BOARD DISCUSSES ARCHIVING DISTRICT DOCUMENTS

The April Board Meeting of the Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners was called to Order at approximately 7:00 PM on Tuesday April 20. Among those in attendance included Mary Lou Lowry, an Observer from the Glen Ellyn League of Women Voters.

The Consent Agenda including the Voucher List of Bills totaling $660,123.39; Pay Request #16 for construction costs related to the Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center totaling $153,659.84; and the demolition of a home at 920 Lenox Road passed unanimously with a motion made by Commissioner Bill Dallman and seconded by Commissioner Melissa Creech.

A motion was made by Commissioner Bill Dallman and seconded by Commissioner Sandra Minogue to raze the dilapidated and boarded up home at Churchill Park.

Many Commissioners support building a Nature Center at Churchill Park to be utilized by District 41, District 89 and others in order to foster a lifetime stewardship of our natural resources for future generations. Commissioner Julia Nephew said she will vote against razing this home since she is against a Nature Center and said it is silly to teach children about the outdoors inside. A vocal opponent of teaching outdoor education at a Nature Cente at Churchill Park, Nephew did not offer alternative plans to protect schoolchildren from the sometimes harsh and unpredictable Northern Illinois climate and the occasional need to shelter schoolchildren from the elements if the majority of the Board determines that they still support Nature/Outdoor Education at Churchill Park. Please refer to the June 23, 2009 article in The Glen Ellyn Park Bench: “Outdoor Education Wins Big With Majority of Park Board”.

Commissioner Melissa Creech, who previously stated it was more responsible to renovate the building, in spite of a preponderance of information presented that it was cost prohibitive, instead merely stated that she would prefer to leave this issue for future boards to decide, with no explanation given as to why.

Commissioner Ron Aubrey presented his notes indicating that previous Boards have already voted on this in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and that it was a priority at the Board Retreat Meeting in October 2009. Commissioner Dallman stated that he originally wanted to save the home but the cost analysis indicated that it is not practical and that it is a safety hazard. Board President Ed Hess stated his concerns with regards to the Park District keeping a known safety hazard.

Superintendent of Parks Dave Scarmardo remarked that the timeline of events regarding the Village of Glen Ellyn and the demolition is somewhat lengthy. The Village permitting process requires that the well be filled & capped, the septic tank crushed & filled and all of the utilities shut off. There is a 30 day wait after all of the paperwork is approved and the neighbors are notified of the time and date of the demolition.

The Board voted 5-2 to raze the home at Churchill Park, Commissioners Dallman, Minogue, Jay Kinzler, Aubrey and Hess voted yes. Commissioners Nephew & Creech voted no.

While discussing the April Executive Summary of the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA), Executive Director Cory Atwell indicated that WDSRA has been very happy with their association with the Glen Ellyn Park District and especially with the Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center. Furthermore WDSRA is using their agreement with the Glen Ellyn Park District as a model for usage at other Park District member facilities within DuPage County. The WDSRA Windy Cindy Warriors wheelchair basketball team attended Nationals in April.

During Matters from Commissioners Commissioner Dallman mentioned that Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center will be the sight of the Glenbard West Post Prom Party and they are in need of additional volunteers.

Commissioner Aubrey met with the Glen Ellyn Historical Society, the Glen Ellyn Library, the Rotary Club and the Kiwanis regarding with the Glen Ellyn Park District working on a joint venture regarding the preservation of historical documents for these Glen Ellyn entities.

Regarding the roof at the Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, Park District Staff will be meeting with a consultant and will have a preliminary report at the next meeting. Depending on the consultant’s report, this information may need to be discussed in Executive Session.

The Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:42 PM. The next Workshop Meeting of the Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 7:00 PM. The meetings are held at the Spring Avenue Recreation Center (SARC) 185 Spring Avenue. As with all meetings, the public is invited and welcome to attend.