Date 10/28/2008

GENEVA, IL — The Forest Preserve District of Kane County invites you on tours of our new maintenance & operations facilities, Friday, Nov. 14, from 3-5 p.m.

This year, the District completed work on two buildings that will serve as headquarters for the north and south divisions of the operations department. Muirhead Springs Forest Preserve in Hampshire is home to the north operations building. The south operations building is located within Grunwald Farms Forest Preserve in Elburn. Both shops will house each division’s machinery and fleet.

The opening of the two buildings follows a major restructuring of the maintenance and operations department that began two and a half years ago. “We consolidated equipment and staff between the north and the south end, and it’s helped us better manage all of our department’s resources,” said Michael Holan, director of maintenance & operations for the District.

“Previously, we split the county over seven work areas, with a dozen buildings that served as makeshift shops, including barns, garages, and other buildings at various preserves. By creating larger, centrally located facilities that are really designed to store and protect equipment, it allows us to keep better track of what’s being used as well as care for and secure the machinery. We can also better coordinate staff efforts and communication by utilizing one headquarters for each area,” Holan said.

During the open houses, North Operations Supervisor John Goreth and South Operations Supervisor Pat McQuilkin will be on hand for tours and questions at their respective headquarters, as will senior rangers and other District staff. Light refreshments will be served.

Muirhead Springs is located at 42W797 Rohrsen Rd., Hampshire. Grunwald Farms is located at 2S033 Lorang Rd., Elburn. Both open houses will run from 3-5 p.m.

For more information, contact Forest Preserve District headquarters at 630-232-5980 or see
www.kaneforest.com