Park Board Hears of Progress on Workman Complex

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Published on June 4 2015 10:22 am
Last Updated on June 4 2015 10:23 am
Written by Greg Sapp

Progress continues on the Richard E. Workman Sports and Wellness Complex.

Effingham Park Board commissioners heard that concrete is being poured on the first and second floors of the complex, and that window installation could begin as soon as next week.

Park District Director Jeff Althoff said that documentation is being finalized for submittal to the State to gain approval for the pool facilities in the complex.

Althoff said the goal is to have the Workman Complex in operation in mid-January. He acknowledged that earlier dates had been mentioned for completion of the complex, but said that spending more in overtime costs to get the work done sooner is a money-losing proposition.

Althoff also discussed conditions in district parks at the start of the summer recreation season, mentioning that the full summer staff will be on the job next week.

Also discussed was whether to institute smoking prohibitions in district parks or at Park District programs. Althoff said he plans to survey other park districts to review their guidelines. He said some have banned smoking on park district property, while others have no prohibitions. 

Althoff said with so many youth programs offered, a goal is to keep smoking away from those areas.

Park commissioners placed a tentative fiscal year appropriations ordinance on file, with adoption expected at the July meeting. Althoff said the measure calls for slightly more in revenue than expenditures; more outgo than income on the corporate side, but more income than outgo on the recreation side. The total measure is very similar to last year's appropriation, which ended the year in the black.