Effingham Park District Board Treasurer Anita Bloom informed the board at Wednesday’s meeting that she intends to step down from the position after nearly 25 years. Broom said she was stepping down to take another full time position, but will stay on until a replacement can be found. Commissioner Russ Sehy said that Broom “would be missed.”
The board heard from Effingham City Administrator Jim Arndt and Economic Development Director Todd Hull regarding the new Effingham Enterprise Zone. The City of Effingham is currently in the process of applying for a new zone as the current one is set to expire in 2018. Part of that process includes having all local taxing bodies pass resolutions to agree to be part of zone. Benefits of an enterprise zone include real estate tax abatement for businesses who expand or relocate within the zone. While the board took no action on issue at Wednesday’s meeting, Park District Director Jeff Alhtoff expects the board to vote in favor of the resolution at next month’s meeting.
Jake Junghanel, of Rink Management, updated the board on Workman Sports Complex membership numbers. That number rose during August and is currently at 1649.
During the Director’s Report Althoff updated the board on fall programs. Overall, he said that numbers were solid.
Also discussed in the report was a Harmony Playground Fundraiser with Wendy’s. Participants can find a voucher on the Harmony Playground Facebook page and bring it to Wendy’s. After presenting the voucher, twenty percent of that sale will go towards funding the playground. Althoff said that they were close to hitting their fundraising goal of $300,000, but did not provide an exact number. Provided they hit their goal, he hopes that construction will begin this spring.
The board was also updated on a new Halloween program that will be offered by the Park District which will be held on October 29th at Evergreen Park. The program will feature a walk where participants will stop by various booths that will provide Halloween activities and candy. The Park District is seeking help from local businesses to operate the booths.
Plans for the new dog park at Evergreen Park are still underway. The board was informed that a local Boy Scout working on his Eagle project will be raising funds for, and handling construction, of a fence for the park.