by Melanie Jongsma
LANSING, Ill. (May 24, 2020) – On Monday, May 18, the Board of the Lan-Oak Park District held their first meeting since February 17, 2020. With programs, activities, classes, facilities, parks, and playgrounds closed in March in response to Governor Pritzker’s stay-at-home order, the Board did not have enough business to conduct meetings in March or April, and they were cancelled.
The May Committee of the Whole meeting was cancelled, but the Board gathered for the regular Board meeting at 7:00pm in the lobby of the Eisenhower Fitness Center, which allowed more space for distancing than the usual meeting room.
The 20-minute meeting consisted mainly of routine approvals—of the upcoming Park Board meeting schedule, the Lan-Oak Park District coronavirus workplace policy, and various Treasurer’s Reports.
Also on the agenda was an action item to elect Park Board officers. Commissioner John Kelly nominated Commissioner Bob Tropp to serve as President of the Board in the upcoming year. Commissioner and current President Jim Long nominated himself to continue in the role of President. After some discussion of earlier plans to rotate the presidency, possible changes a new President might make, and Long’s commitment to the Park Board vs. other elected office, the nominations were closed, and the Board voted to retain Long as President. Tropp was elected as Vice President.
After questions from Commissioner Micaela Smith about the timing and process of introducing other possible options to serve as legal counsel, Treasurer, and Secretary, the Board elected to retain the entities currently serving:
- Tressler, LLP as legal counsel to the Park Board
- The Meekins Group as Treasurer to the Park Board
- Senior Superintendent Sharon Desjardins as Secretary to the Park Board
The Lan-Oak Park District Board of Commissioners typically meets on the third Monday of each month at the Eisenhower Fitness Center, 2550 178th Street, Lansing, Illinois.
