Good morning.

Good morning.

The meeting of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County will come to order.

Will the Secretary please call the role?

Thank you, ma'am.

Commissioner Aguilar.

Commissioner Naya.

Present.

Commissioner Britton.

Here.

Commissioner Daly.

Commissioner Degnan.

Commissioner Gaynor is excused.

Commissioner Laurie.

Present.

Commissioner McCasco.

Commissioner Miller.

Miller here.

Commissioner Moore.

Commissioner Marita.

Commissioner Kevin Morrison.

Commissioner Sean Morrison.

Commissioner Scott.

Present.

Commissioner Stamps is excused.

Commissioner Trevor.

Commissioner Vasquez.

Madam President, we do have a quorum.

All members present with the exception of excuse absences for Commissioner Gaynor and Commissioner Stamps.

There is a quorum.

Thank you.

All right.

Chair and I.

And ma'am, there's no remote participation.

All members are present.

I'll turn it.

Excuse me.

Since there's no remote participation.

I believe Commissioner and I is recognized for the consent calendar.

Is that right?

We're gonna do land acknowledgement, ma'am.

Page two of the script, and Commissioner Scott has been identified.

Thank you.

The Forest Preserve of Cook County acknowledges that we are on the land of the Council of Three Fires.

The Ojibwa, the Ottawa, the Pottawatomi, as well as the Miami, Hochunk, Monomy, SALK, and Muskwakes people.

As a land management agency, we acknowledge that we have played a role in shaping the histories of local Native Americans by acquiring this land.

We also recognize, share, and celebrate the immemorial ties to this land.

We commit ourselves to developing deeper partnerships that advocate for progress and dignity and humanity of these diverse Native Americans who still live and practice their heritage and traditions on this land today.

Thank you.

Chair and I.

Yes, Madam President.

I'd like to uh motion to approve the consent calendar items.

It says 26-0229 celebration of the career and uh honoring retirement of Teresa Odom.

26-0235 of proposed resolution uh recognizing April 22nd, 2026 as Earth Day for the Forest Preserves of Cook County, and item 260245, recognizing Brookfield Zoo uh Chicago's volunteer program and um volunteer program and the volunteers thank you motion to pursue excuse me to approve the consent calendar shall we begin to say something about the Madam President So I'd like to address and honor uh Chief Teresa Odom.

Um she has served in law enforcement for the past 35 years, started as patrol officer with the Chicago Police Department, and then uh served as a security detail for the Cook County State's attorney.

She began her tenure with the Forest Preserves in 2019 as Chief of the Security Detail for Madam President, and then she was appointed to the chief of police in 2021.

Chief Odom has been instrumental in leading initiatives that moved the Forest Preserve closer to becoming a Model One law enforcement uh department and her impact will leave a lasting mark on this agency.

She has updated policies, procedures, and mandatory training, and she's modernized our resources and tools.

She has nurtured officer wellness through mental wealth awareness initiatives and established peer-to-peer support programs for officers that work on difficult and traumatic uh cases.

She's worked with colleagues at the sheriff's office to build trust and implement the treatment response team.

She supported in the implementation of the good PACs uh program to provide care packages and additional support for unhoused individuals.

She's oversaw the public engagement and outreach activities by ensuring that our officers are present and attend uh forest preserve events through other departments.

She's consistent and uh on providing positive ratings to our customer satisfaction surveys.

And personally, as new to the Forest Preserves, when I came in here, what I valued most is his continued leadership, but her no nonsense straight talk.

She's been able to ensure that I have a full understanding of her department.

And uh, you know, let me know when uh things things need to be addressed, which I've uh deeply valued and appreciated, especially uh I feel like in sometimes in government we can dance around the the items, but I don't have to worry about that with uh Chief Odom.

So, Chief, I uh I want to say thank you um for your continued service.

You'll be deeply missed here at the Forest Preserves and all that you've done.

Uh it's been an honor to work with you, and I want to give you a moment here to invite you up to kind of say a few words as well.

Before Chief Odom speaks, are there any members of the body who would like to say something?

How to begin with Commissioner Nine?

Thank you, Madam President.

Chief Odom.

Um I was quite sad to hear that you were retiring.

Um you are um you have been just so tremendous um to hear uh from um all of the initiatives that you're doing, especially specifically the mental health and wellness of of the workforce um that you are um you know in charge of.

I had um one of the first um great conversations that I had when I became uh chair of finance for the forest preserve was with you right outside of our um one of our um meetings that we had at um at one of the camp locations.

Um and you were so great at talking so highly of your team and the people that are that work at the Forest Preserve.

And I appreciate that because it takes a great leader not only to seek greatness within their workforce, but also do something uh to help them.

So I just commend you for all of the work, uh, not only here at the Forest Preserve, but your very long career in which you've been able to excel.

So congratulations, and we're gonna miss you.

I'm sure you won't go too far, but um we're we're very grateful that you spent so much time here in Cook County and in our Forest Preserves.

Thank you, Madam President.

Chief, let me join in congratulating you and thanking your you for your years of leadership within the various police departments.

During the resolution, a word that kept constantly come up came up was trust.

That is so important today.

The trust in government.

People and your team had trust in you, and I I wish you the best.

And um over the years I've seen you see you've seen a lot, and I remember your reports that you came and what you're looking for in new policemen, young policemen, police uh within the department, the diversity and what we needed and how they especially also is was referred to in mental health.

It is such a key that they get help.

And I congratulate you and wish you all the best.

Thank you, Madam President.

Chief Odom, um, congratulations for your for your service.

Uh, you will be missed.

Um one thing I really appreciate uh about your leadership style is you're not looking for a light to be shown on you.

You you just take the mission, the the purpose very seriously.

Uh you do so in an honest, straightforward way.

Uh you make sure that those that you are working with can trust your word and uh uh model themselves based on your own actions.

Uh you remind me of the quote great leaders ensure that every member of their team feels valued and appreciated.

And you live, uh you leave uh big shoes to fill.

Uh but I just want to say thank you.

Thank you for your leadership, your service.

We appreciate you.

Thank you.

Commissioner Britton.

Thank you, Madam President, members of the board.

Um Chief, I um remember so distinctly when you were uh brought on.

It was not long after I started in this job.

And I know that there were some challenges within the the force, and I know that you approached them head-on.

And you embraced the 10 shared principles that uh that I began with uh when I first became a commissioner.

And you've taken that beyond what I even I had uh have asked you to do, which is always a good sign in government uh when you take something and do an even better job than I expected, uh, and have focused on this model policing concept within the Forest Preserve.

So it really is uh I think held up as the exact kind of a place we want to have people work that deals with implicit bias, that deals with de-escalation, and that doesn't cause problems for all of us.

And that's something that we appreciate greatly, and you will definitely be missed.

But thank you for all the great years we've had.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Chief, I have not been working with you long, but what I do know from the time that we've worked together is your deep caring for the officers in which you work for and how they reflect the leadership that you bring to the table.

And that is always a sign of a great leader when folks in which follow you, you know, uh have that that great leadership to to ascend to.

And so uh I just wish you will in your next chapter uh and and appreciate all the work that you've done for the the county over the the tenure of your career.

Good luck.

Commissioner Dignon.

Thank you, Madam President.

Congratulations, Chief Odom, on your retirement.

It is well deserved.

Um, you know, you have been here in steering the forest preserves through many weighty important decisions.

You know, you got us through COVID and a lot of changing protocols and adoptions that needed to happen then.

We had changing ICE detention guidelines and about how the Forest Preserve would respond to that.

You had a number of state laws that have looked to look at the Forest Preserve police as different or the same or merging them into the Cook County Sheriff's Police.

And so taking the lead in conservation and policing gave you a really unique um place to stand, and I think that you threaded that needle beautifully.

So uh congratulations.

Um, I wish you all the best, and don't be a stranger.

Commissioner Miller Thank you, Madam President.

Uh thank you, T for being um a strong woman leader in a police department as well and showing the way for model policing.

It's been a great pleasure working with your office on those initiatives.

And thanks for always talking to us about how we can improve the report that comes out to make it look not only good from the standpoint of just a good report, but to highly show what your work is doing and what your team has been doing.

I think we've seen so many examples of what that looks like just because of your leadership on making sure that all the T's were crossed and I's were dotted.

So thank you for making sure that happens.

And that we will be able to continue to go on and show what model policing looks like from the example that you set here at the Forest Preserve.

And um, you've been a great leader, and I'm sure retirement might not be the only word you'll find out soon.

But uh I always say people who are busy don't really retire.

I feel you'll do something else, and we'll see you there.

But thank you for leading the way and continuing the greatness of your department.

If there are no further comments, Commissioner Mermita.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh, congratulations, Chief.

Um, you know, your leadership and and you know, just your own character has come through so clearly, and and the little bit of interaction that I've been able to have with you over the last four years.

From I remember coming onto the board and being like, we have a Forest Preserve police department.

Um, you know, but really seeing why that it is, and it's so unique and distinct in many ways.

And having had so many events, especially family-friendly events, uh mental health events in the forest preserve, your team has just been um so kind and and so um welcoming.

You can feel the culture of the organization that you've built.

Um, so thank you for that.

Thank you for the work that you've done and and really pushing around issues of mental health, and you know, of course, most recently, you you and your team and the forest preserve team helping save a life in my district.

Um, the work that you guys have done is really exemplary, and so thank you for your service.

Commissioner Shaw Morris.

Thank you, Madam President.

Chief, um one of the better parts about speaking towards the the end is that everything gets said ahead of time.

And I concur with all of those items that my colleagues have uh attributed to you.

Um as someone that lives like white right within the middle of the forest preserve itself.

I interact with your with your folks probably on a on a uh at least every other day basis.

They're driving past me, I'm driving past them.

I see them at all the different stops.

They do a tremendous job.

They're tremendous with with the public.

But the reason that happens is because it's driven from the top, right?

It's top down and down up.

Um and your leadership over this this past five plus years has certainly shown that.

Um and I want to commend you for a career with with uh the uh Chicago Police Department, which is near and dear to my heart, law enforcement in general, and you've done a job by being a leader, and you've done a job by being a compassionate leader to the men and women who who serve under you, so I thank you for that, and I wish you all the best.

Commissioner Trevor.

Uh thank you, madam president.

And once again, I'm echoing a lot of what's already been said.

Um congratulations on your retirement.

Uh as uh Commissioner Marina said, and Commissioner Miller said it's it's amazing that this um agency was led by a strong woman, and I truly appreciate that.

I'm the chief of police for the Forest Reserve.

Uh General Superintendent Bianchi and Commissioners.

And I just want to say thank you for all the kind words, and I really appreciate I really appreciate all that you all have allowed me to do for the Forest Reserve Police Department.

You've allowed me to make the decisions that we needed to make whether it was easy or whether it was hard.

And I want to thank all of my the officers and the sergeants and the commanders and deputy commanders that work with me, not for me, but work with me to make this department a better department.

And some of them are present here, so I just want to be able to take a picture with all of them and show them that we really appreciate it.

And I know I I I do know that and I am that's something I am working on, but I do I do realize that.

Commissioner Naya.

Yes, Madam President, I like to call attention to item twenty six six dash uh zero two three five.

The proposed resolution uh recognizing April twenty uh two, twenty twenty-six as Earth Day for the Forest Preserves of Cook County.

Um this resolution just was uh just brought up um to um ensure that we're very uh conscious on the forest preserve side regarding Earth Day and our pre uh precious resources that we have.

Um and also I know that Superintendent uh Bianchi is gonna go over this, but there are so many Earth Day events um that the Forest Preserve hosts every single year.

So I want to make sure, you know, to highlight some of those and um ensure that you know there's participation um from our constituents, but also you know, um us here in Cook County and that that work here.

So there's um some Earth Day crafts at Sandridge.

Um there's uh different celebrations like on uh April eighteenth, or day celebration at Sock Trail Uh Woods Central.

Um also uh day of stewardship for Earth Day.

Um, and there's many other that I know again um uh uh commission uh uh Superintendent uh Bianchi's gonna go over.

Uh but those are all in our agenda.

So um want to make sure to to highlight that and uplift that on the forest preserve side.

Thank you, Madam President.

I got thank you very much.

Thank you for Madame President.

I would recognize uh Joanna Black, a longtime zoo volunteer who is celebrating forty years of program, and she's a resident of Riverside, and also recognize uh Jennifer Bader, senior vice president of uh government affairs of the uh Brookview Zoo.

Thank you for being here.

I wouldn't recognize the uh volunteers long time volunteers here in Zoo.

Um just to be brief on this resolution.

Uh the zoo has been founded in 1934.

Uh and it's founded founded and located in our own forest preserve in 1972.

The adult program found uh started aimed to sort to bring a strong community kind of uh conservationist leaders that advocate for wildlife and nature.

Um there's more than two hundred two hundred and sixty volunteers to provide critical uh volunteer work for the zoo.

Um I also want to recognize a uh another uh uh volunteer uh some volunteers zoo volunteer program has is maintained active for over 40 years.

And with a volunteer Joanne, uh Joanne Conchola reaching her milestone of an of a fifty year anniversary in nine two in twenty twenty twenty-five.

Thank you for your service and your volunteer for the zoo.

Um is given high school students to get involved with conservative conversation um science uh scholars.

Um Brookview Zoo uh strives to offer accessible volunteer opportunities for people of all backgrounds and uh abilities providing combinations to ensure broad community participation.

Um so I want to recognize the zoo uh today in uh um April nineteenth to April twenty-five is the National Volunteer Appreciation Week.

So again, thank you on behalf of the board president and the board of commissioners.

Uh like this hereby recognize Brookview Zoo, Chicago for his volunteer program.

Um April April 2026.

So we could take a few pictures with uh Jennifer and some volunteers that are here from the zoo called take a few pictures with with the president.

Jennifer Volunteers come on up with the picture.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just want to uh thank Commissioner Aguilar for bringing this resolution.

This this resolution recognizes Zoo volunteers, but for me, our volunteers are truly ambassadors of the zoo.

Um it is often interaction with our ambassadors, which uh bring it brings families back.

It instills a deep and long lasting love for animals and our children.

Uh so I thank you each for being an ambassador.

Thank you.

I want to thank the Forest Preserves for this great honor.

And um for um I'm proud to be a volunteer of Brookfield Zoo, and I'm not retiring yet.

So as the manager of volunteers of a field to Chicago, I just want to thank all of you for recognizing our program and the immeasurable impact that our volunteers have in inspiring conservation leadership in Cook County and beyond.

Thank you, Jennifer C.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

I'd like to ask to leave to add all to these last two resolutions, Madam President.

Uh point of personal privilege.

I'd like um the Board of Commissioners to join me in congratulating Benjamin Cox, the executive director of Friends of the Forest on twenty-two years of service advocating for conservation and fighting to make our forest preserves a better place for everyone in Cook County.

Thank you.

All right, Commissioner Nyah.

Um public speakers.

The motion was put on the floor.

We've got to approve it.

Okay, yes.

So the motion was to approve the consent calendar.

All in favor.

Thank you.

We're now ready for public testimony, ma'am.

Yes, thank you.

Members of the public who wish to testify have up until 24 hours before the scheduled start of the meeting.

Speakers will have three minutes to address the body and will be alerted when time is one minute 30 seconds and when time is expired.

Translation services are available for this meeting.

If you need assistance, please put forth a request in the team's chat or see a staff member in the boardroom.

Persons authorized to provide public testimony shall not use vulgar, abusive, discriminatory, profane, or otherwise inappropriate language when addressing the body.

Written only comments provided prior to the start of the board meeting will be made part of the meeting record and available to the board members.

We have one speaker this morning, and that is George Blake Moore.

Good morning.

To the Citif of Cook County.

Procurement, jobs, illegal immigrants.

At the Forest Preserve.

A one-point system.

Who receiving these jobs?

Procurement, these contracts.

We see all of these black faces in high places, but at the bottom of the economic in a cash system of the blacks.

All these black elected officials, you look good.

You dress good.

Some of you speak good, but it's something toxic about your behavior.

Your people are not progressing.

The proof is in the pudding.

Yo, people are not progressing.

High crime, poor education, poverty.

Like you you walk around here with these suits and ties, you dress good.

But it's something wrong here.

It's something evil here.

Other people are getting ahead of black people here at in Cook County.

And we have all these elected officials.

Number one, who put them in office?

Who sponsored them?

The money.

Well, one of our elected officials was elected because they have a pack, a rich white folks is behind our black king folk.

And that's who they have to empower.

If it's not happening, I don't care how much I spit in this mic and go viral.

Nothing changes.

Something happened on the plantation.

Something happened to black people.

And it's a mental problem.

You look good, you speak good, but it's something toxic.

It's something unamerical.

And one thing that's wrong if a one-party system.

No chicken bowels.

And you didn't get elected of nothing.

They slated you, and you had a rich pet that back you.

But I'm leaving it up to black people.

But uh our problem if our problem.

And it's a mental problem.

Something happened to us on the plantation.

And we have this plantation mentality.

So again, uh, look how nice and quiet and sophisticated.

But who are you working for?

And time is exciting.

Black Mat Black Live Matter.

Be loud, Mr.

Madam President.

Black Live Matt.

That concludes our list of speakers for this.

Page three of the script.

Page three.

Page three of the script.

All right, Chair and I.

Madam President, we're gonna ask um Superintendent Bianchi to give us some uh opening remarks.

Thank you, Chairwoman.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um so we're officially in spring now, and the forest preserves have been full of bustling activity, including in our volunteer work days.

It's clear that the forest preserves passionate, dedicated volunteers are always hard at work, especially in the spring.

We've been actively engaged in invasive brush removal, pile burning, prescribed burns, community science initiatives, material monitoring, and preparing for the busy summer season ahead.

In 2025, volunteers contributed more than 78,000 service hours, which is equivalent to nearly nine years of donated time at a valued at approximately 2.7 million in labor to the forest preserves.

And I want to express my sincere appreciation for their continued commitment and support.

With so many hours contributed, it's evident that there's no shortage of important work across the preserves and nature centers.

We offer wide range of opportunities for the public to get involved, and we warmly welcome anyone interested in making a difference.

And I'd like to highlight the volunteer hours with the forest preserves may count towards meeting the new SNAP requirements.

I extend my thanks to Commissioner Britton for his collaboration in ensuring that the forest preserves can serve as a meaningful pathway for those impacted by recent SNAP changes.

Through the Forest Preserves, families and individuals can access a variety of volunteer opportunities along with clear guidance on how to complete the documentation required for service hours.

I want to commend uh Chris DePra and our volunteer resources team for their quick response and ensuring we can support community members and serve as a valuable uh option for those in need.

As I briefly mentioned, spring means uh burning season, so crews conducted 14 days of burning with nearly 6,000 acres accomplished.

A big thanks to all the commissioners who were able to join us to see this work in action.

April also means the opening day for our inland trout fishing.

The forest preserves and ID and our stock more than 5300 pounds of rainbow trout into five forest preserved fishing lakes for the statewide spring inland trout program.

We are currently conducting our annual walleye rootstock propagation program, which supports uh stocking efforts in the forest preserves lakes and ponds, and thanks to this program, we we've ex uh expect to produce approximately 20 250,000 fingerling sized walleyes.

And I'd also like to thank our small but mighty fisheries team for getting me out on the boat and allowing me to take part in the process.

I'll admit, um, although I love fishing, I'm not the best fisherman, and so it's probably the most time I'll ever see that many walleye in a live well in my life.

So it was a lot of fun for me and something that they all cherish.

Also on the aquatics front, um, and we're in the process of trying a new procedure and prototype for uh floating wetland habitats.

So you may see those out in the preserves are on our lakes and ponds that will help with nutrient removal and aquatic habitat uh improvement.

And then lastly, uh we'll hear a little bit more about the forest preserve experience program.

But one of our other high school conservation programs uh that I'd like to highlight is the Chicago Conservation Leadership Corps, which has received more than 200 uh applicants for just 40 positions, and this program is in partnership with the Student Conservation Association and provides paid employment for youth to take part in hands on conservation at our nature centers while also building knowledge about the natural world and world in our communities.

Um this marks our highest level of interest we've seen in this program since the pandemic, and I think it just underscores how viable these opportunities are for youth and young adults seeking meaningful uh conservation focused work and employment.

Um, at the end of the day, um, everything we've talked about comes back to the people today, especially our staff, our volunteers, um, and the communities that we serve.

The energy and the momentum we're seeing this spring is a testament to what we can accomplish together, and it's reminder that there is a place for everyone in this work.

So, thanks for your partnership and helping continue to grow and strengthen the forest preserves.

Thank you.

Is there a member of the conservation community council here who would also like to speak?

Yeah, and uh to take up that item, may I please uh defer that item so that we can actually have them?

Um so I'd like to defer item 260118.

This is a uh conservation and policy council uh monthly report, and second, I believe, by uh Vice Chair Kevin Morrison.

Thank you, uh and for the commissioners.

We are now on middle page of three, middle section of page three of the script.

Please go ahead.

Conservation community council.

Thank you.

Good morning, Madam President and Commissioners.

My name is Brandon Hayes, um, and I'm representing the Conservation and Policy Council with you here today.

I was appointed in October 2025, and I'm now in my second term already.

Um, as a small business owner here in Cook County, um, I get to work with organizations doing conservation across the entire country, and it reinforces how special it is to have the forest preserves here accessible in our county.

Um, it's something really special, and it just and it's something also I'm able to share the wealth and wonderfulness of the forest preserves with folks across the country.

Um so serving on the council is really important to me.

And the council strives to support the forest preserves and its work to protect and enhance nature, to inspire all Cook County residents to explore and enjoy the preserves, and to ensure that progress is made on the goals outlined in the visionary next century conservation plan.

I'm pleased to see several items on the agenda that directly advance these goals today, including the funding from Cook County's Bureau of Economic Development through the American Rescue Plan Act dollars to support the Forest Preserves experience, which I think we'll hear more about.

But this five-week program engages high school students to perform ecological restoration projects and to explore and learn about local nature by participating in environmental enrichment and outdoor recreation activities.

This program is the result of long-standing collaboration with friends of the forest preserves, and the council is excited to see support for a program that helps young people explore nature and be introduced to opportunities in conservation, science, or outdoor recreation fields.

I hope you will approve this item.

Another item on this month's agenda is the Invest in Cook grant that will help to address two gaps in the Salt Creek Greenway Trail System.

The awarded funds will allow the Forest Preserves to create design engineering plans that will lead to improved trail user safety and enjoyment and better connect the villages of Brookfield, Lyons, Riverside, and North Riverside.

As an avid hiker, I know firsthand what an asset the Forest Preserves 300 plus miles of trails are to Cook County residents.

In fact, I take a diverse group of friends every you know Saturday, six months out of the year to explore places to get outside, and very often it is in the forest preserves of Cook County, really reinforcing what what a jewel that we have very close to where we live.

So thank you all for your work.

Um it's an honor to be on the council, and that concludes my report for today.

Thank you.

And ma'am, Commissioner Stamp's request to be added to the role.

Thank you.

Chair and I.

Yes, Madam President.

I'd like to make the following motions.

Uh to approve item 26-0197 is the proposed intergovernmental agreement with the City of Evanston for refuge uh collection services at Perkin Woods.

Um refer to the audit committee item 26-0195.

This is a report from the county auditor on the Forest Preserve Law Enforcement Time and Attendance Internal Audit Report.

Refer to real estate committee item 26-0140.

This is an easement request to grant two small easements uh to IDOT at Whistler Woods in Riverdale, Illinois.

Approve the following items.

This is 26-0142 is an easement request to grant permanent easement to IDOT at Willow Road and Hibbert Road in Winneka, Illinois.

Item 260194 is a proposed uh partnership agreement and amendment with the Chicago Horticulture Society.

26-2019 is a proposed grant award with Cook County Department of Transportation for Invest in Cook Grant funding.

Item 26-0200 is a proposed contract with Arlington Power Equipment for purchase of XMARC wide uh area motors um mowers, sorry, and outdoor power equipment.

Item 26-0201 is a proposed contract with uh mower works um limited for purchase of stink uh stick electric mowers uh power equipment and parts.

Uh 260188 is a proposed contract amendment with Friends of the Forest Preserve Um for the Forest Preserve Experience Program.

Item 260202 is a proposed contract amendment with various vendors in facilitation um and management uh coaching uh pool to extend all three of these contracts.

Item 260207 is a proposed contract amendment with Red Wings Brands of America Inc.

for protective footwear.

Uh like to receive and file the following items 2600 uh two eight is a procurement and disbursement report for February of 2026.

Item 26-0187 vehicle steering committee annual report for um the year 2025.

Item 26-0205 is a workers' compensation report for February of 2026.

260208 is the land use request report for 2025.

260196, a proposed calendar of events uh for April 14, 2026 through May 4th, 2026.

All right, the motion is made in second.

Is there any discussion on these items?

Superintendent.

Thank you, madam president.

I just want to touch on uh a couple items here.

26 0188.

This is the ARPA funds for the Forest Preserve Experience Program.

So for more than a decade, we've been partnering with uh the Friends of the Forest Preserves and the Housing Authority of Cook County with support from the Forest Preserve Foundation in the County to offer uh this program.

So hundreds of youth whose families use these services provided by the housing authority, have spent their summers learning about our local nature and same time earning a paycheck.

Um for some this program is their first job and their first time really spending time in nature, and we're thankful that it's with us.

Uh, we're we're really grateful and generate uh and grateful uh for the generous support and the continued investment from the county through the American uh rescue plan act, but again, really appreciative of our partners and the Friends of the Forest Preserves and Benjamin Cox in the back of the room, as well as um the forest preserve foundation.

So this program continues just to add about add the opportunities that we can continue to get young uh the the youth and young adults uh involved with the forest preserves.

The second one I'd like to hit on is 29-0196.

This is our calendar events.

As Commissioner Marita mentioned earlier, we have a ton of Earth uh day events that are coming up here uh started this week all the way through the end of the month.

Um we starting April 18th and 19th, uh and April 22nd, basically at all of our nature centers.

We have we have events, we've got things like uh bike rides, track uh a trash bash at uh at Dan Ryan coming up, um, which is a place where you can um dispose of your hard to recyclable and disposable items.

We've got uh art making and gardening, so all kinds of opportunities to get involved through through Earth Day, and then I'd like to mention also uh a big event, Earth of Palooza on April 26th at Lenay Woods with Commissioner Marita.

So thank you for your continued support um bringing residents out to the forest preserves and look forward to that event.

And then also we've got uh a couple trained the trainer sort of leadership events that are I think are really unique and fun, where we um bring out organizations, leaders of organizations to learn about camping and hiking and and recreating out in the forest preserve so they can take that back and introduce it to their organizations.

Um so just a couple items there I wanted to hit on.

I really uh would encourage you to look at our quarterly guide where we list out all the events that are coming up and um back to you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other comments?

All right, all in favor signify by saying aye.

All right, pose opinion of the chair of the pardon, yes.

Just one with regard to uh 26-0140 regarding specifically the Joe Lewis golf course, um, many of the surrounding neighborhoods, the mayors.

We take our um services outside because there is no expansion at Joe Lewis.

Can we please put that on the agenda to begin to look at how we can expand the clubhouse area so that it can be utilized as a banquet hall or conference location for the surrounding areas rather than us going all the way to Country Club Hills or some of the other surrounding communities.

Yeah, thank thanks, Commissioner, for the comment.

We'll definitely look into see what we can do to expand that.

I'll say that this project uh is a step in the right direction.

Absolutely.

Uh that's typically uh I won't even call it just a little of the water that's standing in front of the entrance.

It's a lake.

Uh and so this will start with at least allowing some better uh access and and and so we're not preventing people from enjoying Joe Lewis.

So step in the right direction.

Uh but to your to your point, yes, we will look into it to see how we can expand the uses there at the clubhouse.

And thank you for this uh project as well.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

I'm sorry I missed you, Commissioner McCaskell.

All right, I believe we're on items that require board action.

Labor committee.

Yes, uh Madam President, I'd like to concur with the recommendations of the labor committee to approve item 26-0144.

This is a proposed resolution approving an extension of the term of uh CBA and negotiated between the Forest Preserve and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council for their surgeon uh union unit, sorry.

Sergeant unit.

All right, Commissioner Stamp seconds the motion.

Discussion, all in favor signify by saying aye.

Pose opinion of the chair of the eyes have it rules.

Thank you.

I now move to concur with the recommendation of the rules committee to approve item number two six-0216, the journal of proceedings for the regular meeting held on March 10th, 2026.

There are any discussion?

All in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye oppose opinion of the chair of the eyes have it finance.

Yes, madam president.

I'd like to concur with the recommendation of the finance committee to approve item 26-0206, proposed bid recommendation for uh FabX uh technology LLC.

Uh, this is for Sandridge uh Nature Center.

Um item 260203, recommendation of the finance subcommittee on litigation.

Um 26-0204 recommendation of the finance committee on workers' compensation, and finally to receive and file item 260102 is a report uh for the corporate fund analysis of revenue and expenditure expenditure report um for January 1st of uh 2026 through uh February 28, 2026.

Okay.

Discussion?

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye opposed opinion of the chair of the aye sabbat audit.

Thank you, madam president.

I move to concur with the recommendation of the audit committee to receive and file item number 26-0161, the open recommendation report for the Forest Preserve District of County Board of Commissioners report period from August 25 to January 26th.

Motion is made in second.

Is there any discussion?

All in favor signify by saying aye.

I'd like to concur with the recommendations of the real estate committee uh to approve 20 26 0167 the proposed license request for comed um located on 95th Street Archer Avenue uh intersection right away in uh Redgate Woods.

Item 26-0168, proposed license request for comed.

Um, this one is in uh uh installation electric line overhead on new installation power uh polls on north side of Dundee Road in Palatine, and finally 26-0167.

This is an easement request for IDAT uh for display this uh river uh road north of Foster Avenue in Shiller Park.

All right.

Did I misspeak?

I'm sorry, I was corrected.

It's item 26-0169.

6-9 that's the last item.

All right.

Discussion?

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Pose opinion of the chair of the aye sahabit.

I believe it is time for adjournment.

All right, second.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Motion carries.

Thank you so much.

Britain.