Park Board Authorizes Finalizing Get Fit Acquisition

Effingham Park Board commissioners Wednesday authorized Board President Dave McDevitt to finalize the terms to acquire Get Fit Family Fitness. The business will be relocated inside the Workman Sports and Wellness Complex to serve as a fitness center.

McDevitt said the agreed-upon price is $311,500. That amount includes $124,000 for non-cardio equipment and $187,500 for the business and the membership list. It's planned to acquire new cardio equipment.

As part of the terms of the transaction, Get Fit owner Beth Heuerman will become sales manager for the fitness center. Heuerman will be paid a maximum of $62,000/year, and that amount is based on the center hitting all of its targeted sales and membership goals. Should Heuerman leave, she would be bound by a one-year no-compete clause in a 20-mile radius of Effingham. Heuerman will work for Rink Management, the firm hired to operate the Complex for the Park District.

The goal is to get the transaction completed soon, so Heuerman can travel to another Rink Management-owned facility for training.

Also Wednesday, McDevitt reported that the agreement under which HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital will lease space in the Complex for wellness efforts is yet to be completed, but should be soon.

The Park Board also heard that TREC wants to donate 54 acres of ground along the TREC trail to the Park District. The 54-acre tract is envisioned as a park area. McDevitt said there are some concerns, though, about some of the stipulations requested by the donor. Those ask that the Park District construct a pavilion, playground, restroom and hitching posts within two years of the conveyance of the property. McDevitt is concerned that other projects underway might not allow such expenditures, while Park Commissioner Chris Huelsbusch wondered how restroom facilities could be built and maintained at the site.  

More research is expected on the offer.

Regarding the Workman Complex, crews have a lot of the structural steel in place, and Park District Director Jeff Althoff said Poettker Construction officials expect walls to start going up next week. The goal is to have the Complex completed by year's end.

Althoff also reported that more than 900 boys and girls have signed up for Park District baseball and softball programs for this summer. The signup deadline is later this month.