HR0811 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0811 LRB103 40815 LAW 73703 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Jim Pilmer on the occasion of his retirement as executive director of the Fox Valley Park District after eight years of service; and

WHEREAS, Jim Pilmer was appointed the sixth executive director in the Fox Valley Park District's then-68-year history on November 9, 2015, dutifully serving at the helm for the next eight years while remaining visible, approachable, accessible, and accountable throughout his tenure until his retirement on December 31, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Under Jim Pilmer's guidance, the Fox Valley Park District's residents, guests, and visitors benefited from thoughtful infrastructure and facility development initiatives, including the creation and unveiling of the Fox Fitness center in concert with capital renovation to the Prisco Community Center, the construction and opening of The Barn at Blackberry Farm and The Wilds at Red Oak Nature Center, the construction of outdoor pickleball courts at popular parks on Aurora's east and west sides, the development of six new parks, the significant redevelopment of Jericho Lake, Simmons, and Copley I parks, the sale of the district-owned police station facility in Montgomery, and the inception of the district's Police and Public Safety division into the Cole Center; and

WHEREAS, Jim Pilmer was also responsible for administering insightful financial management and sustainability initiatives, including the development of the rolling Five-Year Financial Forecast, the procurement of approximately $14 million in federal, state, and local-level grants to fund programming and initiatives, and the implementation of a district-wide energy performance contracting improvements project, encompassing $2.7 million in energy efficiency upgrades procured by a low-interest lease repaid through utility savings over 15 years; and

WHEREAS, Jim Pilmer oversaw the Fox Valley Park District's implementation of several outstanding program and service enhancement initiatives, including the replacement of contracted outside services with district-run programming in core areas to align with the district's swimming, golf, tennis, and gymnastics programs, the development and growth of the Information Technology department and initiatives to provide reliable infrastructure and innovative solutions, the completion of comprehensive plans and studies to effectively guide the future of the district, the establishment of a public art walk at Blackhawk Park with new sculptures produced by local artists displayed annually, and the development of Resilience, Reimagining Recreation, Recovery, an umbrella campaign dedicated to phased reopening strategies in the aftermath of a global pandemic, which included an economic relief plan for all employees in response to financial hardships resulting from the pandemic; and

WHEREAS, Due to Jim Pilmer's instrumental leadership, the Fox Valley Park District's residents experienced attentive community engagement and a number of expansion initiatives, including the establishment of a five-year partnership with Troon, LLC to revitalize Orchard Valley Golf Course, which included Orchards Restaurant and establishing the property as a premiere destination, significant trail connectivity improvements, such as the widening and paving of the Illinois Prairie Path, the acquisition of key riverfront property, the expansion of territory served by the district through annexations, totaling 497 acres, and the expansion of pollinator habitat by more than 50 acres through the procurement of grant funding; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his career and while executing his duties as executive director of the Fox Valley Park District, Jim Pilmer has continued to champion inclusion and equality for underserved populations of the community, continually making his hometown of Aurora proud; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Jim Pilmer on his retirement as executive director of the Fox Valley Park District, and we commend his exemplary career, his many accomplishments, and his unquestionable service; and be it further

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