Need a board that gets all the issues

The Daily Herald has been helpful in publishing information about our complicated suburban elections. I'm glad you endorsed Melissa Creech for Glen Ellyn Park District board, saying she "has proved she can build consensus and focus on facts." I think that's true. She also chose to run with a team of candidates including Jay Kinzler and Julia Nephew because they want to change the leadership of the park board and make park decisions based on facts and better communications with residents.

You refer to "a plan to cut down trees in Ackerman Park" that stimulated "more than 100 residents" with Creech's leadership to speak against it at a meeting of the board on May 20, 2008. Not only had the board proposed that cutting down 342 mature trees would be satisfactorily compensated for by planting new saplings in various locations during the next 10 years, it failed to coordinate the related stormwater plan with other village agencies.

The vote to reverse the decision at Ackerman came only two weeks after the May 20 meeting because the board had not placed the matter on the agenda and therefore it could not be voted on. One of the incumbents you endorse opened the meeting by telling the assembled residents that the decision had been made and would not be changed by whatever they had to say.

Fortunately, enough was brought out at the meeting to bring about action despite this attempt to stonewall the alarmed neighbors. The Glen Ellyn Park District offers wonderful programs, powered by armies of dedicated volunteers. It also controls significant open spaces and properties that affect flooding in the village. We need a responsible board that can understand all the issues and listen to the public.

Edna E Heatherington

Glen Ellyn