September Meeting: Platform tennis expansion for $350,000

The agenda and packet for the Glen Ellyn Park District September 21, 2010 meeting are online. This is a regular meeting.

At this meeting the Glen Ellyn Platform Tennis Club is presenting a request that the GEPD construct two additional courts and a party room for $350,000. The paddle group is in the process of raising money for this project and is asking the Glen Ellyn Park District to contribute $200,000 to this project.

Also at this meeting, the Board will vote on the changes to financial reporting that I have proposed. These changes will allow the Board and the public to have more information about Glen Ellyn Park District expenditures and the overall financial health of the park district.

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!

GEPD starting construction on $600k Safety Village

The Glen Ellyn Park District plans to begin construction on a $600,000 Safety Village facility at Maryknoll Park. The Park District and the Glen Ellyn Parks Foundation have been actively raising money and soliciting donations for this project for many years and the Foundation is donating $25,000 to start construction this fall. The remaining funds for construction have not yet been raised through donations or budgeted for by the Park District.

According to Director Atwell, the new facility will not change the safety village program curriculum, which is a long-running program that teaches children about safety. This is a cosmetic project that provides little value to the community at a high cost.

At the end of this phase of construction we will be left with underground utilities and pavement that will not yet be usable for the program. After further fund raising and construction children will be able to ride their bikes around 25 miniature replicas of GE buildings instead of the plastic houses currently used at Spring Avenue. The children will not be able to go into the new buildings.

This new phase of Safety Village construction was on the agenda at the last Board meeting but, according to President Hess, the Board will not be voting on whether to approve this project. President Hess stated that this project was approved by a previous Board. I asked President Hess to provide the Board with documentation about this previous approval, and we have not yet received this information.

The 2010 GEPD budget does not include any capital funds for any construction projects at Maryknoll Park this year. The park district cannot spend money that is not budgeted. If the park district wishes to construct this project this year, the Board must amend the 2010 budget. I have emailed President Hess and Director Atwell regarding this issue. President Hess responded by writing that "this phase will be completed, as presented, as soon as possible." Director Atwell has not responded.

September Workshop Meeting

The agenda and packet for the September 7, 2010 meeting are online. This is a workshop meeting. The proposed changes to financial reporting that we discussed at our last meeting will be voted on at our next regular meeting on September 21, 2010.

At this meeting the Board will discuss a plan to construct a permanent Safety Village at Maryknoll Park. The Board will also discuss flooding issues around Lake Ellyn.

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!

August 17 Regular Meeting: Financial Reporting

The agenda and packet for the Glen Ellyn Park District August 17, 2010 meeting are online. This is a regular meeting. Our August workshop meeting was canceled because of an anticipated lack of quorum.

I've proposed several changes to the way financial information is reported to the Board. Staff adopted two of these changes in our packet this month. Monthly financial statements are now included in the official Board packet, rather than as a separate, private document. Also, the voucher list shows account information for each voucher. My suggestions and the response from staff are on page 39 in the packet from last month. The Board will continue discussing the proposed changes at this meeting.

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!

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!