Park Board Approves No Tobacco Policy

The Effingham Park Board has approved a no tobacco use policy on much of the park district's property.

Park District Director Jeff Althoff said, "The big reason is to not have tobacco use going on around the kids."

The policy prohibits use of tobacco products on, in, or within 50 feet of any playground, sports field, tennis court, skate park, pavilion or any other park district facility. Althoff notes the ban includes smokeless tobacco and E-cigarettes. He hopes to have signage up in the parks soon stating the new policy, which takes effect immediately.

The Board also finalized a lease agreement with HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital for 8,000 square feet of space in the Richard E. Workman Sports and Wellness Complex. The hospital will utilize the area for therapy and rehabilitation work. The hospital will pay the Park District $135,828/year during the 15-year lease. The agreement has an option of four consecutive five-year terms, but Althoff said it's hoped the hospital can use the space for the life of the building. The lease includes use by the hospital of the Lazy River feature in the complex from 8:30-10:30 weekday mornings.

The Park Board passed the appropriation ordinance for the next fiscal year. Althoff said the spending blueprint is very similar to last year's measure. It was also decided to award low voltage service to the Sports Complex to low bidder Fieldwrxs of Effingham for $42,685. The vendor will provide drawings for the electrical contractor on the construction project. Althoff said Fieldwrxs will take care of security cameras, a speaker and paging system, telephones and wireless data.

Also at a busy meeting Wednesday, the Park Board agreed to raise the fees for playing in baseball or softball leagues in 2016 to $30 for in-district residents and $60 for out-of-district residents, and met in closed session to discuss personnel matters but there was no open session action.