Jana Haas back on Des Plaines park board

Jana Haas, a former Des Plaines Park District commissioner, was returned to the board Tuesday, May 19, when she was appointed to fill the two-year term left by Jim Brookman. Brookman was elected alderman from the 5th Ward and resigned his park board seat on May 4.

Haas ran for re-election April 7, but lost to Joseph Weber. The other candidate for that seat, Noreen Newton, also applied for the appointment.

The other two candidates for the appointment were Mike Lake, a longtime city activist who ran for mayor in the recent election, and Michael Van Slambrouck, a longtime resident and business owner.

Haas will be a board member until the next local election in April 2011, when the seat will be up for election.

"We considered not only the information presented here tonight, but letters and resumes that had been submitted for our review prior to this meeting," said then-Board President Bill Yates in a statement released this morning.

"Our selection was unanimous, and we look forward to working with Jana over the next two years."

Voting on the appointment were commissioners Don Rosedale, Jim Grady, Bill Yates and Joseph Weber, who had been sworn in earlier in the meeting.

Following Haas's swearing-in by park board attorney Gregory MacDonald, the board elected Grady president for the fiscal year 2009-2010. Grady appointed Rosedale vice president, and Yates treasurer. Both were approved unanimously by the board.