City Council

MINUTES - STREATOR PARKS & OPEN SPACES BOARD COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL OFFICE 204 S BLOOMINGTON STREET STREATOR, IL 61364 WEDNESDAY 11, 2026 – 6:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER Chair Wheeler called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. ROLL CALL Members present: Tim Martin, Nora Sedlock, Rob Tyne, and Chair Gary Wheeler. Members absent: Afton Caulkins, Natalie Henderson, and Doug Snell. MINUTES – Approve minutes of the special meeting on August 12, 2025. Chair Wheeler requested a motion and second to approve the minutes from the August 12, 2025, meeting. MOTION: Sedlock made a motion to approve the above minutes; seconded by Tyne. ROLL: Ayes: Martin, Sedlock, Tyne, and Chair Wheeler. Motion passed. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were none. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE Mayor Bedei updated the board on the survey priorities. #1 Pickleball Courts #2 Permanent location for StreatorFest. 2. LOGAN’S OASIS – UPDATE Mayor Bedei reported the bid to install and complete Logan’s Oasis Playground at Marilla Park came in at $199,000 from Tobey’s Construction and Cartage. Wheeler inquired about the previous decision to have Public Works handle the installation. Public Works Director, Jeff Long, answered, we do not have the manpower or the time. Sedlock questions whether or not Tobey’s Construction had ever worked with the rubber substance being installed before. The board would like to see a site plan for the project. 3. MARILLA PARK – Rotary - Sign/Landscaping Mayor Bedei reported the Rotary will begin work this spring on the project. 4. NEW SCULPTURE – Don Noon Chair Wheeler reported to the board that Don Noon is loaning another sculpture to the city to be placed at Marilla Park and has been named “Silence.” Wheeler asked if the sculptures ever depart. The mayor said that the City of Streator Tourism Committee promotes art within the city, and we have 42 pieces of art on display for tourists. 5. COMMUNITY SOCCER OAKLAND PARK Mayor Bedei reported that she had spoken with Brenda Gardner this week, and Long will work with Gardner to get Oakland Park set up to be used for a Soccer League. 6. PICKLEBALL COURTS Mayor Bedei reported to the board that the courts were budgeted in the 2026 budget to be funded from TIF funds. We are in the process of applying for a grant in hopes that it will be awarded. Wheeler asked if we have a commitment from the administration that the courts will be completed this year. Martin said it appears that playgrounds take precedence over Pickleball courts. Are we ever going to get a commitment on this being done? We have been promised this for two years now. They questioned the amount the city is contributing to the Oasis playground. The mayor replied that the courts are on the project list for 2026. COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS Martin – he attended a basketball game at the Armory and noticed the floors are in very bad shape and need something done with them. He also noted the lighting is poor and wondered how the lights could be changed. Long reported that we received an EDA grant for the boiler and the Maker’s Lab, but the floor is not part of the project, and noted that the equipment may come through there. Jeff said he would talk to the City electrician regarding the lights. Long also noted that the entrance doors will be replaced. Sedlock – she said she had asked several times about the condition of the retention pond near the Pluto statue. Long said he would turn that over to Code. She said the Anderson Fields parking lot should be closed for the winter, just like Spring Lake parking lot. She would like an update on the financial position from Anderson Fields golf course for 2025, an update on disc golfing at Marilla Park, and the Post Card mural at the Lipton Tea site. ADJOURNMENT AT 6:52 P.M. Chair Wheeler requested a motion and second to adjourn the meeting. MOTION: Sedlock made a motion to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Martin. Motion passed. ________________________________ Patricia L. Henderson City Clerk