DeKalb Times

DeKalb County Forest Preserve Operations Committee met Aug. 29.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Forest Preserve Operations Committee of the DeKalb County Board met at the Legislative Center’s Freedom Room in Sycamore, Illinois on Thursday, August 29, 2024. Chair Roy Plote called the meeting to order at 6:00pm. Those Members present were Mary Cozad, Meryl Domina, and Stewart Ogilvie. A quorum was established with four Members present, one Member present via phone, and one Member absent. As of August 21, 2024, the Committee has one vacancy.

Forest Preserve Superintendent Terry Hannan and County Board Chair Ellingsworth Webb were also present.

Mary Cozad moved to allow Member Ben Haier attend the meeting via phone. Meryl Domina seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously by voice vote.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Ogilvie moved to approve the agenda as presented. Cozad seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

It was moved by Cozad, seconded by Ogilvie and was carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the July 25, 2024 Forest Preserve Operations Committee Meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no public comments.

PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSIONS

Mr. Hannan asked the Committee for a consensus in supporting the Building Shabbona Together (BST) application for the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant. DeKalb County Forest Preserve Natural Resource Manager Josh Clark brought the project forward to Mr. Hannan for enhancing Purdy Park in the Village of Shabbona. Purdy Park was established in June 2022 as a welcoming space where residents can come together in their community. A unanimous nod of yes was given by the Members present in support of a letter signed by the DeKalb County Forest Preserve District to the OSLAD Grant Committee.

Mr. Hannan reported there was a Pop Up Nature event called Bee Friendly Landscaping held today at the Sycamore Forest Preserve. Staff from the DCFPD, Natural Resource Conservation Services, and DeKalb County Soils and Water Conservation District were on hand to explain ways you can support pollinators in your yard and try your hand at native landscape design. In addition, Forest Preserve staff were giving away three different kinds of plants they grew from seed collected at Potawatomi Woods.

Mr. Hannan shared he receives many cards, emails, and phone calls with compliments to our forest preserves. He read the latest one referencing the staff and volunteers who work out in the forest preserves and seeing them take such pride in their work.

Mr. Hannan explained the DCFPD will be closing soon on the purchase of land for acquisition from Doug Adkins. This will complete the last corridor section of the Genoa to Kingston Trail (G2K Trail).

RESOLUTION FP-R2024-012—A Resolution Placing the FY2025 Budget on File for Public Inspection.

The Forest Preserve Superintendent, County Comptroller and County Administrator have assembled the FY2025 budget and levy information which the Forest Preserve Committee will be using to review budget requests of the Forest Preserve District. As part of the budget process, the Forest Preserve Budget must be on file for public inspection before it may be adopted by the Forest Preserve Commissioners on November 20, 2024. Resolution FP-R2024-012 places the FY2025 Budget, as well as information utilized by the Committees in preparation of the 2025 Fiscal Year Budget, on file in the DeKalb County Clerk’s Office, on the County’s Internet site, and at two other geographically diverse public offices (the Sandwich City Hall and the office of the Genoa City Clerk), for public inspection.

It was moved by Domina, seconded by Ogilvie and approved unanimously to forward FP-R2024-012 to the Forest Preserve District Board. Those voting yea in a roll call vote were Cozad, Domina, Haier, Ogilvie, and Chair Plote. None were Opposed. Motion carried unanimously.

RESOLUTION FP-R2024-013—A Resolution Appointing Timothy Neubert as DeKalb County Forest Preserve District’s Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Authorized Agent.

As an IMRF participating employer, DeKalb County Forest Preserve District is authorized to appoint an Authorized Agent who has certain statutory powers and duties related to IMRF. Due to the Forest Preserve District sharing services with DeKalb County Government, the County Administrator has traditionally served as the IMRF Authorized Agent for DeKalb County Forest Preserve District. With the establishment of a formal Human Resources Department in 2024, it is recommended that Timothy Neubert, the County’s Human Resource Manager, be appointed as the IMRF Authorized Agent.

It was moved by Cozad, seconded by Ogilvie and approved unanimously to forward FP-R2024-013 to the Forest Preserve District Board. Those voting yea in a roll call vote were Cozad, Domina, Haier, Ogilvie, and Chair Plote. None were Opposed. Motion carried unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

None

ADJOURNMENT

Oglivie moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:25pm. Haier seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.

https://dekalbcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/packet-fp-09262024.pdf