Cary Park District officials resign following 'obscene conduct' citation

When the executive director of the Cary Park District and another top official abruptly resigned late last month, parks leaders declined to comment on the reasons for their sudden departure.

It's now apparent why.

McHenry County court records show former director Steve Cherveny and former superintendent of recreation Susan Mayer were cited in July on disorderly conduct charges alleging they engaged in "obscene/sexual conduct in public."

Cherveny, 48, of Cary, and Mayer, 37, of Carol Stream, received the citations about 5:40 p.m. July 2 at the McHenry County Conservation District's Fox Bluff Conservation Area, near Cary, court documents state.

On July 19, records show, each admitted to an amended version of the charge, this one stating they "disturbed others by engaging in loud conduct and in doing so breached the public peace." They were each ordered to pay $216 in fines and fees and placed on 100 days of court supervision.

Attorney Edward Donahue, who represented Cherveny and Mayer in court, declined comment Friday.

Contacted earlier Friday, park board President Bill Harvey said Cherveny had worked with the district for 10 years, while Mayer had been a parks employee for between 13 and 14 years.

According to Harvey, the pair never disclosed why they resigned.

"They just said it was for personal reasons," Harvey said. "It was a surprise, but we wish them both the best."

Reached later Friday, Harvey declined to comment on the allegations and would only say that Cherveny and Mayer resigned on their own.