Meet the Board of Commissioners
The Park Board meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at the Prairie View Community Center 6834 Dempster at 7:00PM. Please feel free to attend these meetings and express views. The District also meets the 1st and 2nd Thursdays of the month for Recreational, Parks Maintenance, Finance and Administration committee meetings. Please check the meeting schedule below or the website Calendar for listings of dates and times.
Meeting dates, agendas, minutes
Betty Fergus, President
bfergus@mortongroveparks.com
16 Years of service
First Elected 1995
Current Term Expires 2015
A Morton Grove Park District resident for over 27 years, Betty Fergus resides on the west side of town with husband, Gil. Betty has three children. In her sixteen years on the Park Board, she has served as an officer for thirteen years. Her board experience also includes the Little City Foundation Parent/Guardian Group, Co-Founder & First President/Commissioner for Morton Grove American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), and Co-Founder & former board member for H.A.V.E. Dreams Foundation, (Helping Autistic Voices Emerge). She was a 2007 recipient of a Good Hands Award from her employer. The Good Hands Award acknowledges Betty’s volunteerism for truly embody the spirit of giving back to communities in which she lives and works.
Eileen Coursey, Vice-President
ecoursey@mortongroveparks.com
34 Years of Service
First Elected 1977
Current Term Expires 2013
In 1949 Eileen Coursey, then Eileen Collins, moved to Morton Grove. She met and married a local boy, Jim Coursey, who later became a Morton Grove Policeman. The two were married at St. Martha’s Church. Their reception was booked at the American Legion Post 134 but unfortunately the building collapsed on the day of the wedding back in July, 1953.
In 1955, Eileen had her first of seven children. Eileen while raising her family was busy volunteering as the lunch program organizer for St. Martha’s school for twelve years, as a den mother, brownie leader, president of Notre Dame Mother’s Club, Booster Club member at Niles West High School, and assisted the Niles West High School Cross Country Invitational for four years.
In 1977, Eileen was the first woman to be elected as a Morton Grove Park District Commissioner, hoping to bring new programs in to the district for the children and adults as well.
Eileen was instrumental in the installation of new equipment and improvements at the two outdoor pools, Oriole and Harrer, a large slide at Harrer and new spray park and for many years worked hard with the Board to plan and finish Frank Hren Discovery Park at Golf School.
In 1980, Eileen was widowed and continued to raise her seven children as well as volunteer for the parish, the Park District and the Village on many committees. From 1981 – 1990, Eileen planned seven weddings and began nurturing grandchildren, a total of sixteen. In 1998, Eileen was recognized at the IPRA/IAPD Annual Conference for 20 years of service and again in 2007 for 30 years of service.
In 1999, Eileen energetically arranged for the Champion Dallas Stars Hockey team and Local hometown boy Blake Sloan to bring home the Stanley Cup to Harrer Park for Blake Sloan Day on Sunday, August 17, 1999 for all to see, touch and have pictures taken.
On March 21, 2001, Eileen M. Coursey, citizen of the year was honored at a luncheon at Doubletree in Glenview by then Mayor Daniel Scanlon and the Village of Morton Grove.
Eileen is still an active volunteer for the following organizations: St. Martha’s Church; a Minister of Care, those in her care include, homebound individuals and nursing home residents; and plays cards weekly with seniors who are homebound.
Eileen also keeps very active attending Park Board Meetings weekly as well as attending fun classes and enjoying great aqua exercise classes at Oriole & Harrer Pools. She hopes to continue to serve our great Park District for many more years. In her many years on the park board, She has served as President five times as well as Vice President and Treasurer.
Dominick Burdi (Dom), Treasurer
dburdi@mortongroveparks.com
8 Years of Service
First Elected 2003
Current Term Expires 2013
*Resident Morton Grove: 1978-Current (33 Years)
*Marital Status/Family: Married/Louise (37 Years)...With 2 Children: Dom Jr. 25 years old...Joey 23 years old.
* Education: 1974 (37 years ago) Bachelor Degree in Park & Recreation/Minor in Psychology from George Williams College Downers Grove, Illinois.
*Occupation: Recently retired from Sara Lee Foods: 34 Years/Sales Development Manager/Responsible for 14 Million Dollars in Sales. Numerous Sales Championship Awards.
* Morton Grove Volunteer Work: Coached MG Baseball, AYSO Soccer, Basketball, Volley Ball Coordinator, & Park Board Commissioner.
*Hobbies: Sports, Music, Working Out, Walking, Bike Riding, Eating Gourmet Foods, Comedy/Making People Laugh, and I Love Communicating with People.
*Goals: Contributing to making the Morton Grove Park District a successful, dominate and fiscally responsible factor in the Morton Grove Community.
Please feel free to contact me at any time.
*Cell Phone: 847.922.2690
Jerry Coursey, Commissioner
jcoursey@mortongroveparks.com
12 Years of Service
First Elected 1999
Current Term Expires 2017
Having grown up in Morton Grove Jerry and his wife Janet chose to stay in Morton Grove to raise their three children. Jerry has volunteered with Morton Grove AYSO, Morton Grove Softball, and Niles West High School. First elected to the Park Board in 1999, he has held the positions of President, Vice President and Treasurer. Jerry is also active in the Sons of the American Legion, serving as Commander, and the Morton Grove Moose Lodge. Jerry has been a member of The Morton Grove Days Committee , serving as President and Vice President and continues to coordinate “Santa Claus Comes to Town”.
Kevin Lochner, Commissioner
klochner@mortongroveparks.com
6 Years of Service
First Elected 2005
Current Term Expires 2017
A 40 year resident of Morton Grove, Kevin has been married for 16 years and is the father of 3 boys, ages 14, 12 and 9 yrs old. Kevin has always been heavily involved in Morton Grove. He is currently a Niles West Feeder baseball coach, former VP and currently the umpire coordinator for Morton Grove Baseball, a member of Sons of American Legion, a youth basketball and flag football coach and a Village of Morton Grove Employee for 20 years.
Kevin has been a park commissioner for the past 7 years. His hobbies include golf, softball, and spending as much time with his family as possible. Kevin feels that parents should spend as much time with their kids as possible, it would make the world a better place for all.