Park Board Hears Community Garden Progressing

Effingham Park Board commissioners Wednesday heard that work is progressing on organizing a community garden.

The garden will be located on property owned by the Passalacqua family next to Bob's Discount on South Banker.

Park District Director Jeff Althoff said they hope to have plots set up and ready to rent starting in January.

Althoff also told park commissioners that a grant has been approved to help pay for a new playground unit at Community Park.  The new equipment will replace the current wooden unit at Community and should be put in place in the spring.

Park commissioners discussed the proposed tax levy for the coming year.  Althoff said the levy totals $887,950, about $40,000 more than last year's levy.  A vote on the levy will take place at the Board's December meeting.

Althoff told commissioners that no one has picked up a candidate's packet yet for the April 2013 election.  Two seats will be filled; those are now held by Dr. Michael Sehy and by Dennis Carie.  Althoff said Sehy has indicated he will not seek re-election, but Carie said he would.  Packets are available in the Park District office in the Ron Diehl Center at Hendelmeyer Park.