Elmhurst Park Leader Getting Contract, With Perks

ELMHURST, IL – The head of the Elmhurst Park District is poised to get a new three-year contract.

On Monday, the park board is set to vote on the agreement with Jim Rogers, who was promoted to the job in 2012. It would take effect Thursday.

On Thursday, the board released the proposed contract as part of its meeting agenda.

Such a disclosure showed more openness with the public than the Elmhurst school board.

Last week, the school board did not release any information about its new four-year contract for the superintendent either before or during a board meeting in which members unanimously approved the document.

The school board only released the contract Sunday night in response to Patch's public records request six days earlier.

Under Rogers' contract, he is set to get $200,000 a year. He is now making $198,245, so his increase will amount to about 1 percent.

Rogers is set to get five weeks of paid vacation, a $400-a-month car allowance, the ability to fill up the tank once a week at the district's expense and use of a district cellphone.

After the agreement expires, Rogers and his spouse will get a Courts Plus fitness membership for as long as they want.

If Rogers serves the entire contract term, he, his spouse and dependents can take part in the district's health, vision and dental insurance at no expense until Rogers reaches Medicare age or gets another job with insurance.

Under the contract, Rogers would get a $12,000 bonus for his performance last year.

In January, Rogers was named the Illinois Park and Recreation Association's Professional of the Year.

Rogers joined the district in 1994. In November, a big majority of Elmhurst voters approved a $90 million referendum for park improvements.

A January news release listed Rogers' accomplishments as executive director.