12. 1b MCHENRY COUNPl' CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 22, 2021 1.0 CALL TO ORDER The scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees of the McHenry County Conservation District was called to order at 5:07 p. m. by President Henning on the evening of Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The meeting was available for public access in-person and through ZOOM communications platform. The meeting was recorded and posted on YouTube with an accessible link the following morning at www.MCCDistrict._org. 2.0 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The pledge was led by President Henning. 3.0 INTRODUCTORY ROLL CALL 3. 1 Roll Call Trustees Present: John Henning, President Dave Brandt, Vice President Bill Cook, Treasurer Carolyn Campbell, Secretary Linda Thomas, Trustee Pat Fritz, Trustee Chris Dahm, Trustee Special Guests: Illinois Senator Wilcox, 32"d Legislative District Illinois House Representative Steve Reick, 63rd Legislative District Illinois House Representative Suzanne Ness, 66th Legislative District Michael Buehler, McHenry County Board Chairman Counsel & Staff Present: Ketli Wegner, County Board Liaison Andrew Paine, Attorney Renaldo "Rey" Gayton, Jr., Trustee Appointee Elizabeth S. Kessler, Executive Director John Kremer, Director of Operations & Public Safety Andy Dylak, Director of Administration & Finance Ed Collins, Director of Land Preservation & Natural Resources Wendy Kummerer, Director of Marketing and Education StephanieMichael, IT Specialist (Remote) Gabe Powers, Natural Resources Project Coordinator Becky Lambert, Education Services Manager Amy Peters, Planning Manager Sara Denham, Wildlife Resource Center Manager Brad Woodson, Natural Resources Manager Brenna Ness, Agricultural Services Coordinator (Remote) Perry Weborg, Sites and Fleet Manager Megan Lee, Executive Administrative Assistant 06. 22. 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 10 Others Present: Kevin Ivers, President, McHenry County Conservation Foundation Board of Trustees, Trustee Emeritus Bonnie Leahy, Trustee Emeritus Martie German, Trustee, McHenry County Conservation Foundation Dave Kranz, Trustee Emeritus Pete Merkel, Trustee Emeritus Becky Gillam, District Director for Senator Donald P. DeWitte Hannah Cook, District Director for Representative Suzanne Ness Melissa Sanchez-Fischer, Illinois Senate Republican Caucus 4.0 CONSERVATION ETHIC Treasurer Cook read the Conservation Ethic and Goal tfb aloud. 5.0 CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE Vice President Brandt read the Conservation Stewardship Pledge No. 1 aloud. 6.0 ADOPT THE AGENDA A motion was made by Secretary Campbell, seconded by Vice President Brandt, to adopt the agenda. A roll call vote gave the following results: Dahm-yes, Campbell-yes, Cook-yes, Fritz-yes, Brandt-yes, Thomas-yes, and Henning-yes. Motion passed unanimously. 7.0 SPECIAL RECOGNITION PRESENTATIONS/INTRODUCTIONS 7.1 Celebrating the District's 50th Anniversary 7. 1 a Illinois Senate Certificate of Recoanition - Presented by The Honorable State Senator Crais Wilcox (32nd LeEjislative District) Senator Wilcox congratulated the District on its 50th Anniversary. He stated he grew-up out east, and when he moved to Illinois, his father took him to Boger Bog Conservation Area often. He said he grew up in the outdoors and enjoys all McHenry County has to offer. He presented a Senate Certificate of Recognition from the 102nd General Assembly in celebration of the District's 50th Anniversary. He said the General Assembly extends its congratulations and best wishes to the McHenry County Conservation District Board, employees, volunteers, and the entire McHenry County community. Becky Gillam, District Director for Senator Donald P. DeWitte was present, and she explained the Senator sends his congratulations to the District on its 50th Anniversary. She stated she is excited to be present and representing the Senator at this celebration. 7. 1b Illinois House Resolution No. 238 - Presented by The Honorable State Representatives Steven Reick (63rd Leeislative District) and Co7 Sponsored by State Representatives Suzanne Ness (66th Leaislative District), Tom Weber (64th Legislative District), Martin McLaughlin 52nd Legislative District) and Dan Uaaste (65th Legislative Djstnct} Representative Reick said he wants to congratulate the District on 50 years of doing great work for the county. He explained that he visits the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Northern Minnesota annually for vacation, and it is good to know 06. 22. 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 10 that there is something in McHenry County that can remind him of his visits to Minnesota. He stated his appreciation of where we live in McHenry County, and said this county is beautiful and the District has done a great job maintaining open spaces. He asked for Resolution No. 238 be drafted by the Illinois House of Representatives to congratulate the Board, organization, volunteers, and all the hard work staff has done in retaining the beauty of McHenry County for 50 years. He congratulated the District on a job well done. President Henning read a letter sent on behalf of Representative Daniel J. Ugaste congratulating the District on its 50th Anniversary celebration and that he was proud to co-sponsor Resolution No. 238. 7. 2 Coneratulatinsi Executive Director Elizabeth S. Kessler on Receiving the Robert Artz Lifetime Achievement Award throuah Illinois House Resolution No. 155 - Presented by The Honorable State Representative Suzanne Ness (66th Lesislative District) Representative Suzanne Ness said when she was on the McHenry County Board, she met Executive Director Kessler and was very impressed by all she has done for the County and throughout her career. She explained when she became a State Representative and saw that Executive Director Kessler was the recipient of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association Robert Artz Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual conference, she wanted to honor her for the work she has done. She explained she wrote Illinois House Resolution No. 155 honoring Executive Director Kessler, and thanked Executive Director Kessler for everything she has done and all of her efforts preserving natural open space in the county. 7. 3 Welcome New Emolovees 7. 3a Brenna Ness - Agricultural Ecoloaist Natural Resources Manager Woodson introduced Agricultural Services Specialist Brenna Ness. He explained she came from a small District in Delaware and has a tremendous amount of experience in the area of Agricultural Services. Agricultural Services Coordinator Ness introduced herself to the Board and stated she is excited to be working for the District. President Henning introduced McHenry County Board Chairman Michael Buehler. Chairman Buehler explained he has been an avid user of all the District properties throughout the years. He said after he was sworn in as the County Chairman, one of the first meetings he had was with Executive Director Kessler and Board President Henning introducing themselves. He said the District has some of the finest maintained trail systems he has ever seen. He congratulated the District on its 50th Anniversary. 06. 22. 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 10 8.0 TRUSTEES REPORT Nothing to Report. 9.0 COUNT/ BOARD LIAISON REPORT County Board Liaison Wegener reported that in April, a resolution was passed at the County Board meeting recognizing the District's 50th anniversary. She congratulated the District on behalf of the County Board. County Board Liaison Wegener explained that a recent law passed by Governor Pritzker has delayed redistricting of the county. The new maps will need to be introduced at the County Board meeting by November and passed by December. As a result, the primary election will now be delayed until June in order to provide more time for the mandatory signatures to be acquired by candidates. County Board Liaison Wegener stated McHenry County will receive over $60 million over the next two years from the American Rescue Act in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be multiple meetings to assess the best uses for the funds and noted the District's request for funding. County Board Liaison Wegener stated she and Chairman Buehlerjust came from one of two strategic plan meetings held by the County Board. It is a collaborate effort for the future vision of the county. One of the topics talked about was ecotourism and the impact the District has in that area. The Center for Governmental Studies from Northern Illinois University has been contracted to lead the County Board through the process. County Board Liaison Wegener thanked Trustee Brandt for all of his hard work serving the District for two terms of 5 years each. 10. 0 PRESIDENT'S REPORT President Henning had nothing to report. 11. 0 PUBLIC COMMENTS I President Henning asked members of the public in attendance if they would like to make a comment and gave them instructions to raise their hands in the ZOOM video communications platform and that their microphone would be unmuted. No comments were received. 12. 0 BOARD BUSINESS - CONSENT AGENDA 12. 1 Approval of Minutes of Previous Meetings 12. 1 a May 20, 2021 - Committee of the Whole 12. 1b May 25, 2021 - Regular Meeting 12. 1c April 15, 2021 - COWMeeting - Executive Session 12. 2 Acceptance of the Treasurer's Report 12. 2a Acceptance of the Treasurer's Report for May 31, 2021 as presented. 12. 3 Resolution #21-44, a Resolution awarding a contract to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, Nettle Creek Nursery, Inc. of Morris IL, for streambank stabilization of the Prairie Trail South, Crystal Creek Bridge for a cost not to exceed $60, 478. 00 (BID #0321. 09. 01 ). 12. 4 Resolution #21-45, a Resolution authorizing the Executive Director to execute a Joint Grassland Venture lease agreement on the 54*/' acre BOC-01 Parcel, located at Boone Creek Conservation Area, to Lima Grain Co., Inc. for a period of three (3) growing seasons from July 1, 2021 to October 31, 2023 (BIDfTO321. 08. 01). 06. 22. 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 10 12. 5 Authorization to prepare specifications and letting of bids for the purchase of unleaded, diesel and propane fuels for a contract period of one year, beginning September 1, 2021 (BID #0621.