Workman Complex Still on Target for February 1 Opening

Effingham Park Board members, and the Park District staff, are counting the days until the scheduled February 1 opening of the Richard E. Workman Sports and Wellness Complex.

The facility is to be ready to go on that date, with the exception of the aquatics portion, which should open on March 1.

Park District Director Jeff Althoff said 150 people had acquired memberships to the complex in December, and said January had started strong. Memberships are being sold at Get Fit Family Fitness' current location on Rickelman Avenue. The Park Board reached agreement to acquire Get Fit and current operator Beth Heuerman will manage the new fitness facility in the Workman Complex.

Board members met in closed session and returned to open session to approve 3% pay increases for all fulltime and four year-round part-time employees, retroactive to January 1.

In other business Wednesday, the Park Board learned that the audit of the past year's fiscal records came back clean; Althoff reported on work to replace dugouts at all three softball fields at Hendelmeyer Park; and Board members heard that City crews are removing the Wonderland in Lights display in Community Park. Althoff reported that the heavy rainfall caused a tree across the creek from the display to topple and land on one of the light displays. The display is insured.