Meeting Briefs: Frankfort Park District Board for June 10, 2025

The Frankfort Park District Board of Commissioners discussed a legal dispute with the Five Oaks homeowners association over park development rules at its Tuesday meeting. Executive Director Gina Hassett reported that the district’s attorneys are working to remove park land from the HOA’s governing rules. The board also reviewed the successful launch of its summer programs, including the 25th annual “Short Run on a Long Day” race.

In other business, progress on the Fort Frankfort playground continues, while the new Splash Pad has experienced some minor mechanical issues since opening.

Here are other actions taken at the meeting:

Fort Frankfort Playground Nears Completion: The Fort Frankfort playground project is on track to be completed around Labor Day. Staff reported a ship date of June 12 has been set for key components, and communication from the state indicates that funding checks will be cut soon. Superintendent of Building and Grounds Edward Newton said the contractor has been “great” and is keeping a close eye on the progress.

Board Approves Over $380,000 in Expenses: Commissioners unanimously approved accounts payable and payroll totaling $380,744.89 for the period ending May 31, 2025. Superintendent of Finance Regina Ross-Ellison gave an overview of the larger expenses, which included costs for a new mowing company, a shipping container, fire alarm contracts, and supplies for Butternut Park. She also noted that staff is currently working on the fiscal year audits.

New Splash Pad Experiences Minor ‘Glitches’: The district’s new splash pad, which opened in late May, has experienced a few minor operational issues, including a cracked pipe and sensor problems. During the Building and Grounds report, the board discussed how equipment could be breaking after only two years of use and noted that the warranty on the system’s valves was for 12 months.

Park District Destroys Old Closed Session Recordings: In a routine governance measure, the board approved the destruction of audio and video recordings from closed sessions held more than 18 months ago. This action is performed semi-annually as required by the Illinois Open Meetings Act. The destroyed records were from meetings held in March, April, September, and October of 2023.

Longtime Mechanic to Retire: The park district will soon be hiring a new Mechanic/Crew Worker. The job posting comes as longtime employee Dave Gow prepares to retire in July. Superintendent Edward Newton confirmed he has a plan to allocate Gow’s duties after his departure and that a replacement should be available quickly.