Park Board Moves Closer to Getting Workman Center Funding in Place

The Effingham Park Board is moving closer to getting funding in place for the Richard E. Workman Sports and Wellness Center.

The Board held a hearing at this week's meeting to receive comments on issuing up to $5.5 million in debt certificates.  A part of that will cover the cost of the area that will house physical, occupational and speech therapies and related facilities for Hospital Sisters of St. Francis and Hospital Sisters Health System, offered locally by St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital.  Up to $1.75 million of the $5.5 million total is to cover the health care facilities.  No one attended to offer comments at the hearing.

The Board also reorganized for the new fiscal year.  Dave McDevitt and Dennis Carie will again serve as Park Board President and Vice-President.

Park District Director Jeff Althoff shared information on summer employees, including 12 statisticians, eight maintenance workers and 30 to 40 Kluthe Pool employees.  The Board also selected McDevitt, Althoff, Park Commissioner Chris Huelsbusch and Park District Treasurer Anita Broom to serve on the budget committee.

Althoff reported that they hope to have the new concessions stand and pavilion on the west side of Community Park open for business on Monday, and that work continues on the maintenance shed at Evergreen Hollow Park and a pavilion financed by the local Rotary clubs at Community Park.  Althoff also reported that participation numbers in Park District programs are down a little from last year, but said school enrollment is also down this year and said those two items trend together.