ROCHELLE — Visitors to Spring Lake pool this summer will notice entirely new composite decking leading to and around the facility.
Flagg-Rochelle Community Park Board members voted 5-0 on Monday night to accept a bid from Bruns Construction for the project at a cost of $229,250. Bruns’ bid was the lowest of five that were submitted.
The old wooden decking has become deteriorated and with the district already investing heavily in replacing the pool pump and filter this spring, commissioners decided to go all in upgrading the popular pool attraction for families.
Park superintendent Don Elliott told the board a few months ago that while state inspectors demanded the pump and filter be replaced this year, the pool itself was in good condition and with upgrades the facility should last many more years.
On Monday night, Elliott pointed out that composite decking is about 10 percent more expensive than wood decking, but in the long run will save the district money in fewer maintenance costs.
“Having been around composite decking, I would agree that it’s worth the extra cost due to it being maintenance free,” commented park board president Brent Carmichael.
Elliott explained that to save some money, the foot print of the current decking will be smaller with the octagon jut outs being removed.
“We will have to drain down the lake a bit during the project in order to remove some of the old structures, but hopefully we won’t have to go too low,” he said.
The project also calls for new contemporary cable railing and a new stair design for the steps leading to the Eighth Street entrance.
“Everything will be up to safety codes and look better all the way around,” Elliott added. “There will be toe kicks on the stairs and it should be much easier to go up and down for most people.”
According to Elliott the work is expected to start immediately and the deadline to finish the project is May 18.

Creek project
John Ryan, president of Land and Water Resources, Inc. addressed the park board on Monday night to give an update on the status of the Deek Creek mitigation project at Skare Park.
Last year the board entered an agreement with the company to restore the creek and return a large portion of the park into its original state. The work would include taking out all invasive vegetation species, planting native prairie grasses and trees and reworking the creek to its natural winding path.
“The Army Corps of Engineers will give me credits for doing this project and in turn I will hopefully be able to sell the credits for future projects for private developments somewhere else,” Ryan explained. “There are 76 acres as part of the agreement, which helps us provide you with up to $288,000 in funding to help you continue upgrading this jewel of a park you have.”
Ryan told the board he has already spent $150,000 on preliminary work and urged the board to sign off on required deed restriction paper work so the project can move forward. He stated he had sent an e-mail to park director Roger Bunger several weeks earlier in response to related questions about the project agreement. Bunger wasn’t present at Monday’s meeting, but Carmichael told Ryan the board had seen his responses.
“The Army Corps of Engineers is asking us where this paper work is and it’s critical we get it soon,” Ryan stated. “Tell me what questions you have and what else you need from us so we can get it done as soon as possible.”
One area of concern for park commissioners are current restrictions on the $288,000 that the money is expected to be treated as endowment funds and only interest earned on the funds can be spent with the principal being left untouched.
“We understand you have a question about why you can’t spend some of the principal,” said project manager Randy Vogel. “I did have a good conversation with a representative of the Corps and we suggested that $150,000 of the funds may be better used to help upgrade the park now, rather than many years down the line. These are reasonable people we are working with and I think we have a really good shot of making these $150,000 funds unrestricted.”
Park commissioner Bud Norcross asked if the district was prohibited from putting up any buildings, structures or signage within the 76-acre creek area based on the contract agreement.
“So, what if we wanted to add another bridge over the creek or put up a small storage building in the area? Can we not do that?” he asked.
“Well, you can certainly put up directional signage, but as far as buildings or other bridges down the line, the Corps probably won’t allow it,” Ryan responded. “This is supposed to be an ecological project and those items wouldn’t fit into the original submitted plans.”
Ryan also told the board that after the project is done, his company is obligated to provide extensive species control in the area for five years before turning over the land to the park district.
“We are held to very high standards of monitoring and maintaining the new grasses and species for five years,” he explained. “And you would not be held to the same standards, but the Corps trusts that as the benefactor and land owner you would be responsible in maintaining and protecting the project acreage.”
“Ok, we understand you have an urgency to get the deed paper work done, but we would like to have one of our board members who is not here tonight to review the plans, as well as our attorney,” Carmichael said.
“Yes, I get that, and I am willing to come here anytime to meet with both of them and answer any questions in order to get this moving, because we are running out of time,” Ryan concluded.

Other business
• The board approved a proposal to trade-in an older Toro zero turn mower and purchase a similar replacement model not to exceed $8,500 plus the trade-in value.
• Commissioners voted 5-0 to renew an annual agreement with the Foundation for FOCUS House, which calls for FOCUS House officials to provide garbage pick-up services around the district parks.
• The board approved an inter-governmental agreement with the Rochelle Elementary School District regarding shared use of facilities and services. The school district allows the park district affiliate programs to use athletic fields on school property and in exchange park employees mow certain portions of the school properties.
• Finally, the board held a closed session to discuss personnel, litigation and the sale/lease of land. Following the executive session, the board emerged into regular session and voted to add Carmichael and Norcross as authorized signers on the district’s Central Bank account.