Horner Park Advisory Council
Meeting Minutes
Jerry Giese, President, called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. Larry Brown acted as secretary for this meeting.
Previous Minutes: September minutes were passed by acclamation. Jerry is to bring the October minutes to the December meeting.
Treasurer’s Report: Elaine Taylor delivered the Treasurer’s report. The balances are as follows:
- Checking Account: 4,063.35
- Savings Account: 4,144.82
- CD’s 0
- Totals $ 8,208.17
Elaine reported that the $1,500.00 Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Grant has been received. All of the designated funds are running at a surplus except the “Other Parks” fund which currently showing a negative balance. The general fund is currently showing a balance of less than $ 400.00.
Announcements: The Northside Parents Network is holding an open house at the end of November. Horner Park will be holding a Turkey Shoot on November 20th, from 6-7:30. This event is a child/parent basketball competition. Turkeys, pies and other prizes will be awarded to the winners. Veteran’s Day events will be held city wide at all CPD parks.
Council Business: The CPD held budget hearings at Horner Park on November 4th. The Horner Park Baseball Association announced that they have established a fund to raise money for lighting one of the baseball fields. Currently they have $120,000 committed from the Alderman. HPAC was represented by Jerry Giese and Anne Rozmin. A letter of recommendation has been sent to the Boy Scouts of America giving the councils support to Jake Peters on his impending Eagle Scout award. Congratulations Jake.
Concert Committee: no report
Garden Committee: Susie Novak reported that her last day on the CPD payroll was today November 4th. She will continue for the next few days finishing winterizing the gardens. Susie has planted new mums other assorted bulbs in the gardens. Susie once again was able to procure free bulbs from her work at her son’s school.
Park Briefs: Dale Marie Grandys, North Region Supervisor, were representing the Horner Park Staff and CPD.
Horner Park: Dale is going to verify the species of crab-apple trees located in the front of the Henry Horner Memorial with the forestry department. Also, Dale will work with the electrical department to determine where the electrical lines for the ground lights are located in this area. Several of these trees have been removed over the years and the council would like to move forward with redoing this area and in the spring. Representatives form Gordon Technical High School will be invited to our December meeting. Dale has contacted the CPD to look into possible resurfacing of the Montrose tennis courts.
Ravenswood Manor Park: The four new planters located at the north end of the park along Manor have been planted. New dirt has been added to fill in around them. Mums and assorted perennials were planted. Salt resistancy was kept in mind on these choices.
Buffalo Park: More perennials and mums were added to the planters.
Jacob Park: Perennials and mums were added to the gardens. The craft-mobile will be scheduled to visit the park again next summer. A CPD concert will also be scheduled for next summer.
Sunken Garden Park: A neighborhood clean up took place on November 1st.
Horner Park Riverbank Initiative: Bob Megquier, CPD, was to contact Mary van Haften, CPD, to have her come to the council’s February meeting to discuss the HPRI. Bob Foster, CPD, has volunteered to give updates to the council in regards to the HPRI. Kirsten Buczak, USACE, will also be contacted to attend the February council meeting.
New Business: John Lyman addressed the council concerning the Horner Park baseball fields. John is a member of one of the softball teams that plays at the park. John would like to lend support and be a liaison between the softball league and the council. This conversation brought up several points of interest. Recently, the Horner Park Baseball Association has begun raising funds to finance the installation of lighting for one of the diamonds. Alderman Mell has apparently committed funds out of the 33rd Ward menu money for this. Concerns were raised that the condition of the fields should be considered before spending money on the lighting. Due to the continued settling of the ground at Horner Park, the baseball field’s condition has regressed over the years. Several ways in which this could be done were explored. Realignment of the existing layout to spread fields apart. Regrading of all the fields. Removal of concrete anchors used for the goal posts by Gordon Tech High School’s football program. It was recognized that the diamonds were in better condition this year than in the past. The council discussed the possibility that the CPD may want to consider improving the fields which would enhance the safety of the players using the fields.
Adjournment: Larry Brown moved to adjourn the meeting Elaine Taylor seconded the motion and all agreed.
Jerry thanked those in attendance and the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Larry Brown
Roster of those in attendance: Jerry Giese, President; Larry Brown, Secretary; Elaine Taylor, Treasurer; Susie Novak; Dale Marie Grandys, North Region Supervisor, CPD; Jake Peters; John Lyman; Kevin Anderson; Woody Haynes
