quote:

Originally posted by Candidate:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by gotrocks:

But since you went off on a tangent regarding pete. Those items you listed are good things to do. He’s a good boy scout.

I am really hurt. I seemed to have fallen from a Moses to a Boy Scout.

The Boy Scouts would say it's a promotion.

Does this surprise anyone? The only prerequisite for being on the board is residency. No special skills required! No experience necessary! Will train!

quote:

Originally posted by Dinsdale:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by 4MP:
That said, perhaps it is more important about how boards listen collectively, rather than individually. On all but the smallest matters, it seems that our boards are set up to defend a position rather than listen to ideas that could improve upon it. ...

I agree wholly. And what strikes me as especially curious is that in their defense, they generally seem unable to present the clear and convincing evidence that supported what they wish to present as a well-thought out decision. Instead, the "defense" primarily seems to be "The decision has been made. You are too late. Get over it."QUOTE]

From a previous post in a different thread:
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.
[Quote] Candidate
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. [quote]
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Seems like at least one official has a clear thought pattern as to his decision process. You may not agree with it, which is your right, but there are compelling reasons listed. Whether everyone else shares the same thoughts is unknown if they do not communicate effectively.

The problem is, the Park District has opening admitted to not really knowing if they need soccer fields and even stating that they don't have evidence to support the need for more fields.

There are some who have talked with water retention specialists who claim that the fields will likely be too wet during the times they might be needed anyway.

It's a waste to cut down these trees.

Gotrocks = Candidate

It is his alter ego on the board like Fan has his 30 different log-ins.

Amy, it is just another typical day in Glen Ellyn, lies, black eyes, and now we can add "flat our refusal to reverse something that should be stopped based on the fact that it is too late to change directions." but that is too long to fit on my little signature image.

quote:

Originally posted by Amy:
The problem is, the Park District has opening admitted to not really knowing if they need soccer fields and even stating that they don't have evidence to support the need for more fields.

But Rob considers it compelling that Pete recalls the PD as having identified such a need back in 2003. Add to that the technical explanation that 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.

Don't know about the rest of you, but that explanation sure falls far short of what I consider adequate, let alone compelling. If the need for additional soccer fields and water retention were credibly identified years ago, then it should be no problem producing the evidence upon which such determinations were made, instead of relying upon one individual's recollections.

Hell, this town's public institutions seem to require less documentation and explanation than my family expects around the dinner table!

quote:

Originally posted by Amy:
The problem is, the Park District has opening admitted to not really knowing if they need soccer fields and even stating that they don't have evidence to support the need for more fields.

There are some who have talked with water retention specialists who claim that the fields will likely be too wet during the times they might be needed anyway.

It's a waste to cut down these trees.

This plan is a recycled idea that they tried at the SPARC about 3-4 years ago. Knock down a bunch of trees, create a detention pond and put in some soccer nets. They finally took the nets away as the grass grows in patches at best. Never saw anyone ever play a soccer game over there, just an occasional practice.

quote:

Originally posted by Dinsdale:


Hell, this town's public institutions seem to require less documentation and explanation than my family expects around the dinner table!

Maybe they will start issuing building permits in that manner.

"I remember that I built a house like this once before, so I don't think we really need blueprints!"

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Rio:

quote:

Originally posted by Dinsdale:


Hell, this town's public institutions seem to require less documentation and explanation than my family expects around the dinner table!

Maybe they will start issuing building permits in that manner.

"I remember that I built a house like this once before, so I don't think we really need blueprints!"

For all you know ...

Ouch!

Ran across this interesting tidbit on the D41 history page:

2001
Voters approved a $0.55 per $100 increase in the educational fund rate to provide additional teachers for a growing enrollment, art and music, foreign language and social services.

The school district, the Village of Glen Ellyn, the Glen Ellyn Park District and the DuPage County Department of Transportation entered into an agreement to construct an expanded parking lot, an access drive, bus loop and storm water detention at Churchill School.


Anyone know how that is working out for them?

The stormwater detention area at Churchill School is the field behind and below the school. I helped coach a house league soccer team that used the field for practices for a few seasons. My recollection is that there was water there during part of the spring season but not during the fall. It's been a few years, though, so I might not be remembering correctly. We always had enough dry field to hold a practice, but it wasn't a very good field for playing soccer.

thanks for sharing...

Notification I received today:

1. The GE Park District is holding a special meeting with Ackerman Woods on the agenda this Tuesday, June 3 at 7 p.m. at the Spring Avenue Recreation Center. At the last meeting, they refused to even discuss Ackerman, so this is a positive step. It is possible that they will save our woods at this meeting- so please come and show your support.

2. We need you to tell the park district to save the woods at their next meeting. Send off a quick e-mail. Some board members still believe that a majority of residents support this plan. Show them this isn't so! We need to get hundreds of emails to the park board before Tuesday night. They have individual email addresses now:
w.taylor.gepd@gmail.com, e.hess.gepd@gmail.com, j.jourdan.gepd@gmail.com, w.dallman.gepd@gmail.com. s.minogue.gepd@gmail.com, k.schoen.gepd@gmail.com, jsesto@gepark.org.

And copy your emails to:
CAtwell@gepark.org

3. We need more members of our community to sign the petition: see the link at http://www.saveackermanwoods.com. If you haven't signed it yet, please do. We also need you to circulate the petition information around to all of your neighbors, friends, and family.

4. The next Village Board meeting is Monday, June 9 at 8 p.m. at the GE Civic Center. The Village has accelerated the awarding of bids for the destruction Ackerman Woods to this meeting. We need to prevent the bids from being awarded! If the Park District hasn't withdrawn from the project by then, we will need a huge crowd there to sway the Village board.

For more information please visit: www.saveackermanwoods.com