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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate Greg Bott on the 
4occasion of his retirement as Executive Director of the 
5Plainfield Park District; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Greg Bott earned degrees in recreation and 
7physical education from North Central College; he worked in 
8park maintenance at the Naperville Park District before joining 
9the Plainfield Park District in 1981; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Greg Bott was promoted to Superintendent of Parks 
11of the Plainfield Park District in 1983; he faithfully served 
12the Plainfield Park District as Executive Director for 28 
13years, from September of 1985 to June of 2013; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, When Greg Bott's directorship began in 1985, the 
15Plainfield Park District had 5 employees, 5 park sites, and 
16served 15,000 residents with an annual budget of $340,000; 
17today, the park district is comprised of more than 1,500 acres, 
18over 80 parks, including several building sites, and serves 
19more than 100,000 residents with 250 employees and a $11.2 
20million budget; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Under Director Bott's leadership, the Park 
 
 
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1District received nearly $7.5 million in grant funding for 
2projects for community parks such as Van Horn Woods, Renwick 
3Community Park, River Edge, Eaton Preserve, Mather Woods, 
4Electric Park, Norman Greenway, Northwest Community Park, Clow 
5Stephens, Village Green, and portions of the DuPage River 
6Trail; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, During Director Bott's tenure, the district has 
8evolved to meet numerous challenges, including a natural 
9disaster in 1990, rapid population growth, limited resources, 
10and tough financial conditions, including tax caps; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Under Director Bott's leadership, despite the 
12financial challenges of declining tax rates for 2 decades, the 
13district has demonstrated positive financial performance with 
14well-managed budgets, maintained reserves, a moderate debt 
15burden, and the rise of the district's bond rating three grades 
16to an AA rating by Standard and Poor's Rating Services; 
17therefore, be it
  
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
19NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
20we commend Greg Bott for his many years of dedicated service, 
21congratulate him on his retirement, and wish him success and 
22happiness in the future; and be it further
  
 
 
 
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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
2presented to Greg Bott as an expression of our esteem and 
3respect.