Will County Forest Preserve District Finance Committee met Aug. 31.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
A. CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Traynere called the meeting to order at 9:13 AM.
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Fritz led the Pledge of Allegiance.
C. ROLL CALL
Herbert Brooks Jr. District 8 (D - Joliet) Present
Jacqueline Traynere Vice Chair Present
Tom Weigel District 12 (R - New Lenox) Present
Annette Parker District 9 (R - Crest Hill) Present
Gretchen Fritz District 5 (R - Plainfield) Present
Tyler Marcum Treasurer Absent
Meta Mueller District 5 (D - Aurora) Present
Joe VanDuyne President Present
Rachel Ventura Vice President Present
Julie Berkowicz District 11 (R - Naperville) Present
Margaret Tyson District 3 (D - Bolingbrook) Present
Sherry Newquist District 1 (D - Steger) Present
Raquel M. Mitchell District 3 (R - Bolingbrook) Absent
Mica Freeman Secretary Present
Natalie Coleman Chair Absent
Frankie Pretzel District 12 (R - New Lenox) Present
Ralph Schultz Executive Director Present
Hannah Lamore Attorney Present
Tracy Chapman Deputy Director Present
Lisa Lukasevich Director of Finance Present
Andrew Hawkins Director of Conservation Present
Colleen Novander Director of Planning and Preservation Present
Denise Steffen Director of Information Technology Present
Cindy Cain Public Information Officer Present
D. SCHEDULE OF BILLS
1. Schedule of Bills - August 2022
RESULT: APPROVED [10 TO 0]
MOVER: Tom Weigel, District 12 (R - New Lenox)
SECONDER: Meta Mueller, District 5 (D - Aurora)
AYES: Brooks Jr., Traynere, Weigel, Parker, Fritz, Mueller, Berkowicz, Tyson, Newquist, Pretzel
ABSENT: Marcum, Mitchell, Coleman
NOT VOTING: VanDuyne, Ventura, Freeman
E. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Minutes of August 3, 2022
RESULT: APPROVED [10 TO 0]
MOVER: Herbert Brooks Jr., District 8 (D - Joliet)
SECONDER: Meta Mueller, District 5 (D - Aurora)
AYES: Brooks Jr., Traynere, Weigel, Parker, Fritz, Mueller, Berkowicz, Tyson, Newquist, Pretzel
ABSENT: Marcum, Mitchell, Coleman
NOT VOTING: VanDuyne, Ventura, Freeman
2. Executive Session Minutes August 3, 2022
RESULT: APPROVED [10 TO 0]
MOVER: Herbert Brooks Jr., District 8 (D - Joliet)
SECONDER: Julie Berkowicz, District 11 (R - Naperville)
AYES: Brooks Jr., Traynere, Weigel, Parker, Fritz, Mueller, Berkowicz, Tyson, Newquist, Pretzel
ABSENT: Marcum, Mitchell, Coleman
NOT VOTING: VanDuyne, Ventura, Freeman
F. OLD BUSINESS - NONE
G. NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval of Ordinance No. 625 Amending the Forest Preserve District of Will County Procurement Ordinance
RESULT: APPROVED [10 TO 0]
TO: Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners
MOVER: Meta Mueller, District 5 (D - Aurora)
SECONDER: Annette Parker, District 9 (R - Crest Hill)
AYES: Brooks Jr., Traynere, Weigel, Parker, Fritz, Mueller, Berkowicz, Tyson, Newquist, Pretzel
ABSENT: Marcum, Mitchell, Coleman
NOT VOTING: VanDuyne, Ventura, Freeman
2. Approval of Resolution No. 22-14 Authorizing License Agreement No. 22-12 with Cornerstone Services, Inc.
RESULT: APPROVED [9 TO 0]
TO: Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners
MOVER: Meta Mueller, District 5 (D - Aurora)
SECONDER: Gretchen Fritz, District 5 (R - Plainfield)
AYES: Brooks Jr., Traynere, Weigel, Fritz, Mueller, Berkowicz, Tyson, Newquist, Pretzel
ABSTAIN: Parker
ABSENT: Marcum, Mitchell, Coleman
NOT VOTING: VanDuyne, Ventura, Freeman
3. Approval of Resolution No. 22-16 Authorizing the Acquisition of Parcel SDP1A1 in the South Des Plaines River Resource Area
RESULT: APPROVED [10 TO 0]
TO: Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners
MOVER: Sherry Newquist, District 1 (D - Steger)
SECONDER: Tom Weigel, District 12 (R - New Lenox)
AYES: Brooks Jr., Traynere, Weigel, Parker, Fritz, Mueller, Berkowicz, Tyson, Newquist, Pretzel
ABSENT: Marcum, Mitchell, Coleman
NOT VOTING: VanDuyne, Ventura, Freeman
4. Approval of a Collective Bargaining Agreement with IUOE Local 150
Page 3
Minutes Forest Preserve District Finance Committee August 31, 2022
RESULT: APPROVED [10 TO 0]
TO: Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners
MOVER: Meta Mueller, District 5 (D - Aurora)
SECONDER: Sherry Newquist, District 1 (D - Steger)
AYES: Brooks Jr., Traynere, Weigel, Parker, Fritz, Mueller, Berkowicz, Tyson, Newquist, Pretzel
ABSENT: Marcum, Mitchell, Coleman
NOT VOTING: VanDuyne, Ventura, Freeman
5. Approval of Employee Benefits as Negotiated by the Government Insurance Network
RESULT: APPROVED [10 TO 0]
TO: Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners
MOVER: Tom Weigel, District 12 (R - New Lenox)
SECONDER: Meta Mueller, District 5 (D - Aurora)
AYES: Brooks Jr., Traynere, Weigel, Parker, Fritz, Mueller, Berkowicz, Tyson, Newquist, Pretzel
ABSENT: Marcum, Mitchell, Coleman
NOT VOTING: VanDuyne, Ventura, Freeman
6. 2023 Draft Budget
Executive Director Schultz presented a preliminary 2023 Budget for the Corporate Fund, the Construction and Development Fund, Debt Service Fund, and Other Funds.
Based on the Committee's direction and future estimates of the County's EAV and new construction, the 2023 budget will be scheduled for further review in October and revised with a tentative budget ordinance. Final approval of the 2023 Appropriation and Budget Ordinance and 2022 levies are scheduled for November.
Highlights of the 2023 draft budget include:
➢ Total projected revenues are $21,173,240. This is an increase from 2021. Which includes a $1,850,000 of fund balance reserve drawdown in the Corporate Fund.
➢ With respect to property taxes, it is projected that 78.50% of the District's revenues will come from real estate taxes totaling $16,620,540.
➢ The Capital Projects Fund 33 is used to account for major capital projects to the District’s facilities and preserves with respect to those projects not funded using previously issued bond proceeds. Projects that receive any type of federal or state funding are also accounted for in Fund 33.
➢ With respect to proposed expenditures, the Personnel category accounts for 58.68% of the 2022 budget (well below the average of other municipalities).
➢ The total anticipated expenditure on Personnel is expected to be $12,423,281.
➢ The Infrastructure Maintenance and Replacement Program includes a $450,000 transfer from the Corporate Fund. This is an increase of $150,000 from 2022 Budget.
➢ The District is fully funding its Vehicle Replacement Fund (VRF). Staff has appropriated $391,175 in the 2023 budget. Executive Director Schultz stated that continuing to fully fund this program will ensure that future budgets are not negatively impacted by an aging and inefficient vehicle fleet.
➢ The District has appropriated $75,000 to be transferred into the Computer Replacement Fund, which is consistent with last year’s contribution.
➢ Pursuant to GASB Statements No. 74 and 75, it was determined that the Annual Required Contribution into OPEB should be a minimum of $314,053. Staff has appropriated $400,000 in the 2023 Budget. Currently, the District’s retiree health insurance trust fund has more than $2.8 million set aside for retiree health benefits.
The staff recommends moving forward with the Preliminary 2023 Budget as presented. The Preliminary 2023 Budget is balanced with an anticipated 2.62% decrease in the District’s overall property tax rate from the previous year.
H. EXECUTIVE SESSION
No closed session occurred on August 31, 2022
I. REPORTS
1. Next Meeting Date - Wednesday, October 5, 2022 immediately following the Operations Committee Meeting but no earlier than 8:45 AM at the Sugar Creek Administration Center, 17540 W. Laraway Road, Joliet, Illinois
J. COMMENTS BY PUBLIC
No comments were received.
K. COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONERS
L. ADJOURNMENT
1. Meeting was adjourned at 9:52 AM
RESULT: APPROVED [10 TO 0]
MOVER: Meta Mueller, District 5 (D - Aurora)
SECONDER: Herbert Brooks Jr., District 8 (D - Joliet)
AYES: Brooks Jr., Traynere, Weigel, Parker, Fritz, Mueller, Berkowicz, Tyson, Newquist, Pretzel
ABSENT: Marcum, Mitchell, Coleman
NOT VOTING: VanDuyne, Ventura, Freeman
https://willcountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=12&ID=4374&Inline=True
Alerts Sign-up