The Macomb Park Board last week voted to authorize a $765,000 bond issue to pay expenses for 2026. The placement agent for bond offers is Bernardi Securities. Company representative Kevin Wilde told park commissioners that a six to eight page summary sheet would be sent to a list of 35 potential bidders. Wilde said the average response is three or four bids. He said Park Director Blake Severs should select the winning bid by the end of December.
In other business, commissioners approved a report of financial statements from District Treasurer Phil Weiss. He said the district's consolidated project fund totaled $485,097 at the end of October and the general fund totaled $225,682. Weiss said the park district last month received $483,385, the third of four property tax distributions.
In issuing his director's report, Severs said, 'It's been a really great year for our park district.'He said landscaping has been completed at the Lakeview Nature Center. Severs said the recent Pumpkin Smash yielded 4,686 pounds for composting. He said the annual Macomb Christmas Light Show has been transferred from Chandler Park to Veterans Park and will run from November 28 through January 1.
Park Board President Neil Armstrong said many district residents have told him of their positive experiences in the parks. He said, 'The continuing sustainment of our product is being recognized by the public...I urge everyone to take advantage of what we've got.'
Weiss said he's used a drone to take overhead footage of the district parks. 'Lakeview looks especially great,' he said. Armstrong said he'd like to see overhead footage of some of the district's larger fall activities next year.
Commissioners also voted to select Armstrong as the district delegate to the Illlinois Association of Park Districts Convention in Chicago. Commissioner John Hemingway also expressed an interest in attending.
