Agreement Being Finalized on Miniature Golf at Evergreen Hollow Park

The Effingham Park Board Wednesday approved a five-year lease agreement to continue miniature golf at Evergreen Hollow Park.

The Board authorized Park District Director Jeff Althoff to finalize a lease with Adam and Elizabeth Huston, who will operate the course. The Hustons are acquiring the golf course fixtures and buildings at the park from Mark and Julie Pruemer-Pike, then will lease the grounds from the Park District.

Althoff said the five-year lease agreement will include annual options to renew the agreement.

Also Wednesday, the Park Board discussed the tax levy for the coming fiscal year. The measure seeks $1,079,107.80, which is about $50,000 higher than the levy for the current fiscal year. Final action on the levy will come at the December meeting.

The Board also agreed to amend their agreement to provide maintenance of the TREC Trail. The amendment would expand the Park District's maintenance work to include a planned 1-1/2 mile extension that would complete a loop of the trail.

Althoff reviewed planned maintenance projects that would include repainting the pool house at the Kluthe Pool at Evergreen Hollow Park, and replacing the above ground softball press box at Evergreen Hollow with a ground level facility.

The Board also agreed to increase program fees for 2017 by five dollars. That would increase the fee to $35 for in-district residents and to $65 for out-of-district residents.