Minutes
Regular Meeting of The Marion Park District Board of Commissioners
December 19, 2023
6:00 p.m.
Boy Scout Cabin
Regular Meeting Agenda
1. Call to Order
President Gott called the Regular Meeting of the Marion Park District to order at 6:20 p.m. with the following Commissioners present:
Commissioner Gardiner
Commissioner Sheffler
Commissioner McReynolds
Commissioner Welch
Commissioner Gott
2. Open Forum
There was no one from the public in attendance for the Regular meeting and no public comments to discuss.
3. Approval of December 19, 2023, Agenda
Commissioner Gardiner made a motion at 6:21 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner McReynolds to approve the December 19, 2023, agenda. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
4. Approval of Tax Levy Hearing Minutes: November 14, 2023
Commissioner McReynolds made a motion at 6:22 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Welch to approve the November 14, 2023, Tax Levy Hearing minutes. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
5. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes: November 14, 2023
Commissioner Gardiner made a motion at 6:23 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Welch to approve the November 14, 2023, Regular Meeting minutes. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
6. Approval of November 2023 Financial Report.
Director Reed states that right now we are doing well and received the first tax installment on November 20, 2023. We should be receiving another tax installment soon. Everything is on track at this time with the money left over from FY2023 and new money coming in. The 18% reserve has increased for this fiscal year to $210,818.63.
Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 6:25 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner McReynolds to approve the November 2023 Financial Report. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
7. Department Reports
a. Administration
b. Park Services
Director Reed went over the reports highlighting the projects that Park Service employees have completed during the month and pictures were also shown to the Commissioners of all the projects completed.
8. Commissioners Reports
Commissioner Gott asked the Commissioners if there was anything to report to Director Reed regarding the Parks. Commissioner Gardiner, Commissioner Welch, Commissioner Sheffler, and Commissioner McReynolds didn’t have anything to report at this time. Commissioner Gott asked Director Reed if white lights can be added to the globes in Ray Fosse Park next year.
9. Executive Session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act (if requested):
a. (21) Executive / Closed Minutes – Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Illinois Open Meetings Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes.
b. (1) Personnel – To consider the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony or complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.
c. (2) Collective Bargaining – the collective negotiations between public employers and their employees and deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employee.
Commissioner Gardiner made a motion at 6:58 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner McReynolds to go into Executive Session. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
10. Reconvene to Open Session (possible actions following Executive Session)
Commissioner Gardiner made a motion at 7:24 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Welch to approve reconvening into Open Session. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
11. New Business
a. Discuss / Approve the payment of Illinois Public Risk Fund (IPRF) premium payment for the first quarter in the amount of $7,075.00 and $7,074.00 each quarter after for 2024.
Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 7:26 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Welch to approve the payment of Illinois Public Risk Fund (IPRF) premium payment for the first quarter in the amount of $7,075.00 and $7,074.00 each quarter after for 2024. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
b. Discuss / Approve meeting dates for the fourth Tuesday of each month from January 2024 – December 2024, except for May, November, and December 2024 due to the holiday.
January 23, 2024 July 23, 2024
February 27, 2024 August 27, 2024
March 26, 2024 September 24, 2024
April 23, 2024 October 22, 2024
May 21, 2024 (moved due to holiday) November 19, 2024 (moved due to holiday)
June 25, 2024 December 17, 2024 (moved due to holiday)
Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 7:28 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Welch to approve meeting dates for the fourth Tuesday of each month from January 2024 – December 2024, except for May, November, and December 2024 due to the holiday. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
c. Discuss / Approve the purchase of a stump chipper for Park Services.
Director Reed explained to the Commissioners that this purchase will save the Park District money overall. At this time there are approximately 60 + stumps to be removed within the parks. The cost of removal is $400.00 per stump. The stump chippers price is $22,295.00 and will pay for itself with what we have to remove now.
Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 7:37 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Gardiner to approve the purchase of a stump chipper for Park Services. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
d. Discuss / Approve land swap with the City of Marion for additional park property for J. W. Jones Park.
Director Reed explained to the Commissioners that this land swap will be for the property at Pyramid Park for the new roundabout that the City and IDOT would like to construct. This land swap would be in the same area as the Brian Salone property that was given to the Parks a few years ago.
Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 7:39 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Welch to approve the land swap with the City of Marion for additional park property for J. W. Jones Park. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
12. Next Meeting Date: January 23, 2024
13. Adjournment
Commissioner Welch made a motion at 7:40 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Gardiner to
adjourn the Regular Meeting of the Marion Park District. Roll called. Motion carried with
unanimous vote with those present.
In accordance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any individual who needs a reasonable accommodation to participate in or benefit from attendance at the public meeting of the Marion Park District Board of Commissioners should contact Jack Reed, Director at 618-993-3940.