Cross to Quinn: Sign Bill to Reform Plainfield Park Board

State Rep. Tom Cross (R-Oswego) on Wednesday said he has sent a letter to Gov. Pat Quinn, urging him to sign House Bill 5593 immediately, saying the legislation is necessary to reform the Plainfield Park District Board of Commissioners.

The bill, which got the go-ahead from the House in April and the Senate in May, would expand the board from five to seven members. One new member would be appointed by Sen. Jennifer Tarrant-Bertino (D-Shorewood), while the other would be appointed by Cross. After serving two-year terms, the new members would then be up for election.

In a press release issued Wednesday, Cross said the intent of the bill is to “increase accountability on the Plainfield Park District Board in response to widespread public concerns following a series of controversial actions taken by the current board majority over the past 16 months.”

Cross alluded to actions by board majority of Peter Hurtado, Peter Steinys and Janet Silosky since May 2013, starting with the controversial decision to hire Plainfield Village Trustee Garrett Peck as the park district executive director. Silosky has since distanced herself from Hurtado and Steinys, even going so far as to accuse Hurtado of ethics violations.

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Though Peck resigned in January, the past year has been marked by controversies including a state police investigation, allegations of Open Meetings Act violations and disputes involving youth sports leagues.

“This critical reform legislation received overwhelming support in both the House and Senate and I look forward to it becoming law soon,” Cross said in a statement Wednesday. “Today, I sent the Governor a letter requesting him to take immediate action to sign this bill into law. We need accountability now and this law would be a strong first step.”

Commissioner May Kay Ludemann, who became the board president in May, said while there have been positive changes on the board in recent months, she still supports the legislation.

“We’re heading in a good direction, but I still welcome the legislation and the two new members,” she said, adding, “the size of our district certain warrants a seven-person board.” The park district serves a population of a little more than 100,000, she said.

The Plainfield Park District encompasses all of Plainfield Township and portions of Wheatland Township in Will County and Na-Au-Say Township in Kendall County, including areas of Bolingbrook, Crest Hill, Joliet, Plainfield and Romeoville, as well as some unincorporated areas.

If Quinn signs the legislation, Ludemann said the new members could be sworn in as soon as they are appointed. The next park board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the Heritage Professional Center, 24023 W. Lockport St. in downtown Plainfield.

Also read:

Plainfield Park Board VP Accuses Hurtado of Ethics Violations

State’s Attorney Investigating Plainfield Park District Documents

Accusations of Patronage, Dummy Companies at Plainfield Park District(

State Police Investigating Plainfield Park District

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PHOTO: State Rep. Tom Cross. Credit: File photo