Work Getting Underway on Pearson Peninsula

Work is getting underway on Pearson Peninsula at Lake Sara.

Parks and Recreation Committee Chairman Tom Ryan said the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has signed a contract allocating funding for the work. Trustees approved a contract with Farnsworth Group for engineering work on Phase 1 of the project.

Effingham Water Authority is being granted $400,000 for a park development project on the peninsula. The project is to include a disc golf course, an ADA-compliant fishing dock, a giant chessboard, and an ADA-compliant walkway to the water's edge. Three playground areas are also planned. The holes for the disc golf course are in place.

The project will be completed in five phases. The price tag for Phase One, the most capital intensive phase according to the proponents, is estimated at $1.1 million. 

The Water Authority also approved an ordinance worked on for months concerning short-term rentals of lake properties. The ordinance will require a yearly license for $750 for those wishing to rent their property. The measure spells out the number of occupants, the age of the residents renting the property, a restriction on no more than two animals for the renters and that the animals be leashed when outside, and a prohibition against on-street parking. 

Trustees also passed the tax levy ordinance for the coming fiscal year, and heard from Water Authority Attorney Tony Siemer that Friends of Wassatoga has completed their paperwork on the lease of the Girl Scout property at the lake. Siemer said the Girl Scouts are requesting an easement over that property to get to their deeded property.

Erich Kollinger spoke to trustees regarding driveways and parking lots to and by boat docks. Siemer updated the board regarding litigation, reiterating that a person cannot adverse possess government property.

Jeff Niebrugge of the fishing committee reported that they will not be collecting Christmas trees this winter.