The Peotone Park Board of Commissioners has a vacancy after Barb Sim resigned at the end of the July 14 meeting.
Sim’s term was not slated to end until 2029, and she recently sought re-election in the municipal election. However, this past April, when the board elected officers, Sim nominated Shaun Ziems to be president. Ziems had been serving as vice president up until he was voted in by the board as president.
At that time, Sim said she intended to continue serving on the board as a commissioner.
“I feel like this year, all the pieces are in place, so it wouldn’t be a burden. It’s a good time to step away,” Sim said in April.
Sim’s departure marks the end of just over a decade of service to Peotone Parks. Her first oath of office was taken in 2015, and she became president of the board in 2021.
“Serving the residents of the Peotone Park District has been a privilege. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished during my tenure,” Sim wrote in her resignation letter.
“Each of them is well equipped to oversee the Park and its staff. I will do everything I can to ensure a smooth transition of my duties and responsibilities,” Sim added.
The board will need to appoint a commissioner to serve out the rest of her term. At the time of the meeting, no potential candidates had been identified.
Other Park Board News
Preparations for the first annual golf outing are well underway, with sponsor packages complete and registration available online.
Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Eschbach reported that despite the significant investment of manpower dedicated to removing the pond weeds, they have returned. The board discussed the purpose of the pond, as well as its maintenance.
Eschbach and Parks Manager Kelly LaMore also attended a meeting about potentially forming a local burn association for prescribed burns of naturalized areas at the Bourbonnais Park District. The board was leaning toward physically turning over the ground and reseeding to encourage the growth of native prairie plants versus invasive grasses.
National Night Out, slated for 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, is a collaborative effort with the Peotone Police Department, LaMore said.
“It’s getting bigger every day, and we have so many things going on between activities for kids, entertainment, all the vendors, there’s so much,” LaMore said.
The Police Department will also be out with vehicles and “touch-a-truck” style setup.
The event will also feature a bounce house, barrel train, dunk tank, face painter, magic show, food and merchandise vendors, LWRSA Sensory Bus, food trucks, and much more, LaMore added.