Park District Candidate Q&A: Lorry Werhane

Highland Park Patch: How long have you lived in Highland Park?

Lorry Werhane: I was born and raised in Highland all 59 years. I attended St. James school in Highwood, Loyola  Academy in Wilmette and have a bachelor's degree from Marquette University. 

HP Patch: What was your first experience with the Park District board?

Werhane: Other than my "," I worked on the citizens committee to renovate Rosewood Beach in the 1980s.

HP Patch: What do you think the Park District's strongest program or facility is?

Werhane: They are all great programs, but if I would pick, the facility would be the , the program would be summer camps.

HP Patch: What do you think is its weakest?

Werhane: None are really weak, but we need to address the needs of our increasing senior population. Our demographics are changing, there are fewer young [people] in Highland Park, and more seniors [are] choosing to stay in Highland Park. We need to make sure that we involve them in any future facility program planning, and both active and passive recreation opportunities. I would  like the Park District to convene a senior summit very soon.

HP Patch: What do you think makes you best qualified to be a park board commissioner?

Werhane: I have the passion, knowledge and I am extremely accessible to the community. I am a team player and a consensus builder. 

HP Patch: The Park District came under fire from the community last August because of the . How do you think the board handled that situation? If you were on the board, what would you have done differently?

Werhane: I was on the board. Our staff and our board did whatever they could to get information out to the public. Again, we relied on the knowledge and expertise of  a fellow commissioner who designed employment contracts for a living. Also, we never had any correspondence from Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) as to the  any wrongdoing or improper amount of compensation.

HP Patch: What can the park board do to ensure something like what happened last summer never happens again?

Werhane: Moving forward, all pension drafting entities should have specific guidelines outlined by the state of Illinois, and attached to each pension document--the minutes of its approval included.

HP Patch: The Park District is the only governing body to lower its tax levy this year. What do you think of that decision?

Werhane: Lowering the levy with any entity under [a] tax cap, unless it involves bonds that are retiring, is not a good thing. It's better to use reserves, which can be built up over time. Reserves are really the only major source of revenue for large capital projects such as the  [plans], with matching funds possibly coming from the Army Corps [of Engineers]. 

HP Patch: What would you like to see happen with Rosewood Beach?

Werhane: It looks as if finally we will be able to protect the shores, bluffs and ravines at Rosewood Beach with the help from the Army Corps, Illinois Capital fund and Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR)  grant.

The Park District involved the community in the lakefront master plan for almost two years of meetings. Let's get the community back together again for a series of meetings to  work on buildings and amenities for Rosewood.

HP Patch: What would you like to see happen with the Fort Sheridan preserves?

Werhane: The preservation of open space, especially on or near Lake Michigan, is a high priority for me. Another golf course in the area will negatively impact revenues at Fort  Sheridan or any other golf courses in the area. We will all have to make adjustments, but in the end it's Lake County's call.

HP Patch: Some candidates for City Council and mayor have suggested consolidating services between the Park District and the city. How can the city and Park District work together? How often do you think they should?

Werhane: The Park District, city, both school districts and Lake County have cooperated for a long time. Our focuses are different and should not be merged. This is one of the reasons that we have such a great community. Our unique services complement, not compete, with each other.

The Park District of Highland Park was formed over 100 years ago because residents were  concerned  about "overbuilding" in Highland Park, and in the 1970s the citizens of Highland voted to merge the city's recreation department with the Park District. Illinois park district nationwide rank highest for delivery of  recreational services to their citizens and the Park District of Highland Park has always ranked among the top in Illinois.

All  of the above governments can and do cooperate with joint supply and equipment purchases, land exchanges, and future land and facilities planning.