WESTERN SPRINGS PARK BOARD MINUTES

Leonard Kurfirst
Mike Kane
Phyllis Osborn
Deb Lyons
Matt Gresge

Mike Bruck (arrived 7:20)

Ann Marie Hickey, Village Trustee
Craig A. Himmelmann, Dir. Parks
Robert R. Ekroth, Attorney
Joe Brusseau - Brusseau Design Group, LLC
Scott Triphahn - WT Civil Engineering

Approval of Minutes of November 14, 2006 Board Meeting

MOTION: Deb Lyons moved and Phyllis Osborn seconded to approve the revised  Minutes of the November 14, 2006 Park Board Meeting as written. Such Motion was approved by all on a voice vote.

Acknowledgment of Visitors to be heard from the floor:

President Kurfirst recognized Joe Brusseau of Brusseau Design Group, LLC (BDG) and Scott Triphahn from WT Civil Engineering. These gentlemen discussed BDG’s proposal to design the park at Timber Trails set out in the written proposal to the Park District dated November 27, 2006. The board reviewed the proposal and the estimate of fees to be charged.  Mr. Kane questioned Joe and Scott regarding WT’s control over the Timber Trails park project in light of problems that were encountered with the Spring Rock Park pavilion.  WT Engineering proposed to set up weekly meetings with contractors to monitor the status of the project and provide better control over the project, the costs of such meetings are included in the proposal.  President Kurfirst said that the OSLAD design grant would be the basis for the Timber Trails Park with some minor modifications and BDG agreed.  Trustee, Hickey commented that the Village and Dartmoor were still having discussions regarding the environmental issues and a discussion about the letter from the Illinois EPA dated November 6, 2006 followed.  Deb Lyons reported that Timber Trails (Dartmoor) says that the Illinois EPA requirements have been met and Ann Marie indicated that the Village still wants Dartmoor to do more testing.

President Kurfirst asked the Board members to consider the BDG proposal and review it at the January board meeting.  Joe Brusseau indicated that it would take 2-3 months for plans to be drawn in order for the Timber Trails park project to go out for bid.  Prior to going out for bid, Joe would like to go to the Village for permits in March and do the bidding in April. 

President Kurfirst requested a status report on the Spring Rock Park pavilion.  Joe Brusseau indicated that it was nearly completed.  Craig Himmelmann stated that the landscaping was done and there are minor punch list issues; Craig also reported that the electrician hired by the general contractor drove off the road leading to the pavilion and damaged the landscaping.  Craig reports that $29,142 has been held back as part of the retention in the contract and the builder is requesting the approval of the payment.  Joe Brusseau had reviewed the bill from the contractor and said it should be paid.  After some discussion, by voice vote the board approved the payment of $121,000 to the contractor pending completion of the punch list items.

Mike Kane then asked WT Engineering to discuss the Spring Rock Park improvements with emphasis on the storm water detention matters and asked Craig to review WT’s work on these matters including the review of the invoice rendered to the Park Board on November 6, 2006.  President Kurfirst added that the storm water detention decision process has been stalled because everyone seems to be waiting for someone else to make the first decision.  Mike Kane asked Joe Brusseau and Scott Triphahn, where the Park stood with the request for funds from the Illinois Dept. Of Transportation (IDOT).  The Park District needs the payment to be made to the Park Board in order for the parking lot at Spring Rock Park to be expanded.  President Kurfirst said that Spring Rock Park is similar to Timber Trails in that the Park Board needs to decide what it wants to be done in order for the proposal to be moved ahead.  Our Park budget included $115,000 for 2007 engineering work, but what is not included is an estimate of the cost of the Village engineering review of storm water issues which could be up to 25% of the engineering costs.  After reviewing the proposal submitted by WT Engineering, upon a Motion by Mike Kane and seconded by Deb Lyons, and approved by a voice vote,  a total of $12,500 of the proposed expenses for Spring Rock Park site plan was approved for payment.

Other New Business

Scott Triphahn suggested that the Western Springs Park District join the Illinois Association of Park Districts.  The association has revised its fee structure to help smaller park districts such as Western Springs.  The annual fee for 2007 would be $576.00 compared to previous years’ estimates of cost of joining of $3,300.  Scott discussed the benefits of joining and President Kurfirst thanked him for calling this to our attention and he recommended that the Park Board give it some consideration.

Trustee Hickey’s Report

Village Trustee, Ann Marie Hickey, reported that the new underpass west of Central Avenue is being considered by the Village Infrastructure Committee.  The Park Board suggested that the underpass be moved further west from its proposed location.  Having the underpass located as proposed would require a sidewalk be constructed either east or west from the underpass on Waldo Erickson Drive because the underpass as proposed comes out directly across from the Park Maintenance Building. The Park Board has not yet considered this matter and would like some time to review it.

Old Business

Update on Timber Trails

President Kurfirst reported that we had already reviewed the Timber Trails Park.

Update on the Hilds Purchase of 15 feet of Ridge Acres Park

Attorney Ekroth reported that he had received a call from the Hilds’ attorney and they were still interested, but nothing had been done.

Update on Spring Rock Pavillion Project

Reviewed under the WT Engineering presentation. 

Further Discussion of General Obligation Limited Tax Bonds

President Kurfirst indicated that the Park Board would hold a meeting to formally discuss the need for these bonds and the process that needs to be followed at the January 9, 2007 Park Board meeting. President Kurfirst signed an order to publish a notice of the January 9, 2007 meeting.  Treasurer, Matt Gresge, is to prepare a report on the need for such bonds and this would be discussed at the January, 2007 meeting.

Safety

Craig Himmelmann, Director of Parks, reported no accidents.

New Business

Control monitoring for football lights - Mike Bruck reported that MUSCOW Lighting could provide a 25-year warranty for the new baseball lights and football lights for a single $7,500 payment.  A control panel needs to be installed, at Park expense, and that the Park Board would have to make a decision whether or not to purchase the warranty when the new Little League lights are installed this spring.  Commissioner Bruck asked Craig to determine whether or not MUSCOW will extend the time to begin the warranty after the Little League lights are installed in the spring and would include the football light that had been installed last fall.

Hiring the Board Secretary

President Kurfirst asked Craig to report on the status of hiring a secretary.  Craig indicated that two applicants were coming in for a typing test and he would be able to report more to the Board at the January meeting.

Treasurer’s Report

Commissioner Gresge reviewed the November financial report which was approved by a voice vote.  Mr. Gresge also introduced the Ordinances calling for the adoption of a budget for the year 2007 and the approval of the tax levy for 2006 to be collected in 2007.  He said these Ordinances include the changes made by the Park Board at the November meeting. 

MOTION:

Mike Kane moved to approve Ordinance 2006-5 adopting the 2007 budget and Ordinance 2006-6 approving the 2006 tax levy.  The Motion was seconded by Deb Lyons and a roll call vote approved by all Commissioners present.

Director’s Report

Craig indicated that he had talked to the Village about surveillance cameras in Spring Rock Park.  The Village Police Department said they would not assure the Park Board that they could watch Spring Rock Park and respond immediately.  The surveillance cameras would only provide a record when vandalism was committed in the Park.  The Park Board Commissioners questioned Craig about the details of the proposal and asked Craig to look into other means of providing surveillance in Spring Rock Park.

Commissioner’s Reports

Commissioner Osborn reported that the Friends of the Park had given a check to the Western Springs Park District for $13,823.00 for Veterans Memorial Park and playground.  She was proposing that Nutoys playground equipment be installed inside the park and that the users of the park at Grand Avenue School have reviewed and approved the playground equipment being proposed. 

Adjournment

MOTION: Mike Kane moved, with a second by Mike Bruck that the Park Board meeting be
adjourned at 9:50 p.m., which motion was approved by all on a voice vote.

Respectfully submitted,

Robert R. Ekroth
Acting Secretary