ELMHURST, IL – Earlier this month, the president of the Elmhurst Park District board did not immediately correct what he later called "misconceptions" that he supported putting a bandshell location question on the election ballot.
For more than a year, the board has been divided over where to put the bandshell. In January, a majority decided to build the structure just east of Wilder Mansion, which opponents say would block the sightlines of perhaps the city's most iconic building.
In late July, Jim Rogers, the district's executive director, rejected a citizen petition with nearly 1,200 signatures to place a nonbinding question on the ballot about the bandshell's site. He said state law barred citizen-initiated petitions for park districts.
But the agenda for the board's Aug. 10 meeting stated the board itself would vote on whether to put the same question on the ballot. A memo said Rogers and the park board's president, Kevin Graf, recommended supporting an advisory referendum.
Shortly after the agenda's posting, longtime park board member Vince Spaeth emailed Graf, praising him for the recommendation. Patch obtained the message through a public records request.
"Thank you for providing your and Executive Director's recommendation to the board to vote and approve the Advisory Question Resolution below," Spaeth said. "I believe this is a wise decision that minimizes risk to the district and allows the citizens to have their voice heard – through this alternative pathway."
The park district had no record of a response from Graf.
The same day as Spaeth's email, Patch published a story noting Graf and Rogers' recommendation.
At the meeting three days later, though, Graf said his recommendation was misinterpreted.
"There are some misconceptions that have been published regarding this agenda item," Graf said. "I want to clarify that placing this item on the agenda should not be understood as a change in position on the citizens' petition or the district's prior legal determination."
He said it was procedural. Rogers said the same. Patch checked other park boards, and none appeared to have the same procedure.
Asked about the recommendation this week, Spaeth said in an email, "I believe the public would interpret the meeting info more literally. Shame. I would have worded it differently."
At the Aug. 10 meeting, Graf chided residents in the audience that they didn't know the bandshell's location before a 2024 referendum.
"Shame on you for not paying attention during the process," he said.
The referendum was for $90 million, $85 million of which was earmarked for a rebuilt Wagner Community Center.
The park board meets again at 7 p.m. Monday at Wilder Mansion, 211 S. Prospect Ave.
At Spaeth's request, the park board plans to discuss whether Rogers should approve the citizen-initiated question on the ballot.
This time, the memo says the park board is recommending doing so. Neither Rogers' nor Graf's name is listed.
It's unclear when the park board came together to produce a recommendation.
In an email Thursday, Jim Schuetz, who favors putting the bandshell question on the ballot, took exception to Graf's "shame on you" comment.
"We found that comment unprofessional and condescending, and inconsistent with EPD's own 'Engaged Community' strategic goal of increasing 'opportunities for communication and collaboration,'" Schuetz said.
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