Park Board Approves Contract w/Rink Management to Operate Workman Complex

Effingham Park Board members Wednesday voted to approve a five-year contract with Rink Management, the firm that will operate the Richard E. Workman Sports and Wellness Complex when it's completed near Evergreen Hollow Park.

The firm will be paid $6,000/month over the life of the agreement, plus a 20% incentive bonus. Here's how the bonus will work: the base revenue for the complex will be set during the first year of operation, and then Rink Management will receive 20% of any revenue earned above that base in subsequent years.

Park District Director Jeff Althoff said, "It gives (Rink Management) an incentive to want to succeed."

The firm is already at work in advance of the opening next year, at a rate of $3,000/month until the complex opens.

The Board also paid its first bill on construction of the complex; a total of $501,000 to contractor Poettker Construction. Park Board President David McDevitt said, "You thought the project was really underway when you started to see the dirt moving, but it's really when you get the first bill." 

The first bill will be paid from donated funds; subsequent payments will be made from revenue to be generated from the sale of debt certificates in December.

Althoff said Poettker will be digging the footings to be poured starting Monday.

The Board also approved an agreement with Milano and Grunloh Engineers of Effingham for plan revisions and material testing services at the project site for $13,950.

Board members heard from City Director of Public Works Steve Miller on a new proposed city-county enterprise zone. Under the plan, the various taxing bodies with property in the Zone would abate any increase in property tax revenue. Officials say the lack of increase in taxes would be an incentive to a firm to build or expand in the Zone.

Park Board members asked for a month to get questions answered, and will likely vote on the agreement at their December meeting.

The Board reviewed the tentative property tax levy and will likely vote on the measure in December. The levy is about  $46,000 more than what was actually extended in taxes last year.

The Park Board approved McDevitt and Althoff to represent the Park District at the annual Illinois Association of Park Boards meeting in January; heard that Effingham Asphalt has resurfaced the road in back of Community Park where the Wonderland in Lights Christmas light display is stationed each year; and heard that the stone is being placed on the front of the new maintenance building at Evergreen Hollow Park.

The Board also agreed to change the Park District logo. The logo has long been a maple leaf; Althoff said he wanted an updated look and said it would be incorporated into the Park District as opportunities present themselves.