Board of Commissioners

Meet the Commissioners

The Wildwood Park District is governed by five resident-elected, non-compensated Commissioners. All Commissioners who serve on the Board are current Wildwood Park District residents, and serve for a six year term of office.

 

Becky Jante, President

Year Elected: 2025

Term Ends: 2031

Email: bjante@wildwoodparkdistrict.com

Biography

Becky and her husband, Larry, have called Wildwood home since 2004. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Illinois, and worked for State Farm Insurance before raising her two daughters. Becky and her family enjoy all water sports, and she can often be seen enjoying the Wildwood parks and walking her dogs. Becky loves serving on the Wildwood Park District Board of Commissioners, specifically because it allows her to connect with the community and make a positive impact.

 

 

 

 

Matt Brueck, Vice President

Year Elected: 2025

Term Ends: 2031

Email: mbrueck@wildwoodparkdistrict.com

Biography

Matt and his wife, Jen, moved to Wildwood in 2004.  They have two boys who grew up attending the Wildwood Park District Summer Camps and have now been Camp Counselors themselves for several years. Matt never expected to run for the Wildwood Park District Board of Commissioners, but after years of attending board meetings, he saw areas for improvement that he felt confident he could help with and make positive changes for the community. Matt has a Bachelors of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University-West Lafayette and a Masters of Business Administration Degree from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. He has worked for Honeywell for 26 years in Technical Sales Engineering Management. In his free time, Matt loves to tournament bass fish.

 

Dan Corrigan, Treasurer

Year Elected: 2023

Term Ends: 2029

Email: dcorrigan@wildwoodparkdistrict.com

Biography

Dan has been a Wildwood resident for the past 10 years, and is happily raising his family in our wonderful community. After graduating from Illinois State University, Dan has been a Police Officer for the past 23 years and has a passion for public service. He has been an active member of Scouts BSA with his son and has held leadership positions within that group. In addition, Dan has sat on the Elmhurst Commission on Youth for several years. He was drawn to becoming a Wildwood Park District Commissioner by wanting to share his knowledge and experience with the board to allow the Park District to continue flourishing and bringing programming to the community. Dan feels that Wildwood’s parks and the residents are our biggest asset to our community.  The amount of green space as well as our access to Gages and Valley Lakes make our Park District, while small, one to be envied. He feels that being a good steward to the land that we have, while being financially responsible, are the most important parts of being a Commissioner. He is passionate about improving our parks and services to better serve and improve the lives of our residents both now and in the future.

 

Anna Nelson, Commissioner

Year Elected: 2023

Term Ends: 2029

Email: anelson@wildwoodparkdistrict.com

Biography

Anna and her family have called Wildwood home for over 30 years. Having had attended Wildwood Park District board meetings for several years; she felt that her experience and understanding of the issues made her a good candidate with the right assets to run for the Board of Commissioners. Anna earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art Communication from the University of Illinois. This educational background led her to start her career with a publishing company. Later work experiences included working for the federal government, teaching at the College of Lake County, and finally working for Special Education Department of Lake County (SEDOL). Anna feels the skills she excelled at in the workforce she is able to bring to the table as a Commissioner. This can be best illustrated with Anna’s Board appointed position as liaison between the Wildwood Park District and Warren Township Special Recreation Association (WSRA). Anna’s two daughters had the enjoyment of participating in many of the Wildwood Park District programs over the years and Anna strives to continue that legacy with strong programming and events. Anna’s passion is to make sure that the Wildwood Park Districts’ parks and lakes are maintained and preserved for future generations.

 

Doug Dietzen, Commissioner

Year Elected: 2025

Term Ends: 2027

Email: ddietzen@wildwoodparkdistrict.com

Biography

Doug and his wife, Ranya, moved from Gurnee to Wildwood in 2020 and have two children that attended Warren Township High School Doug graduated from Marquette University with a degree in Industrial Engineering and has been employed with S&C Electric Company for the past 33 years, currently holding the position of Senior Director of Production Operations overseeing the Franklin, WI manufacturing facility. Since becoming a resident of Wildwood, Doug and his family quickly developed an appreciation for how special the community is and for how fortunate they are to have access to such a wonderful parks system – both contributing factors in Doug wanting to be more directly involved. As a Commissioner, Doug is looking forward to using his experience as a leader and problem-solver to make impactful contributions to the Park District team. Doug enjoys spending time with family and friends on the lake and is also an avid pickle ball player and golfer.

 

Board of Commissioners Roles and Responsibilities

Primary Functions of the Wildwood Park District Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners as a whole is the legal corporate authority of the District. Individual Commissioners do not have the legal authority to determine policy, give direction to district personnel, or to act or speak for the Board unless specifically authorized to do so by official Board action.

The authority of the Board is Section 1205/8-1(d) of The Park District Code, which states as follows: “(d) To pass all necessary ordinances, rules and regulations for the proper management and conduct of business of the board and district and to establish by ordinance all needful rules and regulations for the government and protection of parks, boulevards and driveways and other property under its jurisdiction, and to effect the objects for which such districts are formed.”

To study, develop and adopt policies that will satisfy the park and recreational needs of the community and to see that such policies are effectively administered.

The Board shall appraise and evaluate the District's parks, programs, services, and facilities to establish long range goals and strategies for planning and delivery of recreation programming, land acquisition and development, and capital improvements and operations.

To adopt an annual budget each fiscal year in order to provide the best possible facilities, programs, and services to the public. The budget should be balanced which means that current expenditures/expense should not exceed current revenues and funding sources.

The Board shall establish, pass, and file with the Lake County Clerk a combined Budget and Appropriation Ordinance.  The ordinance appropriates the monies that are necessary to cover the projected expenses and liabilities of the District that may occur in the next fiscal year.

To annually appropriate funds and levy taxes in order that the District’s needs may be met.  Such levies shall provide for the generation of revenue to pay for the cost of operating the District. The Board may accumulate funds for the purposes of building repairs and improvements and may annually levy taxes for such purposes in excess of current requirements for its other purposes but subject to any lawful tax rate limitation. The Board shall pass and file with the Lake County Clerk no later than the last Tuesday in December of each year.

The Board shall evaluate, discipline, direct, and supervise the Executive Director. Therein the Executive Director shall report to the President of the Board. The Board also oversees and directs the District’s Accountant (Independent Contractor).

The attorney shall oversee all legal matters and the prosecution and defense of all litigation of the Board/Park District.  The attorney may draft and/or review all ordinances, resolutions and other instruments required by the Board and shall give opinions on all questions referred to him/her by the entire Board, and/or the president and shall attend meetings as requested by the Board.

The auditor shall conduct the annual financial operations audit of the District and present the results of the audit and recommendations to the Board.

The Board of Commissioners may create a resolution, which is used to articulate a position of the Board of Commissioners on a particular issue to respond to request for formal authority or decision.

The Board of Commissioners may create an ordinance (i.e., Parks Ordinance), which is used to designate the enactment of the Board of Commissioners as a legislative body.  An ordinance is the equivalent of a municipal statute, passed by the Board of Commissioners and governs matters not already covered by any other local, state, or federal law.

 

Elections

The Wildwood Park District board is comprised of five resident-elected, non-compensated members called commissioners. Terms are for six years, but the board or the community can elect to change terms to four years. In general, two seats are up for election in the spring of each odd-numbered year. Typically, election information is shared in the Fall of the year prior to the Consolidated Election (the Wildwood Park District does not hold Primary Elections).

Individuals interested in running for the board should follow the Wildwood Park District Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as the Board of Commissioners page on the Wildwood Park District website, and subscribe to the Wildwood Park District E-Newsletters for communications regarding seat vacancies and elections. Please also follow the Lake County Clerk’s marketing channels for pertinent election timeline updates. The Lake County Elections hub can be found here: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/300/Candidate-Services.

For additional questions, please contact the Wildwood Park District office at 847.223.7275 or info@wildwoodparkdistrict.com.

Serving on the Board

By Peter Murphy, President and CEO Illinois Association of Park Districts

If you are appointed or elected to the park board, you will become a leader who has accepted a major civic responsibility. You should be willing to make a commitment to give freely of your time and talents to help strengthen and further the park, recreation and conservation mission of your community.

As a board member, you will take on the responsibility for helping to set goals, formulate policies, and establish services that will meet the present and future needs of the citizens of your district. The success of your agency depends to a great degree on how well you understand your role and how effectively you address your responsibilities as a board member.

More than 2,100 citizens serve on Illinois park district, forest preserve and recreation boards. Effective board members are respected citizens, well known and active in community affairs, and interested in the total recreational needs of their communities.

Serving without compensation, locally elected commissioners represent their fellow citizens and interpret their views. They have the primary responsibility of spending tax monies, fees, and donations designated for park and recreation services. They spend, and spend wisely, millions of dollars every year.

To be eligible to run for the Wildwood Park District Board of Commissioners, an individual must meet the below requirements:

  • Must be a Wildwood resident for at least one year prior to election day.
  • A person is not eligible to serve as park commissioner if that person is in arrears in the payment of a tax or other indebtedness due to the park district or has been convicted in any court located in the United States of any infamous crime, bribery, perjury, or other felony.

As a board member, it is important that you commit to the “big picture” and the long- term effects of the decisions you make. You should use sound judgment by weighing the pros and cons of each issue, be open to new ideas, and make ethical decisions. In addition, it helps to have the capacity to “take the heat” when unpopular, but necessary, decisions are made.

Board Members:

  • Adopt policies that allow the Wildwood Park District to run efficiently, effectively, legally, and ethically.
  • Request, receive, evaluate and make decisions based on well researched guidance from the Executive Director.
  • Interpret the Wildwood Park District’s mission, values, and vision to the public.
  • Monitor operational and capital finances. Hire, fire, supervise, evaluate and support the Executive Director.
  • Establish policies after consideration of pros and cons of each issue.
  • Help set a strategic direction that adopts goals relating to the vision and mission of the agency.
  • Act as a resource, a sounding board and as the eyes and ears of the citizens of the community, making sure that the agency is meeting their needs.
  • Develop, maintain and update long-range plans.
  • Adopt and adhere to a code of ethics.

  • Have an attitude of cooperation, open-mindedness and objectivity.
  • Are motivated only by a desire to serve the citizens and the agency.
  • Work with the Executive Director, not over or around him or her.
  • Inspire the community’s confidence, respect and support. Spend time in board meetings on strategic planning, policies and procedures, not on operational details that are the Executive Director’s responsibility.
  • Make no disparaging remarks about the agency, other board members or their opinions.
  • Keep high ethical standards.
  • Display a talent for working well with others.
  • Do not promise voting outcomes prior to learning the facts of any issue.
  • Do not make decisions until all sides of an issue have been presented.
  • Support board decisions even when a decision conflicts with personal views.

The Wildwood Park District board is comprised of five resident-elected, non-compensated members called commissioners. To be eligible to serve as an elected commissioner, you must be a Wildwood resident for at least one year prior to election day. Terms are for six years, but the board or the community can elect to change terms to four years. In general, two seats are up for election in the spring of each odd-numbered year.

Steps to Being Elected:

  1. In the fall of an even-numbered year, pick up a statement of economic interest and candidate petitions at the Wildwood Park District office.
  2. Gather signatures of eligible voters so that your name may be placed on the ballot. You must obtain 25 valid signatures or 2 percent of the number of ballots cast for commissioner in the last election, whichever number is greater.
  3. File the nominating petitions and a statement of candidacy with the park district secretary between 113 and 106 days prior to election day (usually in late December of an even-numbered year).
  4. File a statement of economic interests with your county clerk (and a receipt with the park district secretary) on or before the final day for filing petitions.
  5. Choose whether to file with the appropriate official clerk an optional loyalty oath and a voluntary statement of compliance with the Fair Campaign Practices Act.
  6. File campaign finance disclosure forms with the State Board of Elections, if you raise or spend a prescribed amount on your campaign.

For specific details, contact the Wildwood Park District Manager, board secretary, or county clerk. Or, check the State Board of Elections’ website at elections.il.gov.

Election Resources

Serving on the Wildwood Park District Board- What Does That Mean?

Lake County Clerk Election Candidate Services Hub

2025 Board Meeting Calendar

Board meetings are generally held the third Monday of each month at 7:00pm. All meetings are held at the Rule House, 33325 N. Sears Boulevard Wildwood, IL 60030, and are open to the public. Meeting agendas, minutes, financials, and board packets can be found in PDF form in the calendar table below. A printable PDF version of the 2025 Board Meeting Dates can be downloaded here.

Meeting Date Meeting Type Agendas Minutes Packets
December 15th, 2025. 7:00pm Regular Meeting
November 17th, 2025. 7:00pm Regular Meeting
October 20th, 2025, 7:00pm Regular Meeting
September 15th, 2025, 7:00pm Regular Meeting
August 18th, 2025, 7:00pm Regular Meeting
July 21st, 2025, 7:00pm Regular Meeting
June 16th, 2025, 7:00pm Regular Meeting
May 19th, 2025, 7:00pm

 

May 19th, 2025 7:15pm

 FY 2025-2026 Budget & Appropriations Hearing

Regular Meeting

 Agenda

 

 

Agenda

  

Financials

 

Packet
April 14th, 2025, 7:00pm

(Second Monday of the month)

 Regular Meeting Agenda Financials

Packet
March 18th, 2025 (Tues), 7:00pm

(Moved for St. Patrick’s Day)

 Regular Meeting Agenda Financials

Packet Pt. 1

Packet Pt. 2
February 18th, 2025 (Tues), 7:00pm

(Moved for President’s Day)

 Regular Meeting Agenda Minutes Financials

Packet
January 13th, 2025, 7:00pm

(Second Monday of the month)

 Regular Meeting   Agenda Minutes   Packet

 

Archived Minutes and Agendas

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