Will County Board Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners met Dec. 19

Jim Richmond, District 4 (R - Mokena) | Will County Board Website

By Philip Gonzales

Jan 27, 2025

Will County Board Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners met Dec. 19.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

I. CALL TO ORDER

Meeting was called to order by Secretary Mitchell at 8:58 AM.

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Secretary Mitchell led the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. INVOCATION

Secretary Mitchell introduced Commissioner Brooks, Pastor of St. John's Missionary Baptist Church in Joliet, to deliver the invocation.

IV. PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATE OF MAILING AND CERTIFICATE OF PUBLICATION

Presentation of Certificate of Mailing and Certificate of Publication was put on file.

V. ROLL CALL

Attendee Name

Title

Status

Arrived

Judy Ogalla

Vice President

Present

Steve Balich

District 4 (R - Homer Glen)

Present

Herbert Brooks Jr.

District 6 (D - Joliet)

Present

Jackie Traynere

District 11 (D - Bolingbrook)

Present

Denise E. Winfrey

District 6 (D - Joliet)

Present

Joe VanDuyne

District 1 (D - Wilmington)

Present

Julie Berkowicz

Treasurer

Present

Sherry Newquist

District 3 (D - Steger)

Present

Sherry Williams

District 5 (D - Crest Hill)

Present

Raquel M. Mitchell

District 9 (Bolingbrook)

Present

Mica Freeman

Secretary

Present

Frankie Pretzel

District 12 (R - New Lenox)

Present

Katie Deane-Schlottman

District 1 (R - Joliet)

Present

Daniel J. Butler

District 3 (R - Frankfort)

Present

Jim Richmond

District 4 (R - Mokena)

Present

Vince Logan

District 7 (R - Joliet)

Present

Mark Revis

District 8 (R - Plainfield)

Present

Attendee Name

Title

Status

Arrived

Destinee Ortiz

President

Present

Elnalyn Costa

District 11 (D - Bolingbrook)

Present

Dawn Bullock

District 7 (Plainfield)

Present

Kelly Hickey

District 10 (R - Naperville)

Present

Ralph Schultz

Executive Director

Present

Tracy Chapman

Deputy Director

Present

Bryan Kopman

Attorney

Present

Lisa Lukasevich

Director of Finance

Present

VI. INTRODUCATION OF THE NEWS MEDIA

There were no media present.

VII. ADOPTION OF THE ORGANZATIONAL RULES

1. Approval of the Forest Preserve District of Will County Organizational Rules

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]

MOVER: Destinee Ortiz, President

SECONDER: Joe VanDuyne, District 1 (D - Wilmington)

AYES: Ogalla, Balich, Brooks Jr., Traynere, Winfrey, VanDuyne, Berkowicz, Newquist, Williams, Mitchell, Freeman, Pretzel, Deane-Schlottman, Butler, Richmond, Logan, Revis, Ortiz, Costa, Bullock, Hickey

VIII. NOMINATIONS FOR ELECTION OF TEMPORARY PRESIDENT

1. Motion to Approve Secretary Mitchell as Temporary President

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]

MOVER: Destinee Ortiz, President

SECONDER: Judy Ogalla, Vice President

IX. NOMINATION FOR ELECTION OF PRESIDENT OF THE FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT

1. Motion to Appoint Julie Berkowicz for the First One Year Term and Jackie Traynere for the Second One Year Term

RESULT: DEFEATED [10 TO 11]

MOVER: Joe VanDuyne, District 1 (D - Wilmington)

SECONDER: Kelly Hickey, District 10 (R - Naperville)

AYES: Brooks Jr., Traynere, Winfrey, VanDuyne, Newquist, Williams, Freeman, Costa, Bullock, Hickey

NAYS: Ogalla, Balich, Berkowicz, Mitchell, Pretzel, Deane-Schlottman, Butler, Richmond, Logan, Revis, Ortiz

2. Motion to Appoint Destinee Ortiz for the First One Year Term and Judy Ogalla for the Second One Year Term

RESULT: APPROVED [13 TO 8]

MOVER: Mark Revis, District 8 (R - Plainfield)

SECONDER: Frankie Pretzel, District 12 (R - New Lenox)

AYES: Ogalla, Balich, Brooks Jr., Berkowicz, Mitchell, Freeman, Pretzel, Deane Schlottman, Butler, Richmond, Logan, Revis, Ortiz

NAYS: Traynere, Winfrey, VanDuyne, Newquist, Williams, Costa, Bullock, Hickey

X. NOMINATION FOR ELECTION OF OFFICERS OF THE FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT

1. Motion to Appoint Mica Freeman as Secretary

RESULT: APPROVED [19 TO 2]

MOVER: Joe VanDuyne, District 1 (D - Wilmington)

SECONDER: Judy Ogalla, Vice President

AYES: Ogalla, Brooks Jr., Traynere, Winfrey, VanDuyne, Berkowicz, Newquist, Williams, Mitchell, Freeman, Pretzel, Butler, Richmond, Logan, Revis, Ortiz, Costa, Bullock, Hickey

NAYS: Balich, Deane-Schlottman

2. Motion to Appoint Dawn Bullock as Treasurer

RESULT: DEFEATED [10 TO 11]

MOVER: Joe VanDuyne, District 1 (D - Wilmington)

SECONDER: Elnalyn Costa, District 11 (D - Bolingbrook)

AYES: Brooks Jr., Traynere, Winfrey, VanDuyne, Newquist, Williams, Freeman, Costa, Bullock, Hickey

NAYS: Ogalla, Balich, Berkowicz, Mitchell, Pretzel, Deane-Schlottman, Butler, Richmond, Logan, Revis, Ortiz

3. Motion to Apppoint Julie Berkowicz as Treasurer

RESULT: APPROVED [19 TO 2]

MOVER: Mark Revis, District 8 (R - Plainfield)

SECONDER: Frankie Pretzel, District 12 (R - New Lenox)

AYES: Ogalla, Balich, Brooks Jr., VanDuyne, Berkowicz, Newquist, Williams, Mitchell, Freeman, Pretzel, Deane-Schlottman, Butler, Richmond, Logan, Revis, Ortiz, Costa, Bullock, Hickey

NAYS: Traynere, Winfrey

4. Motion to Recess Meeting for Five Minutes

RESULT: APPROVED [13 TO 8]