The Bensenville Parks Board hired Joe Vallez as its interim director on a part-time basis, during a Dec. 21 session. Vallez also heads the North Berwyn Park District full-time, and part-time at the Marengo and Justice park districts.

Marengo Parks and Recreation Superintendent Joe Vallez is in demand, as the Bensenville Parks Board approved a short-term contract that names him as their interim parks director, during its Dec. 21 meeting.

The 3-2 vote on a 4½-month contract at $6,000 per month comes on the heels of former head Rick Robbins’ termination, earlier this month. Vallez also oversees the North Berwyn Park District on a full-time basis, in addition to the Marengo and Justice park districts on a part-time schedule.

Officials at the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund indicated it would conduct an investigation into the matter of pension contributions.

“In order to collect the pensions, he would have to work 1,000 hours annually each in North Berwyn, Justice, and Marengo,” said IMRF Executive Director Louis Kosiba, in a radio interview. “I don’t know of anyone who works 3,000 hours a year.”

The IMRF sent correspondence requesting documentation, dating from December 2014, to validate the pension amounts that would eventually culminate in his retirement benefits. The Bensenville position is non-eligible, and he receives no healthcare concessions. He has worked at North Berwyn for the past 15 years, Justice for the past six years, and two years in Marengo.

“They say I have to work 20 hours a week, or more, to qualify … this is my life,” said Vallez. “I have no family, I’m dedicated to my work, and putting in the time. Bensenville contacted me to become the interim, and hopefully, these decisions are made on my efforts in these positions.”

Vallez has a track record with overseeing park districts, and working to improve their resources, although many have been embroiled in debt. The Marengo position was accepted in 2014 when its district had just closed the public Starfish swimming pool due to funding issues and maintenance. He noted that its holdings were becoming obsolete, which included the recent dismantling of a dilapidated wooden ski hill.

The crumbling 20-year-old playground equipment at Indian Oaks Park was torn down, and through a fundraising campaign that garnered $30,000 in donations, will be replaced. Vallez appeared before the Marengo city council in August, seeking partnership and common ground with municipal officials, despite being separate agencies. There was also the task of rebuilding bridges with the community that had been neglected.

“The district was operating at about $200,000 in the red, when I came onboard, and it was reduced this year, to $18,847 this year,” Vallez said. “There were hard actions, we had to cut staff in half, but a lot was due to the halt of state grants, and Gov. [Buce] Rauner’s policies. We removed a wooden ski hill, two years ago. It’s a matter of reconnecting with the community to tell the truth, and the buy-in was significant. In 10 weeks, more than $30,000 was raised for the playground replacement.

“For 2017, we want to do more hiring and have more programs … get our feet underneath us, giving it two years for re-boot mode,” he said. “We need a master plan, a roadmap for up to 10 years, so money isn’t wasted … how to move forward with an oversight budget.”

A failed 2003 bond referendum, and the sale of bonds by board members, had put the district in poor financial shape. In the past two years, the district has lowered its annual budget by $100,000 in attempting to recover from the shortfalls. “A park district is measured by what a community wants,” he said.

Marengo Mayor Donald Lockhart has taken note of the differences, from previous years.

“The communications between the park district and the city have improved vastly, and this is a community where we all work together. The playground? (Ward 1 Alderman) Michael Miller took the playground work to heart … it’s a sign of good things for the future. The park district is not connected with the city, but we’re very happy that Mr. Vallez is there. We have a very good relationship.”

Roiling the waters are pension questions and the 2015 salaries for Marengo ($34,996), Justice ($81,393), and the full-time slot at North Berwyn ($128,325). IMRF standards impose that an individual must work 1,000 annually in their position for pension qualification. With almost 30 years in the profession, the workload is demanding, and being addressed, according to Vallez, and the park districts that employ him.

“It’s not like I’m out for a money grab; the industry sets the standards,” said Vallez. “I’m very blessed, and the fact of the matter is that you work seven days a week. I’m not one to sit at home and watch the paint dry … I’m the luckiest guy in the world. This is what I love, and I serve these communities. People in Marengo know me, and no one has asked them, or the other communities about this.”

The IMRF has requested documents from Vallez, as proof that he worked the necessary 1,000 hours per year, since December 2014, at the park districts in North Berwyn, Marengo and Justice individually.

“It seems to be posturing,” he said. “Peter Christman of the IMRF did an inventory in Marengo, two years ago, and it was OK.”

Bensenville’s park district came in over budget by nearly $1.4 million since 2013, according to district financial records. Vallez has said the position offered is temporary, and an interim post, and he will remain at his other posts.