Board of Commissioners
A 21-member elected Board of Commissioners governs your Lake County Forest Preserves. They guide the agency's mission and approve all land acquisitions, restoration and improvement projects, educational and cultural programs, the annual budget and other administrative actions. View Board member compensation. These same officials also serve as County Board members, overseeing all other aspects of Lake County government.
MEET YOUR FOREST PRESERVE BOARD MEMBERS
Integrity | Accountability
Each elected member of our Board is committed to being open, transparent and accountable for their actions as they govern and make decisions on behalf of their constituents and for the sustainability of the Lake County Forest Preserves. They lead with integrity and professionalism as public servants to you and the land. If you have any questions about actions or decisions made by Board members, or if you would like to invite a member to speak to your community group, school or other organization, please contact them directly.
View Meeting Calendars
Elected Officials | 2018–2020
Officers of the Board & Executive Office
Executive Director: Alex Ty Kovach
Deputy Treasurer: Steve Neaman |
Secretary: Julie Gragnani
Assistant Secretary: Maureen Shelton |
Board and Committee Meetings
All of our meetings are open to the public. If you wish to address Board or Committee members you may do so at these meetings. Check the agenda below or call us at 847-367-6640 to verify meeting information, as times and locations occasionally change.
Need special accommodations? If you have a disability or require certain accommodations in order to observe or attend our meetings, or have questions regarding accessibility of our meeting facilities, please contact our Americans With Disabilities Coordinator, Mary Kann, by email, phone 847-968-3214 or mail: Lake County Forest Preserves, 1899 West Winchester Road, Libertyville IL 60048.
Can't make it to a Board meeting? Transparency is important to us, that's why we videotape our monthly meetings. Watch them live on Board meeting days, or view LCTV videos on demand. Meetings also air weekly on Lake County Television.
Board of Commissioners
Board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 10 am or 15 minutes following the adjournment of the County of Lake Board meeting, unless otherwise posted. Meetings are held in the boardroom on the 10th floor of the County Building at 18 North County Street in Waukegan.
Committees
Each member of our Board serves on one or more standing committees, and may also be appointed by the president to special committees. These meetings are held monthly at our General Offices at 1899 West Winchester Road in Libertyville, unless otherwise noted
Standing Committees
Finance
Supervises all financial affairs and policies of the District, including bond issues; applications for grants; preparation of budgets, appropriations and tax levies; wage and job classification policies; compensation and benefit program; revisions to personnel policies; collective bargaining; insurance and safety; user fees; facility license and concession agreements; and encroachments. The committee also reviews fundraising strategies. The committee may not commit funds or incur liabilities except as approved or authorized by the Board.
Terry Wilke, Chair
Paul Frank, Vice Chair
Steve Carlson
Michael Danforth
Sandy Hart
Ann B. Maine
S. Michael Rummel
Julie Simpson
John Wasik
Legislative
Considers and makes recommendations concerning the District’s legislative agenda, including preparation and recommendation and periodic reviews and discussions of legislative strategies.
Jennifer Clark, Chair
Julie Simpson, Vice Chair
Dick Barr
Judy Martini
Linda Pedersen
Jessica Vealitzek
Operations
Reviews and makes recommendations concerning operational affairs and policies of the District, including all general regulations pertaining to the operation, maintenance, programming and promotion of all District properties; the use of District facilities, programs and services; and the conservation of District lands, waters, flora and fauna.
Jessica Vealitzek, Chair
Bill Durkin, Vice Chair
Mary Ross Cunningham
Ann B. Maine
Brent Paxton
Craig Taylor
Terry Wilke
Planning
Studies and reviews potential land acquisition sites, and, where appropriate, obtains appraisals, surveys, environmental reports, title reports, and other acquisition information; recommends acquisition of sites to the Board; reviews, provides direction to staff regarding, and recommending approval of any agreement proposed by an owner of property adjacent to the District's property.
Sends any plan or use that would (i) have a significant impact on District land or other District plans or uses, or (ii) involve a new use of such land, to all standing committees so that they have an opportunity, within a 120-day time period, to review the potential impacts. If the committee votes to recommend the approval of such plan or use after review has been provided, the plan or use will be implemented only after it has been prioritized and funded as part of the annual budget policies review, budget ordinance, and appropriation ordinance process.
John Wasik, Chair
Julie Simpson, Vice Chair
Dick Barr
Jennifer Clark
Diane Hewitt
Judy Martini
Linda Pedersen
Jessica Vealitzek
Rules
Considers all proposed new rules and amendments to the Board's Rules of Order and Operational Procedure, and makes recommendations to the Board of Commissioners for adoption.
Bill Durkin, Chair
Terry Wilke, Vice Chair
Jennifer Clark
Mary Ross Cunningham
Judy Martini
Craig Taylor
Jessica Vealitzek
John Wasik
Special Committees
Diversity and Cultural Awareness
Meets as needed to discuss topics related to diversity and cultural awareness.
Julie Simpson, Chair
Mary Ross Cunningham, Vice Chair
Jennifer Clark
Jessica Vealitzek
Ethics
Meets as needed to review the existing ordinance regulating ethical conduct and political activity by elected officials and employees, and recommends revisions to the Board of Commissioners.
Jennifer Clark, Chair
Paul Frank, Vice Chair
Bill Durkin
Judy Martini
Jessica Vealitzek
Strategic Planning Steering
Special appointment by the President in June 2019, for the purpose of guiding the strategic planning process. The committee will meet as needed during this process, which is expected to last approximately eight months.
President Angelo Kyle, Chair
John Wasik, Vice Chair
Jennifer Clark
Paul Frank
Ann B. Maine
Jessica Vealitzek
Outside Board Members and Liasons
Illinois Association of Park Districts
Judy Martini, Liaison
Lake Michigan Watershed Ecosystem Partnership
Paul Frank, Representative
Latino Coalition
Mary Ross Cunningham, Representative
Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves Board of Directors
Paul Frank
S. Michael Rummel
Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves Members
Angelo D. Kyle
Bill Durkin
Paul Frank
Ann B. Maine
Jessica Vealitzek
John Wasik
Terry Wilke
Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Board Liaison
Vacant
Agendas and Minutes
We invite you to attend our public meetings and to actively engage in our order of business.
In advance of our meetings, we post notices and agendas below. Agendas include links to resolutions, ordinances and other supporting documents. In accordance with state law, we also post meeting notices and agendas at our General Offices in Libertyville. Following our meetings, we post minutes and Board meeting videos. Search below for archived meeting documents.
