Pingree Grove severs parks contract

Pingree Grove on Monday fired a vendor that was hired last year to run the village's parks and recreation program but hasn't yet offered any services to residents.

The village board unanimously voted to terminate the village's contract with the Northern Kane Educational Corp., which also runs the Cambridge Lakes Charter School in Pingree Grove.

Pingree Grove Mayor Wyman "Clint" Carey, who was hoping to reach an agreement with Northern Kane, said the village could face legal action by unilaterally terminating the contract.

"It opens up a chance ... that we might be in a lawsuit," Carey said.

Trustee Greg Marston tried to terminate the contract last week but was outvoted.

Instead, trustees decided to delay action on the matter until Monday's meeting while Pingree Grove officials attempted to negotiate a deal with Northern Kane that would end its relationship with the village.

The sides were unable to reach an agreement, Village Attorney Dean Frieders said Monday.

A central sticking point was the cost of sports equipment Northern Kane says it bought for the village's parks and recreation program.

Northern Kane was seeking reimbursement for the equipment, village officials said.

"We've asked them to tabulate these costs, and it's been kind of a moving target," Frieders said.

The village attorney said Northern Kane initially asked for $50,000, then increased the amount to $72,000 before asking for an even larger sum.

Village officials said they asked to look at Northern Kane's books - which is specifically allowed in the village's contract with the vendor - but were denied access.

"We asked that they substantiate those (costs), but they haven't given us anything," Frieders said.

Northern Kane Executive Director Larry Fuhrer offered to end the parks agreement in a June 23 letter - as long as Pingree Grove gives Northern Kane first-priority access to the village's athletic fields during and after school hours.

Northern Kane did not build the fields, Carey said.

"The failure of some persons to recognize, understand and respect the contributions of others who continually contribute to the village, its attractiveness and its future will always mystify me," Fuhrer wrote in the June 23 letter.

Frieders recommended against accepting Fuhrer's proposed agreement.

Fuhrer, Northern Kane board member Sylvia Polletta and a Northern Kane spokesman did not return calls seeking comment.

Under the contract, Northern Kane would pay for the parks and recreation program and get 75 percent of the profits, while the village would get 25 percent.

The contract was set to expire in 2011.