Small Town News

Park district agrees to share employee

---

Arthur Community Park District entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Arthur during its August 18 meeting.

The agreement allows the two governmental bodies to share an employee. J.J. Carter, park director will be available to help village employees if the city is short a worker and if he has his work with the parks caught up.

The city signed approved the agreement earlier in the month.

Park district secretary Lelia Miller resigned some of her duties due to their conflicting with her job as a teacher in Shelbyville. Lelia resigned as bookkeeper, but will remain the recording secretary for the park district.

The combination of duties has become too involved and takes too much time from her family and from preparing for teaching. The resignation was effective August 31.

Park district president Tim Likens said he will contact local accountant Kevin Huffman to maintain the district's financial records and to pay bills on a temporary basis.

Likens added that Lelia recently spent 53 hours dealing with six different Freedom of Information Act requests.

Larry Schlabach requested permission to install a concrete pad on the east embankment of "The Hill" in Jurgens Park (fair grounds). The pad would serve as footing for 40-gallon fireball display during the annual fireworks.

It would support a 17-inch by 1 1/2-foot mortar that would launch the fire-ball.

Commissioners asked Schlabach to submit a drawing showing the pieces in the ground and location on the hill.

They want to be sure the structure will not interfere with vehicles traveling on the road over the hill and sledders in the winter time.

Shawn Vanausdoll will check with the district's insurance company to check the site and plans.

The board plans to act on the request during the September meeting.

The park district entered into an agreement with Arthur Area Association of Commerce in which the AAAOC will purchase the electronic sign located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Vine Street and Route 133 and lease the property it is on.

Commissioners agreed to sell the sign to the AAAOC for one dollar and lease the property for one dollar for the lifetime of the sign and as long as the park district owns the property.

Davy Schrock discussed the plans for a new bath house to be constructed at Brad-O-Clen. He will report back to the park board at its September meeting with price estimates for the metal structure as discussed.

Shawn Vanausdoll reported the community pool had a good last day of the season with 150 people enjoying the facility.

He added that police are investigating a break-in at the pool building. $100 was taken from the cash box.

Randy Rafferty reported on the fall soccer registration. Numbers are down, which is usual for the fall season due to some youngsters opting to play JFL football.

However, at the time of the meeting, the teams needed coaches.

Commissioners discussed the possibility of lining soccer fields in the outfields of the two large diamonds in Jurgens Park for the younger teams.

Referee fees will remain unchanged.

Two fields are located at Eberhardt Village.

Kurt Hall discussed plans to repair and improve the ball diamond at Jack Corum Field in Jurgens Park. Projects include installing a warning track 12 feet inside the outfield fence, cutting sod on the inside and outside of the foul fences and spread lime under them to retard grass and weeds, and put lime under the outfield fences.

Likens authorized Hall to seek prices for the projects and report during the September meeting.

Andy Schlabach, organizer of the Ty Brewer Memorial Run, donated $2,800 for the pool last year. She will donate funds raised during this year's event.

Last year's donation helped to pay for a new roof on the pool building.

"This year's donation should allow us to pay off the roof," Vanausdoll said.

Big trees on the east side of the swimming pool will be removed this winter.

The board received a letter from Bob Doan, area economic development coordinator.

Doan wrote to thank J.J. Carter for assisting the Area Association of Commerce and the Economic Development Corporation with the Touch of Arthur event.

President Likens added that he had received many compliments concerning the appearance of the park and facilities.

Next park board meeting was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 8. The board meets in the Meeting Room at the Municipal Building, 120 East Progress Street. Meetings are open to the public.



Copyright 2015 Arthur Graphic-Clarion, Arthur, Illinois. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

More from Arthur Graphic-Clarion