The September 7 Workshop Meeting of the Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners was called to order at approximately 7:00 PM. Village President Mark Pfefferman, Bill Rickert from RHMG (Rezek, Henry, Meisenheimer and Gende, Inc). Several residents of Riford Road and Chidester Street were in attendance
Superintendent of Parks Dave Scarmardo gave the Board an update on the Park District’s Recycling Program. So far the District has recycled 2,000 pounds more than they did at this time last year. They are placing extra recycling containers at the fields and have received a lot of support from the community and athletic groups at the facilities. This is contributing to the success of the recycling program.
Superintendent Scarmardo also discussed plans to install the infrastructure at Maryknoll Park for Safety Village. Safety Village has been a part of the Site Plan at Maryknoll Park since the first Master Plan was developed. This is a project of the Glen Ellyn Parks Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization, the Kiwanis Club of Glen Ellyn and the Glen Ellyn Park District for several years.
Over the last 3 years the Glen Ellyn Parks Foundation has also donated over $20,000 to the Glen Ellyn Park District Scholarship Fund. The Scholarship Fund enables every child and family in need the same recreational opportunities as everyone else in the community. The Foundation holds an annual fundraiser at Maryknoll Park, Putts for Kids, every June.
The Safety Village Lake Ellyn Boathouse and Bells & Whistles Buildings debuted at the 2009 Fourth of July Parade. This year the Library building debuted at the Parade and the Stacy’s Tavern building is nearing completion. The Glen Ellyn Parks Foundation has donated $25,000 for the infrastructure – utilities and grading to get this project off the ground and to install the completed buildings. The Site Plan for Maryknoll Park which includes plans for Safety Village is located on the Glen Ellyn Park District website:
http://gepark.org/assets/PDFs/Maryknoll%20Park/Maryknoll%20Development%20Plan.pdf
Commissioner Melissa Creech complained that the Glen Ellyn Parks Foundation has no authority to build on Park District property and wanted to know when the Board was going to vote on this project.
Board President Ed Hess replied that previous Board’s voted on the Safety Village project, that it has been an ongoing project and goal for over 7 years and that the Parks Foundation is not building anything, the Parks Foundation is raising money and donating funds to build Safety Village. Furthermore, Safety Village was part of the OSLAD (Open Space Land Acquisitions and Development) Grant that the Glen Ellyn Park District received from the IDNR (Illinois Department of Natural Resources) in 2006.
Commissioner Julia Nephew expressed fear that children may drown since the plan calls for a replica of Lake Ellyn at Safety Village. Superintendent of Recreation Kathleen Esposito stated that at Safety Village students who are 3-5 years old are escorted on the premises, and that it is fenced and inaccessible when classes are not in session. In any event this same fear has never been expressed regarding Lake Ellyn, Lake Foxcroft, and the ponds at Maryknoll Park, Churchill Park or any other wetland on Park District property.
Commissioner Creech stated that in lieu of Safety Village at Maryknoll Park, she wants a 9 acre Oak Savannah planted instead.
Commissioner Nephew said if Safety Village is not built all at the same time then it will deteriorate and look bad. Commissioner Sandra Minogue stated her support for this ongoing project and asked Nephew to give an example of anything that is deteriorating on Park District property. Nephew promptly replied: the home at Churchill Park. The home on Churchill has been slated for demolition for years, is finally going to be torn down and was the subject of several Glen Ellyn Park Bench articles, most recently in April: Commissioners Vow to Save 1954 Glen Ellyn Architecture. http://theglenellynparkbench.blogspot.com/2010/04/commissioners-vow-to-save-1954-glen.html
Board President Hess concluded discussion of the subject by reminding everyone that Safety Village is not a secret. This has been discussed for 15 years; it is in the Park District 2009-2013 Master Plan that all Commissioners have a copy of. This project has been at numerous Workshop and Regular Board Meetings in the past 16 months and at the Board Retreat Meeting late last summer. In fact, most of the Commissioners and some of their spouses and children rode on the Bells and Whistles Building and Lake Ellyn Boathouse Buildings as part of the 2009 Fourth of July Floats. See photo of David Creech with daughter at the 2009 4th of July Parade.
Superintendent Scarmardo gave an overview of Lake Ellyn regarding July and August flooding events. Lake Ellyn consists of 535 acres of passive storage and holds approximately 16% of the Village of Glen Ellyn’s storm water.
Bill Rickert a hydrologist from RHMG gave an overview of the low flow pipes at Lake Ellyn and how the Lake operates with the valve, restrictor and stop logs. The last engineering study of Lake Ellyn is dated 1991 and the elevation of the lake is 707.5. Rickert also remarked that the July storm event exceeded that of a 100 year event and that the August event was a 50 year event.
Board President Hess asked how long it would take to lower the Lake one foot. Rickert replied that with no flow coming into the Lake 5 ½ to 6 hours.
Joe Sinopoli of the 700 block of Riford stated that with the roadwork improvements being done by the Village over the last 20 years that too much water is being fed into Lake Ellyn and that the Lake cannot handle the additional input.
Jerry Dentinger, also of the 700 block of Riford detailed flooding incidents in July and August, as well as September 2008. Mr. Dentinger stated in July he suffered $50,000 in losses, his check from FEMA barely covered his losses, his patience is wearing thin and that it is obvious to him that the Lake is being managed with 20 year old plans. He is concerned that the plans to manage the Lake have not been updated since the Village has improved the roads. Mr. Dentinger concluded by stating: doing nothing is not an option; you (the Village and the Park District) are all responsible.
Mr. Dentinger also commented on the lack of help he received during this summers rain events. The Park District, Public Works and the Fire Department did not help him. There was no warning and no emergency personnel showed up and no one pumped the water out of his house.
PJ Sinopoli asked is raising the berm would help and stated that sandbags would have helped them if emergency help had been available.
Curt Kabat also of the 700 block of Riford said that in 2008 the Fire Department evacuated his children and they did not do that this time. Neighbors on Chidester asked if the Lake can be kept at a lower level.
Board President Hess thanked Village President Mark Pfefferman for attending. Together the Village and the Park District will work together to seek a solution. In the meantime, as a buffer, the Lake will be lowered one foot until they can find a long term solution. The Riford Road residents will also attend the Village Board Meting on Monday, September 13. Park District personnel and Board President Hess will also attend.
The meeting adjourned into Executive Session at 8:59 PM. The next Regular Board Meeting of the Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Tuesday, September 21, 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.
