Kankakee Times

Kankakee Valley Park District Board of Commissioners met March 26.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

The Board Meeting was called to order at 5pm by President Hollis. Those present for roll call were Commissioners D. Tucker, B. Spriggs, M. Mullady, D. Skelly, and A. Hollis. Staff present: Executive Director, Dayna Heitz, Superintendent of Recreation, Melissa Woodard; Superintendent of Buildings & Grounds, Rick Collins, and Attorney John Coghlan.

Public Present: Brian Zirkle & Michelle Wiza

Pledge Of Allegiance

Public Comment:

House of Sportz: Brian Z. from House of Sportz. Lived in Kankakee for several years. Owns House of Sportz where he trains kids in softball and baseball and weight training. Used to play baseball at LaVasseur Park. Last few years it has fallen apart. Would love to partner with the District to turn that field around to make it available for the community. Willing to run some free camps for the District. We have 10 baseball teams and hope to have 14-16 teams. We do not have a home field right now. Have families that are skilled and do a little bit of everything and would be able to help us redo the field. You could rent it out when available. Would love to help with other fields in this community as well. A lot of our games are elsewhere right now. Bring a company in to redo the field, add surface, add lining to the fences, put new nets, rebuild the dugouts, add new gates and doors and redo the fence, add railroad ties. Commissioner Spriggs loves this idea. Commissioner Hollis said we wanted to hear from you. What do you want from us? Brian said we would like to run some programs for the District as well. Worked for the District at one point too. We have plenty of families ready to start cleaning up next week. We have started a fall baseball league. Parents would do the labor. Michelle said Disney World has approved them to give out 20 tickets for a clean-up day. They have all the pricing. There would be an excavating company that would do the field. The parents would do everything like putting in railroad ties, picking up garbage, power washing, and painting. Commissioner Mullady asked what the timeline would be from today to play. Brian said can’t put a timeline because of the financials. We would be getting the cleaning done soon. We have a nonprofit organization and a business. $1000-$1400 per child. Do fundraisers because it’s really more like $2200. Michelle said the quoted work is about $15,000 not including the score board. We would like it for 5 years because of the amount of work they will do. Michelle said we won’t charge the park district to run some programs. You could charge or not because it’s free labor. Commissioner Hollis clarified they want the agreement for 5 years and they would put approximately $15,000. Commissioner Skelly asked what work would you need from the district? Brian said everything inside the fence would be us, the mowing outside would be KVPD. The garbage would be KVPD too. Bathroom would be House of Sportz. Michelle said we would like if the District could bring some of the bleachers that aren’t being used. One for home and one for visitors. Hoping the cleanup day would be May 6. Commissioner Tucker asked about the pricing? Michelle said the proposals are there from the company. Commissioner Hollis asked for a copy of the proposals. Commissioner Skelly said we can’t approve until next board meeting. Michelle would love to have kids on the field by summer. Brian asked why are you keeping those fields empty? Director Heitz said we are going to keep them for RVYBL. Brian said he can make the field across the street beautiful. Commissioner Spriggs said until I see you make that place beautiful, let’s slow down. Commissioner Hollis said we will discuss in the next committee meeting. Brian said we would love Butterfield access as well. Hope to grow our girl’s teams for practice and games. Director Heitz asked about the insurance since parents are doing the work. Michelle said it’s a 1-3-million-dollar policy that covers off site work. We are very well covered and could give copies. Director Heitz asked if it will cover volunteers? Yes. Commissioner Spriggs asked if they needed to sign waivers for volunteering? Michelle said they have waivers.

Communications:

n/a

Consent Agenda:

Consent agenda for Monday, March 26, 2018 consists of board, committee minutes, executive session minutes (not for public viewing) bills payable, and financial statements.

A motion to receive the Consent Agenda was made by Commissioner Spriggs, seconded by Commissioner Mullady. Discussion: Director Heitz said there is a revised copy of the Committee Meeting minutes. Commissioner Tucker asked for clarification on the minutes. He’d like to double check the tape because he doesn’t recall it. Upon roll call vote the following Commissioner voted aye: B. Spriggs. Nay: D. Tucker, D. Skelly, M. Mullady, A. Hollis. With 1 aye, 4 nays, motion fails until clarification can be made. A motion to remove the board meeting minutes from the consent agenda was made by Commissioner Skelly, seconded by Commissioner Spriggs. Upon roll call vote the following Commissioners voted aye: M. Mullady, D. Skelly, D. Tucker, B. Spriggs, and A. Hollis. With 5 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried.

A motion to receive bills payable and the financial statement was made by Commissioner Skelly, seconded by Commissioner Spriggs. Upon roll call vote the following Commissioners voted aye: M. Mullady, D. Skelly, D. Tucker, B. Spriggs, and A. Hollis. With 5 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried.

A motion to approve bills payable and the financial statement was made by Commissioner Mullady, seconded by Commissioner Spriggs. Upon roll call vote the following Commissioners voted aye: M. Mullady, D. Skelly, D. Tucker, B. Spriggs, and A. Hollis. With 5 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried.

Old Business:

n/a

New Business:

Farm Lease: Director Heitz said you have a farm lease in front of you. Would do a 1-year agreement and we have already received a check from them. Next year would do a 3-year agreement. Would bring it to the board in the fall for the 3-year lease. A motion to approve the 1-year farm lease was made by Commissioner Skelly, seconded by Commissioner Tucker. Upon roll call vote the following Commissioners voted aye: M. Mullady, D. Skelly, D. Tucker, B. Spriggs, and A. Hollis. With 5 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried.

Staff Reports:

Executive Director-

Director Heitz: Should have the bid package done by the end of the week. Trying to figure out a way to advertise in places other than here. Will do the paper, Facebook, website. Commissioner Skelly said put it on Craigslist. Info is done for the sign at Sun River Terrace park. Waiting for the family to approve it. Will wait until the weather breaks for the event. Boat club agreement will be a 3-year agreement. Identical to what they have had for a one-year lease. Historically it was never brought to the board. Commissioner Hollis asked for that to be brought to the board for the future so we can be transparent. Will send the board a copy. Did give them a discount for paying for all 3 years up front. John will help her with the NSA agreement. Commissioner Tucker asked if the agreement is already done? Yes. Was not brought to the board in the past. Attorney Coghlan said because the amount is so low that’s not something that needs to be generally brought to the board. Commissioner Tucker said in the spirit of trying to do things differently, would like for it to be brought to the board. Attorney Coghlan reiterated that Commissioner Hollis asked for in the future it to be brought to the board. Commissioner Skelly said is anyone not in favor of this or just that we want to approve it. Director Heitz said it’s already done but can always ratify something. Commissioner Skelly said we could go back and vote on it next time. Will abstain on it but if you wanted to approve it next meeting or do whatever. Darrell Williams changed his date to June 16 for his event. Were open for the election. For the Cobb Park Tree Restoration Commissioner Spriggs has ordered the flowering trees and new signage has been ordered. New signs for River Road have been ordered. Commissioner Spriggs asked if the currently sign at 45 will be replaced? Yes. Met with Dr. Avendano to talk about partnership with the fitness center and the 4th of July event. That is run through the orchestra. Commissioner Skelly asked about the fencing for the event. Whose property is it? Mostly ours for the fireworks. The city pays for the Fireworks. Went out to talk to them so hopefully we can be ahead of the game this year. Met with Helen with the Women’s Club. They want to have a new sign made for the club. They have a husband that would design and make the new sign. Asked if they are opposed to incorporating both logos. A lot of people don’t realize the building is ours. Commissioner Skelly asked if we are going to roll out new signs, this is branding for a District. It should be our sign with their info. Director Heitz said we would like to match and wanted to make sure there wasn’t a history on it. Commissioner Skelly said he would like to see our logo and a branding. Commissioner Spriggs said the bushes next to the sign are overgrown and a security risk. While we are putting a new sign, could we remove them. Sign would be more visible and more attractive. Rick said no problem. Director Heitz asked for the sign are the women’s club a contributor, sponsor, etc.? Commissioner Spriggs said they supposedly gave money. Attorney Coghlan said you could call them a contributor.

Working on our liquor license inspections. Had a complaint from the Illinois Liquor Commission that minors were selling alcohol. He checked our licenses, our receipts, etc. Was very thorough and nice. He closed the issue with no violation.

Robert Freyman started back to work today at River Road. Met with him last week regarding septic issues.

Pioneer Park still has construction.

Ice Valley will be shut down May 14-29. Looking for ideas on how to advertise the shutdown. We will take the ice down, repaint, cleaning carpets, deep cleaning, etc. Commissioner Skelly asked about getting the signs on the doors out there? Will ask her to do that.

Met with claim adjustor on the harbor. We will remove the debris but they will do everything else. Commissioner Skelly asked if this will affect people coming in to the docks. Could tell them they could come in at their own risk if the fence isn’t up. Commissioner Mullady asked about the removal date. October 15. Commissioner Skelly said get the docks in ready to roll. Let them know the fence may not be up.

Director Heitz said we did not have a flood last year. The guys put the equipment in the barn. It took on water and we found that out when we took them in for servicing. Bradley Mowers said you may want insurance to come look at them. The batteries were charged and they had started. Called PDRMA and let them know what Bradley Mowers said. Adjustor came out today and deemed it scrap. We have full replacement on all our mowers and golf carts. They will scrap it. They bid out the scrap. Commissioner Skelly said at the last meeting you said everything was good. Director Heitz said everything started up and until it was looked over at Bradley Mowers that it was decided there was an issue. Commissioner Skelly said if they started then maybe it’s not as bad as it seems and as a District we could use them. Commissioner Mullady wants to make sure we are being proactive and this doesn’t happen again. Rick said it will not longer be stored there. It will go in the old ice arena.

Rick went over the park improvement list and the tentative dates for the work. This is just a preliminary list and will continue to add to it. Commissioner Mullady mentioned a bench at Cobb Park that is leaning forward. Could we relocate it? Just a poor location for it. Too close to the road. Commissioner Spriggs said there are 2 benches in the walking path by the Butterfly Garden, could you look at them and use them somewhere else too? Will look into.

Director Heitz did receive a call from Ms. Cantu from Aroma Park by Pearl Park. She’s interested in purchasing the park. It’s just open space. Not interested.

Commissioner Skelly asked about the bike trail and River Road. Is that on the list to be cleaned up? Yes, they are working it but it’s a lot. Maybe it could be trimmed back some.

Committee Reports:

KCCVB Report-

Had a meeting last week. Bradley House do a presentation. Looking for a long-term donation commitment.

Historical Society Report-

Nothing to report.

SRA:

Commissioner Hollis said they are still working on the purchase of the bus.

Commissioners Forum:

Commissioner Spriggs asked if there had ever been an assistant maintenance superintendent. Yes, at one point. Attorney Coghlan said in the past it has been a member of the union which would be an issue. There is no way that should be a union position. We don’t have the resources for it anyway. Commissioner Tucker said this is a good plan and visual. Could we start putting in some flowers and beautification. Commissioner Spriggs said the SRA used to come help and they did a great job. Commissioner Tucker asked where we are with the interns. Director Heitz said we have not made a decision yet. Have one that would be perfect in coordinating the beautification. The 2nd one we interviewed was in the collegiate sports and could help with athletics.

Commissioner Skelly asked if there was an update on the litigation. Attorney Coghlan said it’s still going on.

Executive Session

Adjourn Meeting:

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made at 6:50 pm by Commissioner Mullady, seconded by Commissioner Spriggs. Upon voice vote, all ayes, motion carried.

Official Reports:

1. Bills Payable

2. Financial Statements

3. Farm Lease

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/kvpd/Minutes/2018/03-26-18+-+Board+Meeting.pdf