Horner Park Advisory Council
Meeting Minutes
Anne Rozmin, as president, called the meeting to order at 7:35p.m. Larry Brown acted as secretary for this meeting.
January Minutes: Alan Mueller moved to accept the January minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Larry Hodak and was passed unanimously.
Treasurer’s Report: Anne Rozmin, in Elaine Taylor’s absence, delivered the Treasurer’s report. The balances are as follows:
- Checking Account: $ 2,636.15
- Savings Account: 1,899.07
- Buffalo Park Mon. CD’s 2,000.00 (2 @ $1,000.00)
- Totals $ 6,535.22
The two CD’s were rolled over as they had matured.
Announcements: On January 23, 2001, The Friends of the Parks held their 26th Annual meeting. HPAC was awarded the Park Advisory Council Award. This award was presented to HPAC for improving Manor Park Playlot. There to receive this award were Chris Drane and Cynthia Brown, representing HPAC’s Manor Park Playlot Renovation Committee, along with Anne Rozmin and John O’Connell. Many thanks to Friends of the Parks and those who served on this committee. Anne Rozmin will once again donate her time on February 15, 2001, to aid in the judging of the CPD’s Junior Citizen Program at Independence Park. On Friday, February 9, 2001 Horner Park will hold the Daddy/Daughter-Mommy/Son Dance. Horner Park Summer Camp registration will be held on Saturday April 7, 2001. The Chicago Park District’s Capital Improvement Budget Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 8, 2001. The National Audubon Society has chosen Horner Park as an observation site to study trees used by bird species during migration. This will be one of many sites in the area. Two articles from the NY Times, the first titled “Visions of Parting a Sea of Concrete With a Unifying River Greenbelt” from January 27, 2001 and the second titled “Field Guide. Check. Binoculars. Check. Lobbyists. Soon?” from the National Section dated February 4, 2001, were presented.
Horner Park Advisory Council Business: Terry Sweeney, Park Supervisor, provided the Council with the receipt for the Job Box for Manor Park. Terry also forwarded the latest Advisory Council Guidelines and the 2001 Advisory Council Directory. Two Portable bathroom facilities were approved for the 2001 Manor Park Concert Series. A new circuit breaker for the electrical outlets at the Manor Park pergola has been approved and should be installed prior to the first concert. A new flower box will be installed between the benches along the Eastwood sidewalk at Manor Park, as it was originally presented. (Lets hope it goes in the correct place this time.) At the CPD Maintenance Budget Meeting, Susie Novak, our garden caretaker, was officially reinstated. Their help in this matter is appreciated. The HPAC newsletter is scheduled for distribution in mid March.
Garden Committee: Susie Novak presented the Garden Committee Report. There will be a Horner Park Spring Clean Up on Saturday, March 31, 2001, 9am-12pm. There will be a Manor Park Spring Clean Up on Saturday, April 21, 2001. Everyone is welcome and needed for both dates. Susie is looking forward to continuing the improvements to our gardens this year.
Concert Committee: John O’Connell presented the Concert Committee Report. The following seven performance dates were established at the Concert Committee’s January 24th meeting. Regular performances will be held on 06/17/01, 07/01/01, 07/15/01, 07/29/01, 08/26/01. In addition The Manor Bash will be held on 08/12/01 and the Talent Show will be held on 09/09/01. An approximate budget has been established at $ 5,100.00 for the entire series. The talent show will be reformatted this year, in addition to the local participants, we will conclude the evening with a paid performance.
Horner Park Riverbank Initiative: The report was presented by Mike Emerson. Mike met with Duane Kowalski, Bob Smalley and Frank Veraldi from the Army Corps of Engineers at Horner Park. Their assessment of the riverbank and accompanying survey, confirmed that the Corps is very interested in this project. They mentioned that out of the three projects that they are currently considering funding, The Horner Park Riverbank Initiative, is looking very positive. Their focus is to improve water quality and aquatic wildlife. The Corps would like us to consider the previously discussed windmill concept for bringing river water up to the park level. Also, they would like to be more aggressive in the reshaping of the riverbank. After discussions with all agencies involved in this endeavor, Mike has reconfigured the budget to have the construction implemented in one phase rather than over five phases. This will bring the budget down to
$3,129,000 from $ 5,250,000, a savings of $ 2,121,000. The current budget figures are of the $3,129,000, Army Corp of Engineers would pay 65% and 35% would be split between the Chicago Dept. of the Environment, our local sponsor, and other state and local funding. There will be a separate budget of $ 672,000 for non-environmental improvements paid for by the Chicago Park District. Mike will be presenting this new budget to State Congressman John Fritchy and State Senator Lisa Madigan, who are assisting us in finding further funding.
Horner Park: Terry Sweeney, Park Supervisor, informed the council that the lighting project has been completed. However, a problem with the electrical supply has surfaced, this is possibly due to work by Com Ed in the area. John O’Connell brought to the attention of the council, the fact that the CPD trash cans have been removed from Manor and Buffalo Parks. Terry Sweeney suggested that the council or individuals may want to write letters to the CPD to expedite a new waste disposal contract which has expired. Until a new contract is set up, there will continue to be a lack of trash cans and disposal of garbage.
Adjournment: Anne Rozmin thanked all those in attendance and the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Larry Brown
Roster of those in attendance: Anne Rozmin, President; Larry Brown, Co-Secretary; Terry Sweeney, Park Supervisor; Larry Hodak; Susie Novak; Alan Mueller; John O’Connell; Mike Emerson.
