Kane County Forest Preserve District, Executive Committee met Feb. 3.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
I. Call to Order
The Forest Preserve District Executive Committee meeting was held at 8:30 AM at the Administration Offices located at 1996 S. Kirk Road, Suite 320, Geneva, IL 60134. The meeting was opened by President Chris Kious at 8:30 AM.
Members Present:
Attendee Name:
Commissioner Barbara Wojnicki Present
Commissioner Dale Berman Present
President Chris Kious Present
Commissioner Michael Kenyon Present
Commissioner Myrna Molina Present*
Commissioner Jarett Sanchez Present*
Commissioner Mavis Bates Present*
Commissioner Drew Frasz Present*
Commissioner John Martin Present*
Others Present:
Commissioners: Davoust*, Ford*, Strathmann*; Exec. Dir. Meyers; CFO Stanish & staff Petschke*; Chief of Planning Anderson Jr.; Dir. of Ops. Goreth; Dir. of NRM Haberthur & staff Rodeghero*; Dir. of Comm. Affairs Metanchuk*& staff Kovach; HR Dir. Yee & staff Misner; Chief of Police & Dir. of Public Safety Burger; Attorney Hodge; Recording Secretary Figliozzi; KCIT Peters.
II. Approval of Minutes from January 6, 2022
| RESULT: APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Barbara Wojnicki, Commissioner SECONDER: Dale Berman, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Drew Frasz, Michael Kenyon, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki |
None.
IV. Presentation and Approval of Bills and Commissioners' Per Diem from January 2022
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY ROLLCALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 2/8/2022 9:00 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Commission MOVER: Dale Berman, Commissioner SECONDER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Drew Frasz, Michael Kenyon, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki |
A. Presentation and Approval of a Bid for a Replacement Vehicle for the North Operations Division
Dir. of Ops. Goreth presented the following bid for the North Operations Department. Truck #322 would be replaced with a 2022, one-and-one-quarter ton, 4x4, dump truck with a 6.7 liter diesel engine, snow plow and stainless-steel dump box. The new vehicle will be purchased through the State Purchasing Contract and from Morrow Brothers Ford from Greenfield, Illinois at a total purchase price of $91,870. Funds totaling $88,000 were budgeted in the 2021/22 fiscal year, the additional funds needed, totaling $3,870, will be utilized from the Contingencies Account for this expense totaling $91,870.
DISCUSSION: None.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY ROLLCALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 2/8/2022 9:00 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Commission MOVER: Barbara Wojnicki, Commissioner SECONDER: Drew Frasz, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Drew Frasz, Michael Kenyon, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki |
Chief of Police and Dir. of Public Safety Burger presented the vehicle lease program for the Forest Preserve Police Department. Staff is seeking to replace seven Public Safety squad vehicles (two Ford Explorers and five Chevy Tahoe’s) by leasing seven Ford F-150 Police Responder pickup trucks. Recently, Enterprise Entities and EFM inquired whether the District would be interested in leasing certain vehicles that were scheduled for replacement, and others that would be coming due for replacement in the near future. In 2019, the Kane County Division of Transportation (KDOT) entered into a lease agreement with Enterprise Entities and EFM for the same purpose. Presently, it appears this would be a fiscally beneficial program. Since the County of Kane entered into the lease agreement on behalf of KDOT, it was stipulated in the lease agreement that this program would be for the use of any taxing body in Kane County who should choose to be part of this program, wherever their location. All pricing and catalog discounts will be extended to other government entities that wish to participate.
DISCUSSION: Commissioner Wojnicki asked questions regarding the size of the vehicles. Burger responded that was the intension was to add capacity. Commissioner Frasz commented that the pilot program that KDOT participated in was very successful, the department was able to generate a profit. He stated that to maximize the return, the condition of the vehicle is vital, he added that Kane County invested in magnetic decals for a higher resale value.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY ROLLCALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 2/8/2022 9:00 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Commission MOVER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner SECONDER: Barbara Wojnicki, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Drew Frasz, Michael Kenyon, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki |
Dir. of NRM Haberthur presented the bid for the Natural Resources Department. The Natural Resource Management department currently utilizes vehicle #61, a 2007 Ford F-350 Extended Cab 4x4 diesel, as the primary vehicle for heavy equipment transport. It has served the Natural Resource Management department well over the last 14 years, and now has over 90,500 miles under its belt. Maintenance costs and downtime have begun to increase as this truck has aged, leading the department to seek a replacement. Funds totaling $103,000 were budgeted in the NRM Automotive Equipment Account in FY2021/22 for the purchase of two vehicles. Sufficient funds totaling $103,000 are available for this first purchase totaling $65,500.
DISCUSSION: Brief discussion regarding state approved vehicles and timeframe of delivery.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY ROLLCALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 2/8/2022 9:00 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Commission MOVER: Michael Kenyon Commissioner SECONDER: Dale Berman, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Drew Frasz, Michael Kenyon, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki |
Chief of Planning Anderson Jr., presented the startup project proposal for the Settler’s Hill Golf Course. Anderson referenced a map included in the agenda packet and provided detail information of the proposed layout of amenities.
DISCUSSION: Commissioner Martin discussed the number of ball washers and garbage cans throughout the course, he felt that this is an expense that could be reviewed, noting that other courses have reduced due to maintenance. Anderson Jr. responded that ideally this would be a full service course, so they would have both washers and garbage cans at each hole, however this could be revised.
Exec. Dir. Meyers commented that staff have been looking into trailer concessions for the returning 9’s location. Commissioner Martin asked about water sales within the trailer, the importance of water availability throughout the course. Commissioner Frasz commented that Kane County has approved a consultant to review the the traffic light and the intersection, suggested to direct staff to communicate with the County during the renovations. Commissioner Ford asked about an updated sign for the entrance, Anderson responded, it would be completed in house.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY ROLLCALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 2/8/2022 9:00 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Commission MOVER: Dale Berman, Commissioner SECONDER: Barbara Wojnicki, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Drew Frasz, Michael Kenyon, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki |
A. Presentation and Approval of a Bid for Updated Vegetation Inventories at Twelve Locations
NRM Dir. Haberthur presented a bid for the county-wide updated vegetation inventory. Twelve project options were developed for the bid. The bid was publicly advertised and sent to 50 vendors with 6 responding. Funds totaling $53,580 were budgeted in the 2021/22 Fiscal Year for the Vegetation Inventories Update. Sufficient funds totaling $29,455 are available in the Natural Resources Restoration Account for this expense totaling $19,269.66.
DISCUSSION: None.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY ROLLCALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 2/8/2022 9:00 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Commission MOVER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner SECONDER: Barbara Wojnicki, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Drew Frasz, Michael Kenyon, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki |
NRM Dir. Haberthur presented the construction bid for a water control structure in the Nelson Lake Marsh. While there are many ecological functions occurring in just the manner we would like to see at the site, there are also a number of threats to this system that persist. Chief among the threats is a lack of control of the water levels at the marsh.
An unaltered system would have negated this concern, as the marsh would be functioning under the hydrologic parameters that perpetuated its existence. However, the alteration of the outlet at Lake Run created an unnatural system that requires an engineered solution to restore hydrologic balance, without subjecting adjacent landowners to flooding. Historic suppression of fire and a modern introduction of invasive weeds also constitute threats to the native ecosystem, and have already begun to be addressed.
District staff worked jointly with WBK to create a set of bid specifications for the construction of the designed water-control structure.
It was publicly advertised and sent to 52 vendors, with four responding. The qualified, lowest bidder was V3 Construction Group, LTD of Woodridge, Illinois, for a bid of $99,500. Funds totaling $134,433 were budgeted in FY 2021/22 for the Dick Young/Nelson Lake Marsh Revitalization Project. Sufficient funds totaling $126,775 are available in the Construction & Development Fund, for this professional service expense totaling $99,500.
DISCUSSION: Commissioner Martin commented that the area used to be a peat mine and at times it would cause a spontaneous combustion. Haberthur responded that the area was noted to have a peat farm estimated around 20 years, it has since been cleared out, and native species were found.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY ROLLCALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 2/8/2022 9:00 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Commission MOVER: Dale Berman, Commissioner SECONDER: Mavis Bates, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Drew Frasz, Michael Kenyon, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki |
A. Presentation and Approval of the 2022 Update to the 2015 Comprehensive Master Plan Exec. Dir. Meyers presented the updated Comprehensive Master Plan. She discussed the changes made to the mission statement at the Commissioners Retreat. The additional change for 2022 is the arrangement of the capital projects priority list. She explained the items that are titled NEW are from the current master plan. Meyers explained the importance of the priority list, as this is the tool that is used for applying for grants.
DISCUSSION: Commissioner Martin asked about the Canoe Chute. Exec. Dir. Meyers indicated that the item was removed from the list as directed by the Commission at their Fall 2021 master plan retreat, and staff is working with the city of the Aurora for options regarding the intent of the canoe chute. Brief conversation ensued.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY ROLLCALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 2/8/2022 9:00 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Commission MOVER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner SECONDER: Dale Berman, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Drew Frasz, Michael Kenyon, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki |
| RESULT: APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dale Berman, Commissioner SECONDER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Drew Frasz, Michael Kenyon, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki |
IX. Communications
None.
X. President's Comments
President Kious reported on the annual IAPD conference noting the Forest Preserve District was awarded a plaque for the Distinguishing Agency Accreditation. He reminded the Commission and public of the monthly Senior Stroll. Commissioner Bates asked what information could be provided to constituents in regards to the Distinguishing Agency Accreditation award. Exec. Dir. Meyers responded that information will be prepared and presented at the Full Commission meeting next week Tuesday.
XI. Financial Reports
Reports A-C were moved together
A. Revenue & Expense Report through December 2021
B. Cash & Investment Report: December 2021
C. Bond Investment Report: December 2021
| RESULT: PLACE WRITTEN REPORTS ON FILE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dale Berman, Commissioner SECONDER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Drew Frasz, Michael Kenyon, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki |
The meeting adjourned at 9:27 a.m.
| RESULT: ADJOURNED BY VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner SECONDER: Dale Berman, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, Drew Frasz, Michael Kenyon, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki |
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