HR0582 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0582 LRB098 13898 GRL 48452 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Greg Bott on the occasion of his retirement as Executive Director of the Plainfield Park District; and

WHEREAS, Greg Bott earned degrees in recreation and physical education from North Central College; he worked in park maintenance at the Naperville Park District before joining the Plainfield Park District in 1981; and

WHEREAS, Greg Bott was promoted to Superintendent of Parks of the Plainfield Park District in 1983; he faithfully served the Plainfield Park District as Executive Director for 28 years, from September of 1985 to June of 2013; and

WHEREAS, When Greg Bott's directorship began in 1985, the Plainfield Park District had 5 employees, 5 park sites, and served 15,000 residents with an annual budget of $340,000; today, the park district is comprised of more than 1,500 acres, over 80 parks, including several building sites, and serves more than 100,000 residents with 250 employees and a $11.2 million budget; and

WHEREAS, Under Director Bott's leadership, the Park District received nearly $7.5 million in grant funding for projects for community parks such as Van Horn Woods, Renwick Community Park, River Edge, Eaton Preserve, Mather Woods, Electric Park, Norman Greenway, Northwest Community Park, Clow Stephens, Village Green, and portions of the DuPage River Trail; and

WHEREAS, During Director Bott's tenure, the district has evolved to meet numerous challenges, including a natural disaster in 1990, rapid population growth, limited resources, and tough financial conditions, including tax caps; and

WHEREAS, Under Director Bott's leadership, despite the financial challenges of declining tax rates for 2 decades, the district has demonstrated positive financial performance with well-managed budgets, maintained reserves, a moderate debt burden, and the rise of the district's bond rating three grades to an AA rating by Standard and Poor's Rating Services; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend Greg Bott for his many years of dedicated service, congratulate him on his retirement, and wish him success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Greg Bott as an expression of our esteem and respect.