Meeting Summary and Briefs: Litchfield Park District for August 5, 2026

Overall Meeting Summary

The Litchfield Park District Board of Commissioners met for roughly 90 minutes on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, with five of seven commissioners present, and took action on a grant application, a ballfield modification, a youth event and the district’s soccer concessions before meeting briefly in closed session and adjourning at 8:28 p.m. The board voted to seek Duff Trust grant funds toward the approximately $14,786 replacement of the failed Walton Park water fountain (see full coverage), heard a City of Litchfield pitch for a joint intergovernmental agreement on the Davis Park soccer fields and requested cost and design details before proceeding (see full coverage), and learned that the pool season ends Aug. 9 and that the high dive is out of service for good (see full coverage). Commissioners were also briefed on the April 2027 election calendar for four of the board’s seven seats (see full coverage).

Commissioners Sherry Bergschneider and Christopher Bates were absent, and President Jeff Heyen presented both of their committee reports. Every motion of the evening is recorded in the minutes as having carried, with no vote tallies noted.

News Briefs

Board approves 70-foot bases at Walton Park

The board voted to add 70-foot bases at Walton Park before the next baseball season. Dustin Ellinger requested the addition to allow a 12U Squatch travel team to play there, according to the ball parks report, which President Jeff Heyen presented in the absence of committee chair Sherry Bergschneider. Commissioner Brian Kulick moved to allow the addition of 70-foot bases installed using the appropriate measurements, Commissioner Jennifer Cearlock seconded, and the motion carried. The minutes record no cost, no funding source, no installation date and no indication of who will perform the work. Ellinger’s affiliation with the team is not stated in the record.

Princess party approved for district calendar

Commissioners voted to pursue hosting a “little girls’ princess party.” Commissioner Katie Cross presented a plan to host 25 to 35 children and hire two to four Disney princesses from Brittain’s Princess Party, an engagement the minutes say would include a meet and greet, a photo opportunity, and a sing-along and/or story activity. Estimated costs and pre-sale ticket prices were discussed, but no figures were recorded. Cearlock moved to pursue hosting the party as described, Commissioner Jaylynn Taylor seconded, and the motion carried. No date, venue or ticket price is set in the record.

Ritchie Trust projects tabled

Discussion of possible projects to be funded with the remaining balance of the Ritchie Trust allocation ended without a decision, and the topic was tabled. The minutes do not state the remaining balance, name any of the projects discussed, or indicate when the item will return to the board. The Ritchie Trust is separate from the Duff Trust submission the board acted on the same evening.

Soccer concessions to operate as in past seasons

The board approved allowing soccer concessions to operate as they have in the past for the current soccer season. According to the minutes, Mark Bloome indicated to Executive Director Steven C. Bryant that DeDe Irvin is willing to volunteer her services, as she has in the past. Commissioner Katie Cross moved to approve, Commissioner Jaylynn Taylor seconded, and the motion carried. The record does not identify which fields the concession stand serves, describe the arrangement’s financial terms, or state whether any district revenue is involved.

New administrative assistant hired, added as bank signer

Rhonda Reener has been employed as administrative assistant, replacing Deborah Anderson, the board was told under new business. Reener will be added as a signer on the Litchfield Park District bank accounts to access account information and write checks. The item was reported, not voted on; the minutes record no motion. The record does not give a start date, state whether Anderson retired or resigned, or indicate whether Anderson has been removed as a signer on the district’s accounts.

Tardis concession and restroom project nearing completion

The concession and restroom project is complete with the exception of a couple of punch list items, Commissioner Katie Cross reported for the community center committee. Tardis needs to install a shelf in the concession area, and the district is awaiting exterior concession signs. No cost figures, completion date or contract details appear in the record, and the minutes do not describe what Tardis is or state where the structure is located.

Struggles to headline Aug. 14 concert; youth committee did not meet

The August concert, sponsored by First National Bank of Litchfield, will feature The Struggles, with Sweet P’s food truck offering food and beverages on Aug. 14, 2026, Commissioner Jaylynn Taylor reported. The July concert, featuring The City Heat Band, was well attended, with Diskey the Wonder Dog and his owner performing as an opener. Taylor also reported that there was no TLC/LCP meeting in July. The minutes do not state a concert time, location or admission price, and the TLC/LCP acronym is not expanded anywhere in the record.

Community picnic moved to Aug. 9

The Litchfield Community Picnic, originally scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, was rescheduled to Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, because of inclement weather, according to the recreation and reinvesting report. The minutes do not give a time, location or organizer for the event. Aug. 9 is also the final day of the district’s 2026 pool season.

Audit review set for September meeting

Commissioner Brian Kulick, reporting for the financial committee, told the board the audit review is scheduled for the Sept. 2, 2026, board meeting. The minutes do not name the auditor, state the fiscal year under review, or indicate whether the audit has been completed. No draft report, management letter or schedule of findings accompanies the record.

Echlin Park fence replaced

District maintenance staff have replaced the broken fence at Echlin Park, Commissioner Jennifer Cearlock reported for the park maintenance committee. The item had appeared on the agenda as a report on a broken fence. No cost, materials or completion date is recorded, and the minutes do not say how or when the fence was damaged.

Board approves two months of minutes and financial reports

The board approved minutes from both its June 3, 2026, and July 1, 2026, meetings, on a motion by Commissioner Brian Kulick seconded by Commissioner Jaylynn Taylor, incorporating a correction brought forward by Commissioner Katie Cross to the June 3 minutes. The substance of that correction is not recorded. Commissioners then approved financial reports for both June 30, 2026, and July 31, 2026 — covering monthly balances, cash receipts deposit detail, cash disbursements and bills, monthly and year-to-date profit and loss, and profit and loss between fiscal years — on a motion by Cross seconded by Kulick. Both motions carried. The published agenda for the meeting had listed only the July items in each case. No dollar figures from the financial reports appear in the minutes.

Board meets in closed session without stated purpose

Commissioners voted to enter executive session at 8:08 p.m. on a motion by Commissioner Brian Kulick, seconded by Commissioner Jaylynn Taylor, and exited at 8:26 p.m. on a motion by Commissioner Jennifer Cearlock, seconded by Commissioner Katie Cross. The minutes record no subject matter and cite no exemption for the closed session. No formal action can be taken in executive session, and the only action the minutes record after the board reconvened was the motion to adjourn, at 8:28 p.m.

Commissioners invited to State Fair luncheon

The district has received an invitation from the Illinois State Treasurer to a luncheon at the Illinois State Fair, which includes free fair admission and free lunch. Commissioner Brian Kulick and Executive Director Steven C. Bryant are attending, and the invitation was extended to all commissioners. The minutes do not give the luncheon’s date or name the state treasurer.