Board of Commissioner Minutes November 20, 2019
Forest Preserves of Winnebago County
BOARD MEETING
Preserves Headquarters
November 20, 2019
PRESENT STAFF
Judy Barnard Mike Holan, Executive Director
Mike Eickman Vaughn Stamm, Preserve Operations
Audrey Johnson-Absent Steve Chapman, Finance
Gloria Lind Jamie Johannsen, Marketing
Cheryl Maggio Kim O’Malley, HR/Volunteer Program
Jeff Tilly Ann Wasser, Education
Jake Henry
GUESTS
Alex Mills, Klehm Arboretum
Scott Steingraeber
Aiden Steingraeber
ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 5:33 PM, by President Tilly. Recording secretary Ronelle Johnson called the roll.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Judy Barnard led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA and MINUTES Minutes for October 23, 2019, were approved. Public hearing budget meeting minutes for October 23, 2019 were approved. The Harassment Training video was moved to the end of the meeting due to guests attending the meeting.
PRESENTATIONS and PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Harassment Training – Kim O’Malley presented a harassment training video. All employees are required to watch the video annually.
ACTION ITEMS
Bills for October – Mike Eickman made a motion, and Cheryl Maggio seconded to authorize the payment of the bills for October in the amount of $598,782.59. Motion passed unanimously.
Budget Amendment – Building Improvements – The requested budget amendment is to transfer funds not spent from the 2019 Fiscal Year Budget Capital Improvement fund to the 2020 Fiscal Year Budget Capital Improvement fund. The funds in the 2019 Capital Improvement budget are Building Improvements, as part of the Ledges Golf Maintenance Cold Storage Building Replacement project. Only the demolition and removal of the old storage building has been completed to date. This is a result of the entire project being delayed by unforeseen zoning issues whereby, the Forest Preserves were required to apply for a Zoning Department special use permit for the new storage building location because the property had never been properly rezoned after it was originally acquired by the Forest Preserves. The final permit approval and sign off did not get processed until the first part of October 2019 which did not allow enough time for the contractor to apply for a building permit, order the necessary materials, and get the building constructed by the end of the 2019 budget cycle. This request is to carry over previously budgeted funds from the 2019 FY Capital Improvement fund to the 2020 FY Capital Improvement fund. Gloria Lind made a motion, and Mike Eickman seconded to approve the Budget Amendment for Building Improvements. Roll call vote taken. Motion passed unanimously (5-0).
Budget Amendment – Land Improvements – The requested budget amendment is to transfer funds not spent from the 2019 Fiscal Year Budget Capital Improvement fund to the 2020 Fiscal Year Budget Capital Improvement fund. Monies in this fund were provided by an IDNR Habitat Grant to make pollinator habitat improvements to five forest preserves. In three of the preserves all of the work was completed. Due to wet conditions, Homer Tree Service was unable to herbicide the cut stumps at Cedar Cliff Forest Preserve and none of the tree and brush removal work was completed at Kieselburg Forest Preserve. FPWC is holding $2,000 until the herbicide work is complete and the full $30,520 for the work at Kieselburg for a total of $32,520. This money will be moved to the 2020 Fiscal Year Budget. Work should be completed this winter and early spring once there is a solid ground freeze. Judy Barnard made a motion, and Gloria Lind seconded to approve the Budget Amendment for Land Improvements. Roll call vote taken. Motion passed unanimously (5-0).
2020 Board Meeting Schedule – The 2020 board meeting schedule will continue to be the third Wednesday of every month, except where noted. It is understood that additional meetings may be scheduled as needed. The Board will meet on the following dates in 2020: January 15, February 19, March 18, April 15, May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19, September 16, October 21, November 18 and December 16. Gloria Lind made a motion, and Mike Eickman seconded, to approve the 2020 Board Meeting Schedule. Motion passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
There was discussion about the Spring Board Tour. Jeff encouraged everyone to attend and suggested a possible Saturday tour date. Judy suggested that the Commissioners email Mike with what they would like to see on the tour.
STAFF REPORTS
Preserve Operations – Vaughn Stamm, Scott Stewart, Scott Wallace & Bryan Helmold submitted a written report.
Land and Development – Natural Resource Staff submitted a written report.
Golf Operations – Vaughn Stamm, Rich Rosenstiel, Tyler Knapp, & Mark Freiman submitted a written report.
Marketing and Community Relations – Jamie Johannsen submitted a written report.
Environmental Education – Ann Wasser submitted a written report.
Human Resources/Volunteer Program Report – Kim O’Malley submitted a written report.
Law Enforcement – Sheriff’s Department submitted a written report.
ANNOUNCEMENTS and COMMUNICATIONS
December 6 – Employee Appreciation & Recognition Luncheon at Ledges Golf Course from 11:30-2:30pm
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 6:24 p.m.
Next board meeting, 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 18, Preserve Headquarters
Respectfully Submitted,
Ronelle Johnson
Board Secretary