HR0244 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0244 LRB096 12172 KXB 24544 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Wheeling Park District Board President Tom Webber on the occasion of his retirement after 20 years of service as an elected park board commissioner, including 16 years as Board President; and

WHEREAS, As a Wheeling resident, with his wife Cindy for over 20 years, Tom Webber built a thriving business in Wheeling, helped raise two children, Joe and Shelley, coached youth sports, served as Park District Commissioner, and has been a spokesperson and advocate for other Boards and causes, including the local school district, Chamber of Commerce, public library, Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD), and various other citizen groups; and

WHEREAS, Some of the highlights of his tenure at the Wheeling Park District include spearheading the Friends of the Parks Committee to garner support to build a new recreation center that, over a decade later, remains a cornerstone of activity in the Wheeling community; construction of an award-winning Aquatic Center; completion of a new Fitness Center and indoor aquatic center; passage of a referendum to save and renovate the historic clubhouse at Chevy Chase Country Club that averted its demolition; and completion of a major renovation of Traditions at Chevy Chase Golf Course; he also has been instrumental in the updating of several parks, acquiring property for open space, and the development of Pleasant Run community park in conjunction with the Prospect Heights Park District; and

WHEREAS, Tom labored tirelessly and passionately to resolve the issue when the land that encompasses Chevy Chase Country Club and Golf Course was involuntarily annexed by a neighboring village in 2004; after a lengthy process that included litigation, the Board, under his leadership, was able to reach a settlement agreement to return its Wheeling identity back to Chevy Chase; to ensure this could not happen to another Illinois park district, Tom worked with the Wheeling Park District staff, IAPD, and State legislators to gain support and enactment of Senate Bill 1826, which sets forth the principle that there can be no annexation of park district property by another unit of local government without the approval of the park district board; and

WHEREAS, Within the past several years of his stewardship, the Park Board has undertaken several processes and negotiations that have set the direction for the future of the Wheeling Park District, such as the partnership and land exchange with the Village of Wheeling to develop a Park District/Municipal Campus that also increased the total acreage of Heritage Park; in addition, when the Park District's acquisition of a ten-acre parcel from an adjacent property owner was threatened by a last-minute bidder, Tom enlisted the help of local and State officials, and thus preserved the land for open space and retained for the Agency a $400,000 OSLAD grant that would have been forfeited; through this property acquisition and expansion, the 98-acre Heritage Park is now positioned for a complete renovation; its redevelopment represents the largest single project undertaken by the Wheeling Park District since construction of the CRC in 1994; and

WHEREAS, Tom is a true public servant who is devoted to enriching the lives of people in the community, he encourages and supports staff and other Board members, demonstrates exemplary leadership qualities, and backs his words with actions; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we thank Tom Webber for his dedication to the people and the communities served by the Wheeling Park District and wish him all the best in his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Tom Webber as a symbol of our respect and esteem.