ROCHELLE — More than 600 petition signatures were turned into the Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District two weeks ago in an effort to block an ordinance that would allow the district to issue up to $14 million in alternate revenue bonds for building a recreation center, and instead assure a binding public vote is held on the proposal.

Those signatures are now being challenged and the determination of their validity will soon be in the hands of Ogle County officials.

"A resident has objected to the signatures within the allowed time frame, and the park district is turning everything over to the Ogle County Clerk," explained park district attorney Paul Chadwick, during Monday night's regular monthly board meeting.

The ordinance was approved in a 5-1 vote at a special meeting on Jan. 7, and it effectively gave the district legal authority to issue the bonds for the project. However, if a minimum of 526 registered Flagg Township voters (at least 7.5 percent) signed a petition within 30 days, the bonds could not be issued without voter approval in a binding referendum.

"The total number of petition signatures received was 603," Chadwick said. "Now, I believe it's up to the Ogle County Clerk, the Ogle County Circuit Clerk and the Ogle County State's Attorney to verify the total number of valid signatures. “We are filing everything on Tuesday morning and this is really just a matter between the petitioners and the resident who objected and is challenging them. I don't know much more about the process or what type of deadlines the county officials have to rule on it. It’s out of our hands.”

On Tuesday, Ogle County Clerk Laura Cook said when her office receives the information from the park district, the procedure would be to collaborate with the circuit clerk and the state’s attorney to hold an electoral board hearing within a certain time frame.

“We would only look into what is specifically requested by the person filing the objection,” Cook explained. “As of this point, we have not received anything from the park district office.”

Park district staff Maureen Stevens said the objection notice was mailed to the county clerk’s office on Tuesday morning prior to the filing deadline.

Facility details

In the meantime, in preparation for the upcoming April 2 referendum vote, the park district staff is preparing to hold several upcoming public presentations on its plans to build a $14 million community recreation center, including a large indoor turf field house, a gymnasium with two courts, a fitness center with weights and cardio equipment, an aquatic center with both a competitive pool and recreational pool, multi-purpose meeting and classroom spaces, a perimeter walking path, locker rooms, public gathering areas, storage areas and staff offices.

Originally, the park board had planned to build the 80,000 square-foot facility in two phases with the aquatic center being added at a later time after membership numbers grow, but on Monday night commissioners decided it was more cost-effective and the desire of the public to build the entire project all at one time.