Village of Antioch Park Commission met March 15.
Here are the minutes provided by the commission:
1. CALL TO ORDER
Park Board Chairman Jim Weber called the 2022 regular meeting of the Park Board to order at 6:30pm.
2. ROLL CALL
Hettich __x__ Sural __x__
Hartman __x__ DiBenedetto __x__
Parks Director __x__ Flade __x__
Weber __x__ Program Supervisor _____
Misch __x__ Commission Secretary __x__
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Antioch Park Commissioner led the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Member Hartman moved, seconded by Member Hettich to approve the February 15, 2023, minutes. All in favor?
YES: 7
No: 0
Absent: 0
5. PUBLIC COMMENT – none
6. COMMUNICATIONS: none
7. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: Weber started off the meeting stating he sent a letter to the village board to approve the Tim Osmond fitness complex and it was denied. The park coop agreement with Vikings and AYLL to some up with ideas will start soon. Quilty explain Tom Shaughnessy will head it and get the group together soon. It will be on the next agenda. DiBenedetto asked what happens if the agreement does not get renewed. Quilty answered nothing will change. Weber discussed the purchase of land near Peterson Park. He suggested a path be added up to Rt 173 for fishing. Quilty explained the purpose of buying the land was to build a walking/bike path. Weber than questioned what the new park on Main St and Orchard will be named. Quilty explained that Mayor Gartner will be having a name competition. Weber then asked Hettich how his meeting with the village board went with his questions about a veteran’s memorial. Hettich stated it was a “compromise.” Quilty added its going over by the Wetlands for better parking. There will be a meeting on Tuesday, March 21st.
8. DIRECTOR’S REPORT Quilty started off her report with the fitness park at Osmond Park being turned down by the village board. The board is not comfortable spending $20,000. Quilty was told there is a $80,000 park fund that if the parks board wants the money could come out of. Weber questioned why the parks fund does not have $420,000 from the Pittman property sale. Quilty stated that the village board said take the choice back to the parks board if they want to spend the $20,000 from the parks fund. Sural mentioned that at no time Weber’s letter was ever read during the village board meeting. He felt there was no representation, and no recommendation was voiced. Quilty stated that Mayor Gartner did mention that the parks board recommended the fitness center but not an amount. Sural asked if any of the other board members felt their recommendation fell on deaf ears? Quilty stated the village board felt it was a lot of money to spend on something that was used for 4 months out of the year. DiBenedetto mentioned that already existing parks need to be fixed. Sural asked where the $80,000 parks fund came from because last year it was hard to get mulch for certain parks. Flade suggested having a parks board liaison at village board meetings. Flade then asked what the due date for the Osmond fitness center was. Quilty answered Shaughnessy was requesting an extension on the grant. Weber stated everything last month was so rushed he took that as there being no more time or possibility of extension. Hartman asked how much it would cost to resurface the tennis courts. Weber mentioned Jensen needs to be dug up and redone. Quilty added that a village resident did email the parks department about making pickle ball courts. Sural responded with pickleball courts being smaller and made from a different material. Sural mentioned that both Jensen and Centennial need to be fixed but instead of putting band‐aids on both parks just fix one completely. Flade asked if the price to fix tennis courts was coming out of the earlier mentioned $80,000 parks budget? Sural answered that the $80,000 parks budget is for special equipment. Quilty responded that it would need to be budgeted for next year. Flade suggested getting a quote on fixing the tennis courts. Quilty reminded the board that Centennial is the first park on the master plan to be fixed. Hettich mentioned that the master plan might have a better way to resurface the tennis courts. Sural expressed that the master plan will take a lot of time before anything is fixed. Sural suggested if any park gets resurfaced it should be Centennial first. DiBenedetto commented that no one is asking about Centennial and Jensen is the request. DiBenedetto stated if the parks master plan starts next year anything they try to fix will be possibly dug up. Hartman asked what the liability is for the village if the courts are not fixed? Quilty explained that it is a safety issue with all the holes in the court. DiBenedetto asked if the parks board had to make a final decision on the fitness park. Quilty responded if the parks board wanted to spend the $20,000 needed from the parks budget. After a discussion and vote on the parks, the board voted 4‐2 to not use parks funds to help build the Osmond fitness center. Quilty changed the topic to the new park on Main St and Orchard and outside seating. The extended overhang would be able to cover five tables. The extension of the café means it comes right to the bridge over the creek. Flade asked if a restaurant would be taking over the café. DiBenedetto mentioned that it has been previously stated that the café is not to compete with local restaurants in town. Quilty asked the board if they had any ideas for the new park at 173 and 59. The main point was to buy the land for a walking path downtown. Weber suggested a fishing pier. Hartman suggested a canoe launch. The village attorney wrote up the new parks board commission and it was presented to the parks board. Questions of 3‐5 years or if the board was discussed. Also, the lack of volunteer hours that each board member should fulfil in a year. Quilty said nothing is written in stone and to email any questions or requests for change. DiBenedetto brought up punch cards for the parks assigned to each board member every year and how well they work. Hartman questioned if it could be budgeted for seasonal employees to specifically get tasks done. Sural suggested having the punch lists passed on to the village board and then possibly they would get done. Weber stated every month the same things are wrong with parks and feels things do not get done. DiBenedetto suggested all parks members should write how many hours they need, and most organizations have in writing what is expected.
8. PROGRAM SUPERVISOR REPORT Mother‐Son bowling went well and was a pleasant surprise. The 3‐5 time slot was a lot of younger children. Great donations from local businesses. A thought for next year is breaking up the time with ages. Easter Egg hunt is almost sold out. Quilty expressed help for the parade and hunt. Hettich reminded Quilty the American Legion Color Guard would be there to lead the parade. Quilty stated the fire department was asked to have less trucks in this parade. Flade asked if the parade was going to be silent to test run for a silent 4th of July parade. The farmers market area is getting a makeover. Weber asked who owns that land. Quilty responded with Parkway, and they gave permission to use the lot. Maritza is looking to buy flower troughs to make the lot more appealing.
9. FINANCIAL REPORT – For periods Ending
10. Next Meeting –April 19th, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. at Jensen Park for a walkthrough
Other Business: Flade questioned the walking path by AUGS that has been flooded for two weeks. Hartman asked if Dawn and Maritza will be coming to future meetings. Is it possible to have a temperature liaison at parks meetings? Quilty stated if anyone has questions about the lawyers’ parks board contract, please email her.
Adjournment:
There being no further discussion, Member Hartman moved, seconded by Member Flade to adjourn the Park Commission meeting at 8:06p.m.
https://www.antioch.il.gov/download/Commissions/Park%20Commission/Minutes/2023/03-15-23-Park-Board-Minutes.pdf
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