HR0811LRB103 40815 LAW 73703 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Jim Pilmer on the
4occasion of his retirement as executive director of the Fox
5Valley Park District after eight years of service; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Jim Pilmer was appointed the sixth executive
7director in the Fox Valley Park District's then-68-year
8history on November 9, 2015, dutifully serving at the helm for
9the next eight years while remaining visible, approachable,
10accessible, and accountable throughout his tenure until his
11retirement on December 31, 2023; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Under Jim Pilmer's guidance, the Fox Valley Park
13District's residents, guests, and visitors benefited from
14thoughtful infrastructure and facility development
15initiatives, including the creation and unveiling of the Fox
16Fitness center in concert with capital renovation to the
17Prisco Community Center, the construction and opening of The
18Barn at Blackberry Farm and The Wilds at Red Oak Nature Center,
19the construction of outdoor pickleball courts at popular parks
20on Aurora's east and west sides, the development of six new
21parks, the significant redevelopment of Jericho Lake, Simmons,
22and Copley I parks, the sale of the district-owned police
23station facility in Montgomery, and the inception of the

 

 

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1district's Police and Public Safety division into the Cole
2Center; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Jim Pilmer was also responsible for administering
4insightful financial management and sustainability
5initiatives, including the development of the rolling
6Five-Year Financial Forecast, the procurement of approximately
7$14 million in federal, state, and local-level grants to fund
8programming and initiatives, and the implementation of a
9district-wide energy performance contracting improvements
10project, encompassing $2.7 million in energy efficiency
11upgrades procured by a low-interest lease repaid through
12utility savings over 15 years; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Jim Pilmer oversaw the Fox Valley Park District's
14implementation of several outstanding program and service
15enhancement initiatives, including the replacement of
16contracted outside services with district-run programming in
17core areas to align with the district's swimming, golf,
18tennis, and gymnastics programs, the development and growth of
19the Information Technology department and initiatives to
20provide reliable infrastructure and innovative solutions, the
21completion of comprehensive plans and studies to effectively
22guide the future of the district, the establishment of a
23public art walk at Blackhawk Park with new sculptures produced
24by local artists displayed annually, and the development of

 

 

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1Resilience, Reimagining Recreation, Recovery, an umbrella
2campaign dedicated to phased reopening strategies in the
3aftermath of a global pandemic, which included an economic
4relief plan for all employees in response to financial
5hardships resulting from the pandemic; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Due to Jim Pilmer's instrumental leadership, the
7Fox Valley Park District's residents experienced attentive
8community engagement and a number of expansion initiatives,
9including the establishment of a five-year partnership with
10Troon, LLC to revitalize Orchard Valley Golf Course, which
11included Orchards Restaurant and establishing the property as
12a premiere destination, significant trail connectivity
13improvements, such as the widening and paving of the Illinois
14Prairie Path, the acquisition of key riverfront property, the
15expansion of territory served by the district through
16annexations, totaling 497 acres, and the expansion of
17pollinator habitat by more than 50 acres through the
18procurement of grant funding; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Throughout his career and while executing his
20duties as executive director of the Fox Valley Park District,
21Jim Pilmer has continued to champion inclusion and equality
22for underserved populations of the community, continually
23making his hometown of Aurora proud; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
2HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
3we congratulate Jim Pilmer on his retirement as executive
4director of the Fox Valley Park District, and we commend his
5exemplary career, his many accomplishments, and his
6unquestionable service; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to Jim Pilmer as an expression of our esteem and
9respect.