Carbondale Reporter

Marion City Park District Board of Commissioners met Sept. 26.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1. Call to Order

President Gott called the Regular Meeting of the Marion Park District to order at 6:05 p.m. with the following Commissioners present:

Commissioner Gardiner

Commissioner Sheffler

Commissioner McReynolds

Commissioner Welch

Commissioner Gott

2. Open Forum

a. Girl Scout Troop # 8068 presenting their idea for a donation to the Marion Park District. A member of Troop # 8068 is trying to obtain their Bronze Award with the Girl Scouts.

Tracy Brush, Miyah Brush, Aryan Adams, and Heather Knutt from Girl Scout Troop # 8068 presented to the Board of Commissioners the idea of donating 2 benches to the Marion Park District. Miyah has been collecting bottle caps so these benches can be made. There has been a total of 800 lbs. of bottle caps collected and it takes 100 lbs. for each bench. The bench will be 4 feet long and is made of plastic. Miyah has spent 30 hours cleaning all of the bottle caps. The benches should be delivered on October 12, 2023, and Miyah will receive her Bronze Award once that is complete. Commissioner Gott asked what they were doing with the remaining bottle caps and asked Director Reed if we took them can we use it to order other benches throughout the park.

3. Approval of September 26, 2023, Agenda

Commissioner Gardiner made a motion at 6:16 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Welch to approve the September 26, 2023, agenda. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.

4. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes: August 22, 2023.

Commissioner McReynolds made a motion at 6:17 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Welch to approve the August 22, 2023, Regular Meeting minutes. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.

5. Approval of August 2023 Financial Report.

Commissioner Gott asked Director Reed if there was anything that he wanted to discuss in the financial report. Director Reed states that right now we are living on old money and will not see any money from property taxes until at least December 1, 2023. We have cut back on expenses and as of August we are running about 8.7% on expenditure for 2 months.

Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 6:27 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner McReynolds to approve the August 2023 Financial Report. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.

6. 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.

7. Commissioners Reports

Commissioner Gott asked the other Commissioners if there was anything to report to Director Reed regarding the Parks. None of the Commissioners had anything to report.

8. 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 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 6:50 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Sheffler to go into Executive Session. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.

9. Reconvene to Open Session (possible actions following Executive Session)

Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 7:02 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Gardiner to approve reconvening into Open Session. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.

10. Old Business

a. Discuss / Approve publishing a press release regarding the award of the Energy Transition Community Grant.

Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 7:03 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Welch to approve publishing a press release regarding the award of the Energy Transition Community Grant. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.

b. Approval of the July 2023 Financial Report.

Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 7:05 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Gardiner to approve the July 2023 Financial Report. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.

c. Approval of Executive Session minutes from March 28, 2023, April 25, 2023, June 27, 2023, and July 25, 2023, to remain closed with or without exception.

Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 7:06 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Welch to approve the Executive Session minutes from March 28, 2023, April 25, 2023, and June 27, 2023, to remain closed without exception. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.

11. New Business

a. Discuss / Approve revision to the Employee Handbook adding the holiday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday (pg. 20).

Commissioner Gardiner made a motion at 7:07 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Sheffler to approve the revision to the Employee Handbook adding the holiday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.

b. Discuss / Approve 3rd year payment (final payment) to Anthony Rinella for the purchase of the Batting Cages in the amount of $5,000.00, payable in October 2023.

Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 7:07 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner McReynolds to approve the 3rd year payment (final payment) to Anthony Rinella for the purchase of the Batting Cages in the amount of $5,000.00, payable in October 2023. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.

c. Discuss / Approve the FY2024 amended Budget and Appropriations Ordinance 23-04.

Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 7:10 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Welch to approve the FY2024 amended Budget and Appropriations Ordinance 23-04. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.

d. Discuss / Approve naming the home field dugout on Field # 7, Jack Fletcher home field dugout.

Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 7:13 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Welch to approve naming the dugout on Thompson Street on Field # 7 the Jack Fletcher Memorial Dugout. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.

12. Next Meeting Date: October 24, 2023

13. Adjournment

Commissioner Gardiner made a motion at 7:16 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Welch 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. 

https://www.marionparks.com/2023/10/25/meetin-minutes-september-26-2023/