Park Board Discusses Damage at Paul Smith Field

Members of the Effingham Park Board discussed the damage done to the grandstand at Paul Smith Field at Community Park at this week's meeting.

The damage was the result of high winds in late December that caused the grandstand on the first base side of the ball diamond to fall back onto the bleachers.  Park District Director Jeff Althoff said they are still waiting on their insurance adjuster to finalize their work, but expects cleanup work to begin next week.

Althoff said the wind was the culprit, but wants to find out why the grandstand gave way and wants to take steps to make sure the same thing doesn't happen to the grandstand over the third base bleachers.

Board members approved 3% raises for the eight Park District employees and heard that the audit of the past fiscal year shows the District finished $26,000 in the black.

Althoff said the Board is expected to hold a special meeting on Wednesday, January 16 to decide whether to issue general obligation bonds of up to $500,000 to finance improvement projects for 2013.  He said the projects will also be decided at the meeting, work will be done on ground donated by the City north of Evergreen Hollow Park including development of a dog park as well as a couple of practice diamonds. 

Althoff said some lighting and roadway improvement projects are possibilities.