Transparency & Transition: Our February Park Board Update

Even when the agenda is short, the impact of our community is long-lasting. This week’s Crystal Lake Park Board meeting might have been brief, but the presence of Parks for the People advocates sent a powerful message: we are committed to a transparent, fair, and bright future for our district.

Your Voice in Action 🎤

A huge thank you to the incredible residents who stepped up to the podium. Your comments ensure that the Board hears the community's expectations for leadership and accountability. We want to specifically recognize:

• Susan Platek (sharing a message from Mayor Haig Haleblian)

• Brad Mazurkiewicz & Bruce Mazurkiewicz

• Carolyn Schofield

• Debbie Gallagher

• Tom Burney

• Kathy Daley

Whether you spoke or simply sat in the audience, your engagement is what keeps our local government accountable.

Meeting Recap: The Search for New Leadership

One of the focuses of the 2/17 meeting was the transition of the Executive Director role. As Jason Herbster prepares to retire this April, the Board has officially voted to hire MGT, a consulting firm, to lead the search for his successor.

We are optimistic that this professional search will result in a leader who prioritizes transparency and community-first values. Beyond the search, the Board also handled routine business, including approving bids for staff equipment like a new stump grinder—keeping our parks beautiful and maintained!

Advocacy Update: Protecting Public Speech ⚖️

We have an important update regarding the January 19th meeting, where three public speakers were cut off. Following this, two speakers filed a request for review with the Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor.

The Attorney General’s office is officially moving forward with the review. They have contacted Park Board President Fred Tiesenga for an explanation of the situation. While the Board’s attorney has argued that reading from the President’s own book was "disrespectful," we believe that public discourse is a fundamental right.

We are currently awaiting the final decision on whether the Open Meetings Act was violated. We’ll be sure to share the results as soon as we hear them!

What’s Next? Save the Dates! 🗓️

We need your energy at these upcoming sessions:

• Budget Workshop

  • Monday, March 2nd | 6:30 PM | Main Beach Pavilion

  • Your attendance is a vital signal to the Board that we are watching how our tax dollars are allocated.

• March Park Board Meeting

  • Wednesday, March 18th | 6:30 PM | Main Beach Pavilion

  • This will be Executive Director Jason Herbster’s final meeting after 16 years of service. Let’s pack the room to show our support for Jason and his years of dedication to Crystal Lake!

Want to help spread the word? Share this post with a neighbor and invite them to join us at the next meeting. Every seat filled is a vote for transparency!