Here’s what’s going on at the Elmhurst Park District |
| The Elmhurst Park District Board held a regular meeting on Dec. 2 at the park district’s administrative office at 375 W. First Street. All seven board members attended the meeting.
Health, dental contracts discussed, updated Board members voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda for the meeting, which included the authorization of a renewal contract for 2016 for group medical insurance for park district employees with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois’ Blue Directions Program. The contract is projected to cost the district $801,000. The district’s annual group medical insurance contract is up for renewal at the end of 2015. The park district’s current provider is Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL). The district has held a contract with BCBSIL for the last 16 years. The district’s 2015 expenditures for medical insurance for 62 employees are projected to be about $663,000. The medical insurance cost for the same 62 employees for the upcoming year is projected at about $707,000. The 2016 contract includes an additional cost of about $94,000 to include coverage for two new full-time positions, as well as eight part-time employees who work over 30 hours per week. Those part-time employees are eligible for coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The new contract agreement will allow employees to select from a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), three traditional Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) and a PPO with a Health Savings Account. Each of the options will offer different levels of coverage and cost. Commissioners also voted unanimously to renew the district’s annual group dental insurance contract with Delta Dental, which is up for renewal on Jan. 1, 2016. The renewed contract calls for 2016 will cost approximately $72,000, which reflects no increase from 2015. The district has held a contract with Delta Dental since 2009. Budget set for approval Dec. 16 The Dec. 2 meeting also included continued discussion of the district’s proposed budget for 2016. Board members spent a majority of their previous meeting (on Nov. 18) discussing the proposed budget for the district’s upcoming fiscal year, which begins on Jan. 1, 2016. The board is expected to vote to approve the budget at its next meeting on Dec. 16. The continued budget discussion at the Dec. 2 meeting included additional information on the 2016 budget for Sugar Creek Golf Course, which has projected revenues of $1,055,735 and projected expenses of $1,055,626. Question about debt related to SCGC Commissioner Patricia Morissette-Moll noted that Sugar Creek Golf Course continues to carry debt. Executive Director Jim Rogers responded that the course does still have debt, with issuance payments remaining for about the next 10 years. Rogers said that in 2015, the course’s parent entities—the Elmhurst Park District and the Village of Villa Park—will not have to contribute to those debt payments, as the course generated enough of an operating net revenue this year to cover the expense. Update on storm water detention plans The meeting also included a brief discussion of the park district’s ongoing negotiations with the City of Elmhurst regarding the city’s plans to install storm water detention facilities at park district sites, including York Commons. Rogers said at the Dec. 2 park district board meeting that the city and district are close to reaching an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) covering the terms of the district’s construction of a storm water detention facility at York Commons. Board members voted unanimously to approve the board’s proposed meeting dates for 2016. The board typically meets twice a month. The first meeting of next near will take place on Jan. 13, 2016. The board will hold its final meeting of 2015 on Dec. 16. |
