40 Forward Event Held Thursday Night

The third 40 Forward meeting Thursday night gave those gathered the opportunity to consider several locations in the community as building sites.

The locations included the area east of Workman Sports and Wellness Complex, the land already owned by Unit 40 at Central School, the farmland north of Hendelmeyer Park, the land east of the junior high building, and the land west of the Unit 40 offices off South Banker. The focus groups that discussed the options favored the land east of the Workman Complex, although some were supportive of utilizing the land available at Central. No support was heard for buying the Village Square Mall site.

Unit 40 Superintendent Andy Johnson talked about where the process stands and what happens now...

Johnson said more survey work will be taking place this spring, and then the Board will review the results and consider the options this summer. The fall will see decisions and a push toward the one cent sales tax referendum that will appear on the November election ballot.

Cary Harper, one of four co-chairs of the 40 Forward effort, reminded that purchases of vehicles, grocery food items, pharmaceuticals, and farm implements are among the items that are not subject to the one cent sales tax.

Another co-chair, Katie Koester, said she has been asked why she's involved in the effort in that she has no children in the district. She said she cares because she cares about the community.