Kane County Forest Preserve District Commission met July 12.
Here are the minutes provided by the commission:
I. Call to Order
The Forest Preserve District Commission meeting was held at 9:00 AM at Kane County Government Center, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A, Geneva, IL 60134. The meeting was opened by President Chris Kious at 9:00 AM.
II. Pledge of Allegiance
President Kious asked Commissioner Cherryl Strathmann to lead the pledge.
III. Roll Call Status
Commissioner Mavis Bates Present
Commissioner Dale Berman Present
Commissioner David Brown Present
Commissioner Ron Ford Present
Commissioner Mo Iqbal Present
Commissioner Michael Kenyon Present
President Chris Kious Present
Commissioner Bill Lenert Present
Commissioner John Martin Present
Commissioner Cherryl Strathmann Present
Commissioner Clifford Surges Present
Commissioner Vern Tepe Present
Commissioner Barbara Wojnicki Present
Commissioner Deborah Allan Present*
Commissioner Mark Davoust Present*
Commissioner Tom Koppie Present*
Commissioner Anita Lewis Present* (via remote @9:04 am)
Commissioner Myrna Molina Present*
Commissioner Jarett Sanchez Present*
Commissioner Monica Silva Present*
Commissioner Michelle Gumz Present (in person @ 9:04 am)
Commissioner Kenneth Shepro Present (in person @ 9:10 am)
Commissioner Drew Frasz Absent
Commissioner Todd Wallace Absent
Others Present:
Also Present: Exc. Dir. Meyers; CFO Stanish & staff Petschke*; Chief of Planning Rooks-Lopez & staff Tegge; Comm. Affairs Dir. Metanchuk & intern Barna; NRM Dir. Haberthur; Police Chief and Public Safety Dir. Burger; HR Dir. Sarro; North Ops Manager Estes & staff Carroll; Attorney Hodge; Exec. Assist. Figliozzi and KCIT Peters, Tierney.
IV. Public Comment (Each Speaker is limited to 3 minutes)
None.
V. Presentation and Approval of the Minutes of June 14, 2022
(Commissioner Lewis arrive via remote @ 9:04 am)(Commissioner Gumz arrived in person @ 9:04 am)
| RESULT: APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dale Berman, Commissioner SECONDER: Barbara Wojnicki, Commissioner AYES: Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, David Brown, Mark Davoust, Ron Ford, Michelle Gumz, Mo Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Tom Koppie, Bill Lenert, Anita Lewis, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, , Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford Surges, Vern Tepe, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Drew Frasz, Kenneth C. Shepro, Todd Wallace |
| RESULT: APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Deborah Allan, Commissioner SECONDER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner AYES: Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, David Brown, Mark Davoust, Ron Ford, Michelle Gumz, Mo Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Tom Koppie, Bill Lenert, Anita Lewis, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford Surges, Vern Tepe, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Drew Frasz, Kenneth C. Shepro, Todd Wallace |
A. FP-R-22-07-2957 Resolution of Commendation for Susan Carroll
Exec. Dir. Meyers and President Kious thanked Susan Carroll for her many years of service to the Forest Preserve District of Kane County and wished her well on her retirement. Meyers invited the Commissioners to attend the retirement party held at the Barbara Belding Lodge at Brewster Creek Forest Preserve.
| RESULT: ADOPTED BY ROLL CALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner SECONDER: Michelle Gumz, Commissioner AYES: Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, David Brown, Mark Davoust, Ron Ford, Michelle Gumz, Mo Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Tom Koppie, Bill Lenert, Anita Lewis, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford Surges, Vern Tepe, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Drew Frasz, Kenneth C. Shepro, Todd Wallace |
A. FP-R-22-07-2958 Resolution Approving a Change to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Authorized Agent for the District
Exec. Dir. Meyers presented the IMRF Authorized Agent change over. This role is particular to the Human Resources Director position. (Commissioner Shepro arrived in person @ 9:10 am)
DISCUSSION: None.
| RESULT: ADOPTED BY ROLL CALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Bill Lenert, Commissioner SECONDER: Clifford Surges, Commissioner AYES: Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, David Brown, Mark Davoust, Ron Ford, Michelle Gumz, Mo Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Tom Koppie, Bill Lenert, Anita Lewis, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Kenneth C. Shepro, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford Surges, Vern Tepe, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Drew Frasz, Todd Wallace |
A. FP-R-22-07-2959 Resolution Approving a Bid for Pre-seeding and Construction for the Wetland Mitigation Project at Muirhead Springs Forest Preserve
NRM Dir Haberthur presented the wetland mitigation bank project, he provided background information and referenced a map included in the agenda packet. Base bid and alternate costs were sought from vendors. The base bid includes extensive earthwork soil stabilization to create wetland basins and their associated berms, drain tile destruction and water-control structure installation, two years of pre-seeding vegetation management, and some native plant installation (seeding and plug planting on berms). The “alternate” bid is one additional year of vegetation management to be purchased only in the event that we do not adequately meet the hydrology standard (as detailed in the MBI) after the two initial years of management. The bid was publicly advertised and provided to 68 vendors, of which two responded. The qualified, lowest bid was received from V3 Construction Group, LTD of Woodridge, Illinois, in the amount of $1,590,527 (base), $156,300 for the alternate (possible additional vegetation management), and 10% contingency of $174,683, for a project total of $1,921,510. Bids for subsequent years will be prepared for the next steps of this construction project. The next step (growing season 2023) is contingent upon the issuance of an IDNR-OWR (Office of Water Resources) floodway construction permit, and will primarily be focused on the earthwork and stabilization of the eastern berm. The third and final construction Bid for this project will focus on the eastern portion of the constructed wetland and stream restoration (growing season 2024). A separate Bid for entire site seeding/planting will be needed once site construction is complete and the hydrology standard has been met (date to be determined).
DISCUSSION: Commissioner Bates asked how the amount per credit was determined. Dir. Haberthur explained the various areas are calculated by wetland quality (wetland versus stream) and value is market driven. Haberthur answered questions from the Commission. Exec. Dir. Meyers explained the benefits of owning/managing the wetland bank by the District. In the past when a private entity were to own the wetland bank and the District accepted the completed bank, future unfunded vegetation maintenance needs would fall on the District. Meyers noted that this is a profitable situation whereby the sale of the credits constructs the improvements (hydrology) and the District retains funds for the future maintenance. Balance of funds may also be used for other District capital projects. Haberthur stated that in the Chicago region, the District is the only wetland mitigation bank currently with active credits for sale. He noted that the Army Corps has restrictions to impact specific waters only, these are all based on zones.
| RESULT: ADOPTED BY ROLL CALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Cherryl Strathmann, Commissioner SECONDER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner AYES: Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, David Brown, Mark Davoust, Ron Ford, Michelle Gumz, Mo Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Tom Koppie, Bill Lenert, Anita Lewis, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Kenneth C. Shepro, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford Surges, Vern Tepe, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Drew Frasz, Todd Wallace |
NRM Dir. Haberthur presented the bid for the wetland mitigation project at Muirhead Springs for monitoring and reporting. Haberthur explained the benefit of separating the bid for the monitoring and reporting part of the project. The reporting provided by the contractor will be sent to the USACOE, to satisfy terms of the Mitigation Banking Instrument (MBI). The bid was publicly advertised and provided to 68 vendors, of which five responded. The qualified, lowest bid was received from Davey Resource Group of Elmhurst, Illinois, in the amount of $111,560. Funds totaling $1,645,226 were budgeted in the 2022/23 fiscal year for Phase 1 construction, monitoring and reporting of the Muirhead Springs Wetland Mitigation Bank. Sufficient funds totaling $164,244 are available in the Mitigation Account for this multi-year expenditure of $111,560, beginning in Fiscal Year 2022/23. The vendor estimates that actual expenses for FY22/23 will be approximately $18,720. The total project cost for both this Monitoring & Reporting contract and the Pre-seeding & Construction contract for the respective projects’ durations is $2,033,070. The District will be bound to budget an additional $388,000 for fiscal year 2023/2024, to cover the remainder of expenses for both contracts.
DISCUSSION: None.
| RESULT: ADOPTED BY ROLL CALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Michelle Gumz, Commissioner SECONDER: Mark Davoust, Commissioner AYES: Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, David Brown, Mark Davoust, Ron Ford, Michelle Gumz, Mo Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Tom Koppie, Bill Lenert, Anita Lewis, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Kenneth C. Shepro, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford Surges, Vern Tepe, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Drew Frasz, Todd Wallace |
NRM Dir. Haberthur presented background information of the project, noting this was a 2017 referendum goal. He reported that amphibious excavators were needed to enter the area due to endangered bird species and turtles. Out of the 59 vendors, only three were received as the low bids due to the specialized nature of the project. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) requirements will be met by August 12, and construction can begin. The goal of the project is to re create a proxy for balanced hemi-marsh conditions (half open water, half native emergent vegetation), diversify wetland depth, improve conditions for wildlife, and enhance the resilience of the marsh as local precipitation patterns change. Hey & Associates was hired in 2019 to conduct feasibility studies, hydrologic assessments, wetland delineation, assist with permitting, and create engineering documents for the project. The original concept for this marsh restoration was to build a berm across the entire northern wetland boundary, but that idea was set aside due to the prohibitive cost, and unlikeliness of obtaining any grants. A wetland scrape design was settled upon that still accomplishes most the of the wildlife habitat goals at the site, but in an affordable and scalable manner. The scrapes will create areas of interspersed vegetation and open water, and enhanced water depth in areas that are currently shallow with dense monocultures of narrow leaf cattail. The bid was publicly advertised and sent to 59 vendors, with 3 responding. The qualified, lowest bid was received from Integrated Lakes Management, Inc. (ILM) of Waukegan, Illinois, in the amount of $284,008.
DISCUSSION: None.
| RESULT: ADOPTED BY ROLL CALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Barbara Wojnicki, Commissioner SECONDER: Cherryl Strathmann, Commissioner AYES: Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, David Brown, Mark Davoust, Ron Ford, Michelle Gumz, Mo Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Tom Koppie, Bill Lenert, Anita Lewis, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Kenneth C. Shepro, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford Surges, Vern Tepe, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Drew Frasz, Todd Wallace |
Landscape Architect Tegge presented the change order for the drainage issue at the Settler’s Hill Club House project. He referenced a project map, explaining where the the pipe would be installed, at the low point where water had been pooling. Evans & Son Blacktop Inc. (West Chicago) was selected as the qualified contractor to perform paving renovations and temporary cart path & parking construction for the Settler’s Hill Golf Course. During the pre-construction meeting held on May 19th, 2022, a discussion was held regarding the sediment build up at the foot of the bridge that connects to the west side of the clubhouse. This sediment covered up and clogged a drain tile which has caused water to collect and has degraded the asphalt. To correct this drainage issue, Evans & Son worked with staff to evaluate the needed correction and has prepared Change Order #1, to remove the failing drain tile and install a 24” catch basin with cast iron frame to collect water and have it dissipate into the natural area immediately to the east of the pavement area. The water will then be collected in the existing natural area and percolate into the ground or be picked up in the existing storm drain as originally designed. The original contract with Evans & Son Blacktop Inc. was $297,366.36. Sufficient funds totaling $99,419 are available in the Construction & Development Fund to cover the cost of Change Order 1 from Evans & Son totaling $2,700.00, for a new contract amount $300,066.36.
DISCUSSION: Commissioner Davoust asked questions regarding the drainage plan. Brief conversation occurred.
| RESULT: ADOPTED BY ROLL CALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dale Berman, Commissioner SECONDER: Mark Davoust, Commissioner AYES: Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, David Brown, Mark Davoust, Ron Ford, Michelle Gumz, Mo Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Tom Koppie, Bill Lenert, Anita Lewis, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Kenneth C. Shepro, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford Surges, Vern Tepe, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Drew Frasz, Todd Wallace |
None.
XI. Communications
Community Affairs Dir. Metanchuk announced the Renovation Project at Jon Duerr Forest Preserve was awarded an OSLAD grant in the amount of $400,000. The total renovation project estimated cost is $1.2M.
XII. President's Comments
President Kious discussed the importance of grants to maintain renovation projects for the District’s forest preserve amenities. He noted that forest preserves serve as mini vacations for the public.
XIII. Department Reports for June 2022
| RESULT: PLACED ON FILE BY VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Bill Lenert, Commissioner SECONDER: Deborah Allan, Commissioner AYES: Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, David Brown, Mark Davoust, Ron Ford, Michelle Gumz, Mo Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Tom Koppie, Bill Lenert, Anita Lewis, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Kenneth C. Shepro, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford Surges, Vern Tepe, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Drew Frasz, Todd Wallace |
The meeting adjourned at 9:50 AM.
| RESULT: ADJOURNED BY VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner SECONDER: Dale Berman, Commissioner AYES: Deborah Allan, Mavis Bates, Dale Berman, David Brown, Mark Davoust, Ron Ford, Michelle Gumz, Mo Iqbal, Michael Kenyon, Chris Kious, Tom Koppie, Bill Lenert, Anita Lewis, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Kenneth C. Shepro, Monica Silva, Cherryl Strathmann, Clifford Surges, Vern Tepe, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Drew Frasz, Todd Wallace |
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