Public attendance at September Park Board Meeting will support application for grant for Vandalia Swimming Pool
DEBORAH SIMCOX
Correspondent
At the August 14 Park Board Meeting, Vandalia School District CUSD #203 Superintendent Jennifer Garrison presented the initial Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for review by the Park Board. This is a two-year agreement with an option for termination (after the initial two years) of the agreement with a 90 day written notice. This essentially allows Jr. High & High School Students to use specified Park grounds/fields for athletic activities for an annual usage fee of $10,000. The final agreement will be put to a vote in the September Park Board Meeting on September 11, which starts at 4:30 p.m.
In his general overall report, Park Supervisor Kent Torbeck reported that a) the fuel tanks at the Airport had been repainted, b) the playground equipment was in, and c) repairs on the fence at the third base dugout were completed.
In the Committee Reports, Airport/Insurance Chair Mike Radliff gave kudos to those who had helped with airport cleanup after the heavy rain. He also said that July fuel sales at the airport were the best of this year.
Financial/Personnel Chair Ty McNary indicated that the Board was still waiting for information for the 2024 audit.
Pool/Pavilions Supervisor Lisa Robbins reported that the cameras were up and running. As the meeting moved into New Business, Robbins opened the discussion regarding the OSLAD (Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development) Grant. Luke Eastin of the South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission, the grant writing service for this OSLAD Grant, is assisting in this endeavor. Robbins is requesting that anyone interested in championing this $600,000 Grant attend the Public Forum at Evans Public Library, 825 West Randolph, Vandalia, on September 11 at 4:00 p.m. to indicate their support for the swimming pool. This Grant would cover building a new Bath House, which is where showers, changing rooms, and clothing baskets (which hold swimmers’ street clothes) are located. The current Bath House is the original, which was built in 1952. Robbins is encouraging those supporting the Vandalia Pool to attend this Public Forum support meeting. The regular Park Board Meeting will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday after the Public Forum.
Also in New Business, a TIF (Tax Implement Financing) Grant Application was approved. This is for the additional electrical work for the Festival of Lights’ added displays.
Rich Well, one of the original developers of Field of Dreams, attended the Board Meeting to offer his support for the facility maintenance of the ball field. He praised Park Supervisor Kent Torbeck for being the most cooperative person he has worked with in Well’s 35 years of involvement with the Park.
The next regular meeting of the Vandalia Park Board is Thursday, September 11 at 4:30 p.m. at the Evans Public Library. The Public Forum support meeting for the OSLAD Grant will take place at 4 p.m. at the same location. The Public is encouraged to attend.
