Park District Still Hopeful Workman Center Will Open by Year's End

Effingham Park District commissioners heard this week that the Workman Sports and Wellness Complex should still be open by year's end.

Park Board President David McDevit said that, despite delays due to wintry weather, the Complex should be open sometime in December. McDevitt noted that structural steel is in the ground and walls are going up.

McDevitt said contracts with HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital and with Get Fit Family Fitness are not complete. He said, "there's no problem, they just aren't done."  The hospital plans to lease space in the complex, while Get Fit will relocate from its current location and will operate in the Workman Complex under the ownership of the Park District.

McDevitt also reported that Park District Director Jeff Althoff is in Romulus, Michigan, site of a similar complex operated by Rink Management, the firm that will operate the Workman Complex. He said the Michigan operation leases space to a hospital and is owned by a municipality, similar to the Effingham operation's relationship with the Park District.

The Park Board retained Mark Kenter to audit the past year's books, and it was reported that Althoff is still gathering information related to swimming pool fees for the coming year.