quote:

Originally posted by PETOT:

• A new $600,000 Safety Village, a replica of Glen Ellyn's downtown area. We currently have a sufficient Safety Village for the kids. This is pointless waste of money.

quote:

Originally posted by PETOT:
After a long absence from the Bulletin Board, I offer the following....

To My Fellow Glen Ellyans,
April 5th presents a very important election for Glen Ellyn residents. I am supporting Kathy Cornell, Gary Mayo and Richard Dunn for the Park District Board.

The following are strictly opinions of my own:
"The Roof Is Still Leaking"
That phrase is symbolic of the bad decisions that have been made by some members of the current Park District board. Of course I am referring to the new Ackerman Sports Complex on the north side of town. Some of you may remember my previous email documenting the gross expansion of the project beyond its original scope. (please call me if you need a refresher on the details).
The roof has been leaking since the building was finished and to my surprise, after one year, it continues to leak. Can you say "Glen Ellyn Public Library"?
Mistakes happen, yes, however, four of the PD commissioners have chosen to fore go the follow-through on the roof repair to instead focus on new spending!!

Yes, the Ackerman roof issue has been absent from the park board meeting agenda in favor of the following projects:
• A new $600,000 Safety Village, a replica of Glen Ellyn's downtown area. We currently have a sufficient Safety Village for the kids. This is pointless waste of money.
• A new $350,000 "Warming House" for platform tennis users at Maryknoll. The PD will pay $200,000 and borrow $150,000 from the pro-platform tennis people. The PD agreed to pay them back in two years. This will require a non-referendum increase in YOUR taxes.
We don't have the money !!!

Decisions to spend on new projects instead of maintaining our current PD facilities continue to amaze me. Why build a platform tennis warming house when Ackerman's roof is still leaking??
The Boat House is a mess, our parks and athletic fields need maintenance and upkeep. Each time we have an opportunity to secure open land, the current board votes to build on it!

Of greater concern is that after one year of operation, the Ackerman Sports Complex is in the red. First-year revenue was $70,000, however, after deducting credits for employee discounts, it is actually $50,000. That is a 1/2 % (yes one-half) return on investment on our $11 million project- nice. Incidentally, the project started out at $6.5 million but the board added another $4 million non-taxpayer approved dollars to the project. The interest payment on just the $4 million is $90,000. We do not have the money.....not good. This does not include the payback on the initial $6.5 million principle and interest payments - Heaven help us !
Flashback - The Ackerman project was 13th on a 13-item wish list survey of 60% of the PD households. Government should NOT be involved in business in the private sector. Glen Ellyn has four other fitness facilities.

Fantastic Four - Commissioners Ed Hess, Sandra Minogue, Bill Dallman and Ron Aubrey have consistently voted down the pragmatic suggestions of commissioners Mellisa Creech, Julia Nephew and Jay Kinzler. IT IS PAINFUL TO WATCH !! The Fantastic Four also blocked the motion to air the PD meetings on YouTube. This could be done for about $800 per year. Transparency ???

The Fantastic Four have ABUSED their responsibility to we, the taxpayers. They are poor stewards of our tax dollars and have failed to properly prioritize.

Now is the time to change the balance. Ed Hess is intending to keep his seat in this election (He does not deserve another term). Ms. Minogue is done and Mr. Dallman has chosen not to run. Mr Aubrey has time remaining on his term.

We need to stop the bleeding (and the leaking)!
Join me in voting for Cornell, Mayo & Dunn on April 5 for Glen Ellyn Park District Board Commissioners.

Also, As you probably know, Candidate Galvin offers more of the same indigestion.

Please spread the word. (I missed the newspaper deadline).

Jim Markby (PETOT revealed)
630-816-4015

quote:

Originally posted by southge:
Holmes on Holmes.