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CPC assigns subcommittees

Posted January 27, 2015 10:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

Committee to hear presentation Feb. 24

BY STAFF REPORT

The Herald Tribune

CHESTER -- After a constructive first meeting on Dec. 30, the Chester Pool Committee convened at the Chester Municipal Building on Tuesday for its January meeting. On the agenda was to name the members of the three subcommittees that will be conducting research and analysis toward completion of the CPC's overall objectives.

Farrah Runge, Pete Spitler and Larry Soellner were named to the Grant Committee, while Gwendy Garner, Collette Powley and Spitler were appointed to the Municipal Pool Committee. Finally, Patti Carter, Soellner and Runge were assigned to the New Pool Committee.

The Municipal Pool Committee will pursue options on repurposing the currently-closed Chester Municipal Pool in Cole Park.

"We would consider options on things we could do to maintain the historical aspect," Garner said.

Prior to the announcement of the subcommittees, the CPC heard a presentation from Spitler on information he had received through conversations with representatives from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Carbondale Park District and SIU School of Architecture.

"There is no guarantee the PARC will be offered this year," said Spitler, referencing the Park and Recreational Facility Construction grant the Carbondale Park District applied for and received in 2014. "It was offered in 2014 and that was the first time since 2010. With a new (IDNR) director and a new governor, I've seen it reported that all state departments are being told to hold on to any unspent grant money."

On Jan. 12, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed an executive order that, in part, halted the awarding of contracts and grants that haven't already been allocated.

Spitler spoke about the possibility of the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant. The yearly grant awards up to $750,000 for projects that seek to acquire or expand park land, while infrastructure projects have a $400,000 limit.

That pales in comparison to PARC, which has a $2.5 million grant limit for infrastructure work.

Spitler also highlighted two Southern Illinois facilities - Carbondale and Mount Vernon - that have been recently built. Mount Vernon's Aquatic Zoo opened in 2014 and Carbondale's Splash Park is set to open in May.

In one of the conversations, with IDNR Conservation Grant Administrator Judy Bauer, it was recommended that the CPC include a copy of the city's recreation survey, which was completed last summer.

Spitler asked Carter, the city's recreation director, what the results of those surveys were and was told Chester Mayor Tom Page has not yet released that information to the public.

During public comment, Bruce Williamson asked why the CPC hadn't considered sites for a new pool other than Cole Park.

"The general consensus of the committee was to keep the new pool at Cole Park," said CPC Co-Chairman Donnie Clark. "It isn't the only option."

Powley asked Carter whether Cole Park is official city property, citing deed requirements that someone had to live in a house on-site and maintain the park, otherwise the land would revert back to the Cole family.

After the meeting, Carter checked with City Attorney Jeff Kerkhover and said she was told that as long as the land was used as a park, there is no danger of it reverting back to the Cole family.

From there, discussion branched out to the approaching swim season. Committee member Valerie Blechle said a meeting has been scheduled for next month to determine the team's 2015 schedule.

Soellner asked Clark about the possibility of the Chester City Council assisting the swim teams with travel expenses due to not having a facility to practice or hold meets. Powley suggested bus service from Chester to the Perry Park Center.

"As a city council member, I don't think it's too extreme to send our teams to Perryville," said Nancy Crossland, who was in attendance at the meeting.

As its final action of the night, the CPC set its meeting dates for the remainder of the year. The committee will meet on the fourth Tuesday of every month except for May, when Memorial Day conflicts with the city council's meeting and moves the CPC meeting to Wednesday.

The next meeting of the CPC will be Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. at the Chester Municipal Building. Carbondale Park District Executive Director Kathy Renfro will in attendance to make a presentation on Carbondale's process of getting its facility.

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