Big plans for park district this year

John Shank
Posted 1/15/18

With several repair and upgrade projects on tap for 2018, Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District board members unanimously approved an ordinance to issue $860,000 General Obligation Park Bonds on Monday night.

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Big plans for park district this year

Posted

ROCHELLE — With several repair and upgrade projects on tap for 2018, Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District board members unanimously approved an ordinance to issue $860,000 General Obligation Park Bonds on Monday night.
The funds will be used to cover the costs of a new filter/pump system for the Spring Lake pool, new decking around the pool entrance and work at Spring Lake Marina to bring the bathroom and kitchen up to handicapped accessible standards.
In addition, park commissioners have committed funding to upgrade the youth baseball diamonds at the Little League complex, the May School fields and the large Helms Field north diamond.
The work includes adding new backstop and baseline fencing, installing three new scoreboards, refurbishing the exterior of several press boxes with siding, repainting dugouts and improving the quality and drainage of the dirt infields.
At the Lincoln School AYSO soccer fields, the park district is planning to build a storage shed for use by league organizers, and at the Helms football field a new press box is expected to be built for use during Rochelle Jr. Tackle games.
“We have several needed improvement projects planned this next year and these bonds will be earmarked to help us complete them,” explained park director Roger Bunger. “Last year, we focused on the bike path extension and resurfacing of the original path, and this year we are trying to address facility upgrades for many of the popular youth sports affiliate programs in town.”

No impact to taxpayers
While the $860,000 in bonds is a higher amount than in 2017, finance consultant Tom Chapman of Raymond James Associates, told the board that a lower interest rate on the bonds and expected property values should keep this year’s park district tax bills pretty much unchanged compared to last year.
Chapman pointed out that in the past the bonds were shared evenly by three local banks, but this year the entire bond was put out for bid to four local banks and Holcomb Bank came in with the lowest interest rate of 1.49 percent, which was down from 1.75 percent last year.
“This move will save you more than $5,000, so I want to commend Roger and the board for working to not only secure more funding for your projects, but to also keep taxes down for the residents,” Chapman said.

Marina bid
During Monday’ night’s meeting park commissioners approved a low bid of $35,415 from Innovative Construction to complete the ADA improvements at Spring Lake Marina in the bathroom and kitchen areas.
“I think it’s important to get this work done,” stated park superintendent Don Elliott. “This was identified on the ADA assessment from 2013 and it’s time to get it done so we can be compliant with our handicapped accessible facilities.”
In addition, Elliott said the fishing pier at the marina will also be made handicapped accessible and protective railing will be added around the pier.
“The work will start in February and should be completed by April 6,” he stated. “This work is the minimum that we need to meet the requirements, but it will also be a nice upgrade for the marina and residents who rent it out.”