ROCHELLE — The Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $19,209.25 expenditure for a new fishing pier at its Monday meeting as part of its Spring Lake Improvement Project. 

The dock will be on the east side by the parking lot and face south. The sidewalk is already prepared to slant and hook up to the ramp and pier. The ramp will not have a railing and is not required to. The park district has a similar dock at Lake Sule that it hasn’t had any issues with, Executive Director Jackee Ohlinger said. The bid accepted Monday for the pier was the lowest. 

Ohlinger said Spring Lake reopened as planned earlier this month after renovations and had just a two-day delay due to a part for the pool being needed.  

“It was exciting,” Ohlinger said. “We were two days late waiting on a piece for the pool, so it caused the heater not to be able to function early enough for us to open on time. A couple days late, after all that pool and facility went through, it was a win in my book. We've been open. It was a huge team effort and I'm really thankful for everyone.”

The board unanimously approved a $40,257.44 payment for the Spring Lake project to Sjostrom & Sons Construction. 

“We have the last payment next month and there are a few credits that will be applied to that one,” Ohlinger said. “That should be somewhere around $60,000 next month. I will say that out of my history of construction, Sjostrom & Sons has been very pleasant to work with.”

The REC

Installation has begun of the playground at The REC Center by the front entrance of the building. Excavating is being done this week to install the playground donated by Karen and Spencer Hayden. 

“We'll be digging the rest of the holes this week,” Ohlinger said. “That should be coming here, real soon for kids to play on. The equipment is a little different than what we have at other parks. We just recently installed the benches, tables and receptacles that were donated by other organizations.”

Ohlinger said the park district is planning a “grand celebration” for the opening of The REC on Aug. 28, which was delayed by COVID-19. That date will be the two-year anniversary of the groundbreaking of the facility. 

Scott Stevens has been hired as full-time recreation supervisor at the park district and will start July 5, Ohlinger said. The REC Center facility plans to open its fitness center 24/7 on July 1 and has close to 1,800 total members. 

Board position

During executive session, the board interviewed applicants for its open board position and plans to announce an appointee at next month’s meeting.