Minutes Regular Meeting of the Marion Park District Board of Commissioners August 24, 2026 6:00 p.m. Administrative Office (1401 N. Otis Street, Marion, IL 62959) Regular Meeting Minutes 1. Call to Order President Gott called the Regular Meeting of the Marion Park District to order at 6:01 p.m. with the following Commissioners present: Commissioner Gardiner …
Minutes
Regular Meeting of the
Marion Park District
Board of Commissioners
August 24, 2026
6:00 p.m.
Administrative Office (1401 N. Otis Street, Marion, IL 62959)
Regular Meeting Minutes
1. Call to Order
President Gott called the Regular Meeting of the Marion Park District to order at 6:01 p.m. with the following Commissioners present:
Commissioner Gardiner
Commissioner Sheffler
Commissioner McReynolds
Commissioner Welch
Commissioner Gott
2. Open Forum
There are no public attendees during the Regular meeting of the Marion Park District.
3. Approval of Regular Meeting agenda for August 24, 2026
Commissioner McReynolds made a motion at 6:03 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Gardiner to approve the agenda for the Regular Meeting August 24, 2026. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
4. Approval of the Budget Hearing Meeting Minutes: June 22, 2026
Commissioner McReynolds made a motion at 6:03 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Welch to approve the minutes for the Budget Hearing Meeting Minutes from June 22, 2026. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
5. Approval of the Special / Public Meeting Minutes: July 27, 2026
Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 6:05 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Welch to approve the minutes for the Special / Public Meeting Minutes from July 27, 2026. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
6. Approval of the Regular Meeting Minutes: July 27, 2026.
Commissioner McReynolds made a motion at 6:06 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Gardiner to approve the minutes for the Regular Meeting Minutes from July 27, 2026. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
7. Approval of the July 2026 Financial Report
Executive Director Odum went over the financial worksheet for funds as of August 24, 2026, noting that the Marion Park District is in good financial shape and consistent with last year’s financial information. There is a discrepancy in the amount of $100,000.00 due to a clerical error.
Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 6:09 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Gardiner to approve the July 2026 Financial Report. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
8. Department Reports
a. Administration
b. Park Services
Executive Director Odum presented the Commissioners with both reports and provided pictures of projects that have been completed.
9. Commissioner’s Reports
Commissioner Gott asked the other Commissioners if they had anything to report during the meeting. None of the Commissioners had anything to report during this meeting.
10. Executive Session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act (if requested):
a. (21) Executive / Closed Minutes – Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under Illinois Open Meetings Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes.
b. (1) Personnel – To consider the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony or complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.
c. (2) Collective Bargaining – the collective negotiations between public employers and their employees and deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employee.
Commissioner Welch made a motion at 6:17 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Gardiner to approve going into Executive Session. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
11. Reconvene to Open Session (possible actions following Executive Session)
Commissioner Gardiner made a motion at 7:26 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner McReynolds to approve returning to Open Session. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
12. Old Business
a. Discuss / Approve performance / evaluation of Executive Director Odum for FY2027.
Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 7:27 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner
McReynolds to approve a 3% increase per employment contract for Executive
Director Odum retroactive to July 1, 2026. In addition, a merit bonus of 4 weeks’
pays at the current rate on July 1, 2026. Roll called. Motion carried with
unanimous vote with those present.
b. Discuss / Approve performance / evaluation of Deputy Director Bauernfeind – Moore for FY2027.
Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 7:29 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner
Welch to approve a $1.00 per hour increase to Deputy Director Bauernfeind –
Moore retroactive to July 1, 2026. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous
vote with those present.
13. New Business
a. Discuss / Approve Resolution 26-03 OSLAD FUNDS Resolution.
Commissioner Gardiner made a motion at 7:31 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner
Sheffler approves the Resolution 26-03 OSLAD FUNDS Resolution. Roll called.
Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
b. Discuss / Approve the request to hold a Blueprint for Success 5K on December 5, 2026, at Pyramid Park.
Commissioner Welch made a motion at 7:34 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner
Gardiner approves the request to hold a Blueprint for Success 5K on December 5, 2026, at Pyramid Park. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
c. Discuss / Approve increasing the rental deposit for the cabin rentals from $50.00 to $100.00.
Commissioner McReynolds made a motion at 7:41 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner
Gardiner approves increasing the deposit for the cabin rentals to $200.00 effective September 1, 2026. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
d. Discuss / Approve allowing the negotiations committee (Commissioner Gott, Commissioner Welch, and Executive Director Odum) finalize the current negotiations on the table with the Local 318 IUOE.
Commissioner Sheffler made a motion at 7:42 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner McReynolds approves allowing the negotiation committee (Commissioner Gott, Commissioner Welch, and Executive Director Odum) finalize the current negotiations on the table with the Local 318 IUOE. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
e. Discuss / Approve I-Lamp for all Marion Park District park locations.
No action taken
f. Discuss the 2016 Bond with Bernardi Securities that will come up for renewal in September 2026.
No action taken
14. Next Meeting Date: September 28, 2026
Discussion that the Executive Director will be out of town at a conference on September 28, 2026, and changing the meeting date to the week before. All Commissioners agreed to change the meeting date to September 21, 2026.
15. Adjournment
Commissioner McReynolds made a motion at 7:50 p.m.; seconded by Commissioner Welch to approve the adjournment of the Regular meeting of the Marion Park District. Roll called. Motion carried with unanimous vote with those present.
In accordance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any individual who needs a reasonable accommodation to participate in or benefit from attendance at the public meeting of the Marion Park District Board of Commissioners should contact Zach Odum, Director at 618-993-3940.
