Park Board Reviews Budget

Effingham Park Board commissioners placed the budget for the coming fiscal year on file Wednesday night. 

Park District Director Jeff Althoff said the measure projects the Corporate Fund to finish $148,000 in the black and the Recreational Fund to finish $46,000 in the black. The Corporate Fund projects to finish at $795,000 and the Recreational Fund at $745,000.

A final vote on the budget is expected at the Board's July meeting.

The Board established an Efficiency Committee, an edict from the State that must be followed by all park districts and forest preserves in Illinois. The committee will be made up of the five park commissioners, Althoff, and two members of the public, who are Scott Moeller and Eric Kalber. Althoff said the committee must meet three times over the next 18 months and then file a report with the County.

Park Board members voted to annex five parcels of land into the district limits. The limits typically mirror the Effingham city limits.

Althoff reported that the mini golf course at Evergreen Hollow Park is open under new management. A group of individuals including Jordan Koerner are overseeing the course and are making some improvements.

Althoff also shared that Phase One of the skate park improvements at Hendelmeyer Park should be completed by the first of next week. He said, "The kids are going to love it."