playground on Illinois St.

Please bring your own gloves and safety glasses. Pruning equipment and bags will be provided. All volunteers must sign a waiver on site prior to participating in any of the scheduled restoration projects. GEPD staff will be at each work day to coordinate the work.

We will focus on the natural areas of these parks and will pick up garbage and remove invasive species such as buckthorn and garlic mustard weed.

Other upcoming work days:

• Saturday, March 27 Glen Ellyn Manor Park* (375 Illinois Street, on the south side of Illinois Street between Brandon Avenue and Hillcrest Ave)
• Saturday, April 10, Panfish Park* (620 Wilson Avenue, on the North side of Harding Avenue, east of Park Boulevard))
• Saturday, April 17, Ellynwood Nature Preserve ( 801 Elllynwood, north side of Ellynwood Drive east of Riford Road)

*Portions of these parks are owned by the Village of Glen Ellyn and the Glen Ellyn Park District. We will be cleaning up the GEPD property. Please meet at the playgrounds.

Restoration work days are held rain or shine. Please dress for the weather and bring a friend! Volunteers of all ages are welcome to attend.

Thanks!
Melissa Creech

March 16 Regular Meeting

The agenda and packet for the Glen Ellyn Park District March 2, 2010 meeting are online . This is a regular meeting.

The Board will continue discussion on a proposed intergovernmental agreement with District 87 for synthetic turf at Memorial Field. The Board will review the Glen Ellyn Park District environmental policy and environmental goals for 2010. After executive session, the Board will discuss the ASFC construction management fee.

Glen Ellyn Park District board meetings are always open to the public and are held in the board room at the Spring Avenue Recreation Center at 7:00 p.m. Please join us!

Volunteers needed for park cleanups!

We need your help to clean up our neighborhood parks! The Glen Ellyn Park District is hosting four restoration work days at neighborhood parks this spring. We will focus on the natural areas of these parks and will pick up garbage and remove invasive species such as buckthorn and garlic mustard weed.

Work days are from 9am-noon at the following parks:

• Saturday, March 20 Danby Park (280 Duane Street, adjacent to the Prairie Path at Duane Street and Kenilworth Avenue)
• Saturday, March 27 Glen Ellyn Manor Park* (375 Illinois Street, on the south side of Illinois Street between Brandon Avenue and Hillcrest Ave)
• Saturday, April 10, Panfish Park* (620 Wilson Avenue, on the North side of Harding Avenue, east of Park Boulevard))
• Saturday, April 17, Ellynwood Nature Preserve ( 801 Elllynwood, north side of Ellynwood Drive east of Riford Road)

*Portions of these parks are owned by the Village of Glen Ellyn and the Glen Ellyn Park District. We will be cleaning up the Glen Ellyn Park District property. Please meet at the playgrounds.

Please bring your own gloves and safety glasses. Pruning equipment and bags will be provided. All volunteers must sign a waiver on site prior to participating in any of the scheduled restoration projects. Glen Ellyn Park District staff will be at each work day to coordinate the work.

Restoration work days are held rain or shine. Please dress for the weather and bring a friend! Volunteers of all ages are welcome to attend.

Thanks!
Melissa Creech

Workshop Meeting for March 2

The agenda and packet for the Glen Ellyn Park District March 2, 2010 meeting are online . This is a workshop meeting with a short agenda.

The Board will discuss a proposed intergovernmental agreement with District 87 for synthetic turf at Memorial Field.

Glen Ellyn Park District board meetings are always open to the public and are held in the board room at the Spring Avenue Recreation Center at 7:00 p.m. Please join us!

Meeting February 16

The agenda and packet for the Glen Ellyn Park District February 16, 2010 meeting are online . I will link to them when they are available. This is a regular meeting with a short agenda.

The Board will discuss a plan to construct a $267,000 warming hut for platform tennis at Maryknoll park and vote on a plan to change Glen Ellyn Park District legal counsel. The Board will also discuss a possible Board retreat to focus on Board/Staff relations.

Glen Ellyn Park District board meetings are always open to the public and are held in the board room at the Spring Avenue Recreation Center at 7:00 p.m. Please join us!

Debate aside, center a source of pride

From the Daily Herald 2-3-10:

Dear Editor,

As readers of the Daily Herald know from Marco Santana's reporting, there are significant disagreements within the Glen Ellyn Park District board about how the planning and finances for the Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center were handled.

But there is one thing that we all agree about: the center is a great asset to our community, and we need to work together to make it a success. The center's grand opening was held Jan. 23, and I am thrilled about the tremendous turnout. I want to congratulate the park district staff on the superb job they did getting the center ready and welcoming the hundreds of families who came to enjoy the new facility.

With a fitness center, indoor field, three basketball courts, climbing walls, batting cages and walking track, there is something for everyone. I encourage all to stop by the Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center and see what it has to offer.

Melissa Creech
Commissioner, Glen Ellyn Park District