Up for discussion at tomorrow night's board meeting:

Motion to waive competitive bids and approve the purchase of replacement chairs for the Glen Ellyn Civic Center from Kreuger International of Green Bay, Wisconsin through the U.S. Communities Purchasing Agreement, at a not-to-exceed cost of $31,230, to be expensed to the FY 08-09 Facilities Maintenance Reserve Fund.
This purchase replaces chairs used in the Civic Center’s third-floor Workshop and Board Room, which have been in use since 1993 and are increasingly showing wear from their years of use. The proposed chair replacements would match interior floors and finishes redone in 2006, and would be purchased at a discounted price through the U.S. Communities Purchasing Agreement.

That just raises all sorts of questions...

"U.S. Communities Purchasing Agreement" does not Google very well - not many hits and none on the program itself. One hit makes it appear to be nothing more than a form for contracting.

And how many chairs are we trying to buy for $31,230?
Sixty Herman Millers? 625 wooden chairs? 1200 plastic?

There's a reason it's hard to follow along...

I did find this: Krueger/US Communities

Tonight, I cannot believe I will not be able to make this!

Dear Members and Friends:

Below is an email I just received from Melissa Creech Updating the status of Save Ackerman Woods:

1. Thanks to all of the public outcry about the plan to destroy Ackerman Woods, the Village/Park District project is already being delayed. Bid packages have not been released yet, even though they were scheduled to be ready by now. We need to keep up the pressure to turn the delay into a halt of the project and permanent protection for the woods.

2. At the last Village Board meeting, President Hase and several board members indicated they they would like to hear new ideas from the Park District. At the last Park District Board meeting, President Taylor agreed to think about meeting with Ms. Hase. We'll be at the Village Board meeting Monday, May 12 at 8 p.m. at the Civic Center to put pressure on the Board to agree to meet with the Park District about saving Ackerman Woods. Join us- large numbers of supporters make a big impact!!

3. We now have a petition! Sign the Save Ackerman Woods petition at https://petitiononline.securesites.com/gewoods/. Everyone is welcome to sign!

4. At the last GE Park District board meeting, we presented evidence from the soccer board meetings that the boards didn't need new fields and that the soccer enrollment numbers are actually decreasing. When asked about this, the Park District board president admitted that they would just like the new fields. Even the park district president realizes that there is no NEED for more soccer fields, they just want them. Don't put unneeded soccer fields in our woods!

For more information please visit our website at www.saveackermanwoods.com.

Fantastic development! I'll sign.

quote:

Originally posted by BlueEchoes:
4. At the last GE Park District board meeting, we presented evidence from the soccer board meetings that the boards didn't need new fields and that the soccer enrollment numbers are actually decreasing. When asked about this, the Park District board president admitted that they would just like the new fields.

Sounds like the PD hired the same facilities/enrollment researchers as D41!

If anyone is reading this and can text someone at the meeting, President Hase and our Attorney are stating that the Ackerman Park agreement was entered into 5 years ago and that they cannot do anything about it without risk of being sued.

While that may be true, I found this online in the Agenda for a Village Board Meeting on November 13th:

Motion to approve an engineering services agreement with A. McGurr, Ltd. of Wheaton for the design of the North Regional Stormwater Management Facility, in the amount of $50,000 (including a 14% contingency), to be expensed to the FY 07-08 Capital Projects Fund.
This action initiates the next stage of development for a proposed regional stormwater detention facility to be located at Ackerman Park. In September 2007, the Village Board approved an agreement with the Glen Ellyn Park District for the design and construction of a stormwater basin near the Riford Road entrance into Ackerman Park to handle runoff generated from areas primarily in the Five Corners area, including Park District and commercial properties. As a continuation of professional services already rendered, A.

McGurr, Ltd. will perform design work leading to the preparation of final cost estimates and bidding documents. The proposed project will include the construction of two soccer fields. The final engineering and stormwater report will be ready for submittal by mid-January 2008. Construction is slated for the spring of 2008

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This was voted on with our current Village Board and it passed.

I lived adjoining Ackerman Park for 35 years. It was about 5 years ago that the PD decided to put soccer fields on what you are all calling Ackerman Woods. Their decision has never changed, just the timing. The 2 fields would be where there is now a water retention area next to Riford Road at the entrance to the park. During wet weather, the land would still be used for water retention, with the soccer fields being unused until they dry out.

You may not be aware that about 2 years ago there was a very large retention area built just behind the tree line at the end of Lenox Road. You can't see it in the summer once the leaves are on the trees.

Now that the majority of Lenox Rd. belongs to the PD they have decided to go forward. My question is still "Where were you all 5 years ago when all this was first happening?" Everyone wants to save the trees, but they are all what I would consider weed trees. Most are dying, dead or just brush. The PD is still giving you open space.

What you should now be considering is when are they going to build in the park. When the land for Ackerman Park was first aquired, (Yes, I lived there before it was a park, just land that a developer wanted to put PUDs on.)it had to be put to referendum and was voted on to aquire it for open space. IMO, it should go to referemdum to change the usage of the land that we voted to leave open space.

Good luck with the fight, although from experience, I think you are fighting a losing battle.

It is really unpleasant in there. But people like trees. Period. It's a shame that those that are crying so loudly now never once thought to take a stroll through those woods in the past and help them when they needed it. Really an ugly situation in AW...despite Mr. Dykes phenomenal photos. Where were the C4GEP organizing a clean up? Where were the petition signers clearing brush? I signed the petition, but I really wonder why people care right now...they obviously didn't over the last few decades that were fraught with neglect. Where were the tree huggers then? It is obvious from St. Charles Rd. that there something amiss with this parcel.

Before I walked through AW, I always thought Ickey Woods was a former Cincy NFLer. Now I know differently. I'm all for saving the area. The plan seems particularly odd to me. Glen Ellyn needs more soccer fields....pshaw.

quote:

Originally posted by JustAResident:
If anyone is reading this and can text someone at the meeting, President Hase and our Attorney are stating that the Ackerman Park agreement was entered into 5 years ago and that they cannot do anything about it without risk of being sued.

While that may be true, I found this online in the Agenda for a Village Board Meeting on November 13th:

Motion to approve an engineering services agreement with A. McGurr, Ltd. of Wheaton for the design of the North Regional Stormwater Management Facility, in the amount of $50,000 (including a 14% contingency), to be expensed to the FY 07-08 Capital Projects Fund.
This action initiates the next stage of development for a proposed regional stormwater detention facility to be located at Ackerman Park. In September 2007, the Village Board approved an agreement with the Glen Ellyn Park District for the design and construction of a stormwater basin near the Riford Road entrance into Ackerman Park to handle runoff generated from areas primarily in the Five Corners area, including Park District and commercial properties. As a continuation of professional services already rendered, A.

McGurr, Ltd. will perform design work leading to the preparation of final cost estimates and bidding documents. The proposed project will include the construction of two soccer fields. The final engineering and stormwater report will be ready for submittal by mid-January 2008. Construction is slated for the spring of 2008

--------------------------

This was voted on with our current Village Board and it passed.

JAR
You are correct, the work to actually do the design work was voted on by the current board. The decision to mutually benefit from the use of the land, with the Park District, was entered into 5 years ago.
It is unfortunate that there will be trees removed in order to facilitate this project but many facilities we all now enjoy today had to have trees removed in order to accomplish them. Our own Lake Ellyn and the new developments at the Morton Arboretum would not have happened if it were not for the removal of some trees. The Park District identified back in 2003 that they needed more soccer fields. Their programs as well as private programs and local school districts now have a greater need for fields for soccer, lacrosse and rugby.
Demands that did not even exist 5 years ago.
One travel team quit playing at Ackerman because they could never get games scheduled when they wanted to.
On the technical side of things, the need for water retention in this area was identified years ago when Staceys Corners was a thriving area and the future re-development both public and private that is desperately need to give life back to this part of town will benefit us all.
Rarely do municipalities get the opportunity to benefit the community as a whole for so little dollars. The idea to use the area for soccer fields and occasional water retention was really quite clever.

We will all get through this.
It is a good thing that residents can publicly speak up if they oppose an issue.

A right itself worth fighting for.

I have not really gotten involved in this whole situation because, well, I'm already sticking my nose into enough stuff. But I did sign the petition. I signed because I am concerned that we keep losing more and more GREEN/wooded spaces (we seem to have a decent amount of open space). I don't know where I was five years ago when this agreement happened but I didn't know about it. Basically, the whole thing seems sort of unnecessary. Now, cleaning up those woods - that seems necessary. Perhaps the Save Ackerman Woods people will get a group together to clean it up so that what glory there may be can actually be appreciated? (Especially if they are able to convince the PD and Village that the woods should stay -- and maybe they should offer to clean it up and help keep it maintained...though I think it's a shame that the PD has left all that crap sitting there too.)

You more than signed the petition! You filled the damn thing up!

5 years ago, I was living in another town. We moved here 3.5 years ago and when I went to the village to pick up our welcome packet, they must have neglected to give us the "history of Glen Ellyn book" that had the most up to date information on every single solitary thing that was currently happening, or has happened in this town. Unfortunately, people have lives and cannot keep their thumb on the pulse of every project the village has in the works. I believe once the people found out something was going on, they started to do something about it. Why did most of us come in late to the meetings on the TBS trainwreck? Well, because we didn't know it was happening.

quote:

Originally posted by Candidate:

We will all get through this.

Yes WE will, but unfortunately, the trees and creatures inhabiting the place will not.

Thanks, Candidate. As you know, I am not on either side of the issue. Listening last night, I just felt misled by comments made by the President. Thanks for clarifying.

quote:

Originally posted by JustAResident:
Thanks, Candidate. As you know, I am not on either side of the issue. Listening last night, I just felt misled by comments made by the President. Thanks for clarifying.

Well, that is par for the course, isn't it? If you would get the Glen Ellyn village president magic eight ball, that will clear that up for you.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BlueEchoes,

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:


Where were the petition signers clearing brush? I signed the petition, but I really wonder why people care right now...they obviously didn't over the last few decades that were fraught with neglect.

You signed the petition. How come you weren't out there clearing brush? Why do you care now? Where have you been the last few decades?

For the Village Attorney to state that the project to cut down the trees was locked into 5 years ago is not true.

All the Village had was an option for the existing retention pond at 5 corners to sell it at a fixed price to the current developer of that lot(a Famous Area Car Dealer)- this is the money they will use against the new retention pond and soccer fields at Ackerman.

The Village could have kept the existing pond. Also if no other alternative existed and the Board had already decided 5 years ago, then why last nights vote?

Again we are being presented with a charade and disingenuous statements in order to ram through something against the desires of the citizens. The real power behind the scenes here may be those politically powerful individuals in control of the sports leagues - don't be surprised to see baseball and football acquire more playing fields when Ackerman gets expanded and redivided. Soccer may just be the red herring.

nicely stated jombl

The deal to sell the existing retention pond at a fixed rate to the developer happened around Thanksgiving last fall.

The Daily Herald reported the proposal on November 7, 2007.

The sale of the existing retention pond was reported by the Daily Herald on November 22, 2007.


See, everyone had ample opportunity to save Ackerman Woods. Obviously it just wasn't important enough to anyone during Thanksgiving when it really happened. Next time if you think you might care about something, anything, even - be sure to attend all the meetings and read ALL the fine print.

Oh, and don't forget all the committees and sub-committees, the Village Board is loathe to vote against already discussed and approved items.