By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
According to a recent memo, the Elmhurst Park Board has determined now is not the time to ask voters to support a referendum in November to raise taxes for improvements within the Park District. Executive Director Jim Rogers sent a memo to Park Board Commissioners asking to postpone the efforts due to the current COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.
“Earlier this month the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19, became a pandemic as it rapidly spread globally and, subsequently, across Illinois,” he said. “The effects of this unprecedented event have been felt by both individuals and organizations, and the Park District is no exception.
“The community would rightfully perceive the Park District as being insensitive to economic unknowns, which may impact their own, the Park District’s, and the community’s financial stability in the long term.”
He said it would be “shortsighted and irresponsible” to push forward with a referendum, as well as to continue making nonrefundable payments in earnest money for the purchase of the property identified on Riverside Drive.
In December, the Park Board had agreed to delay the possible purchase of a $15 million property for another year. The purchase of the $15 million property, owned by Kieft Brothers at Riverside and Route 83, was to be contingent on the passage of the bond issue in November’s general election. Under these terms, the park agreed to pay earnest money in the amount of $100,000 through August. The Park Board paid $100,000 in earnest money, contingent on a decision being made by the end of the year. Rogers said the Park District has so far paid a total of $134,000.
The Park Board was still debating placing a proposed indoor sports facility at the Kieft Brothers’ 16-acre site, which would cost an estimated $56 million. It was part of the Park Board’s Vision 2020 strategic plan. Some park officials think the site could just be a large open space, which residents seem to want, according to the Park District’s many efforts to collect public input
Rogers: ‘Now is not the time’
By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
According to a recent memo, the Elmhurst Park Board has determined now is not the time to ask voters to support a referendum in November to raise taxes for improvements within the Park District. Executive Director Jim Rogers sent a memo to Park Board Commissioners asking to postpone the efforts due to the current COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.
“Earlier this month the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19, became a pandemic as it rapidly spread globally and, subsequently, across Illinois,” he said. “The effects of this unprecedented event have been felt by both individuals and organizations, and the Park District is no exception.
“The community would rightfully perceive the Park District as being insensitive to economic unknowns, which may impact their own, the Park District’s, and the community’s financial stability in the long term.”
He said it would be “shortsighted and irresponsible” to push forward with a referendum, as well as to continue making nonrefundable payments in earnest money for the purchase of the property identified on Riverside Drive.
In December, the Park Board had agreed to delay the possible purchase of a $15 million property for another year. The purchase of the $15 million property, owned by Kieft Brothers at Riverside and Route 83, was to be contingent on the passage of the bond issue in November’s general election. Under these terms, the park agreed to pay earnest money in the amount of $100,000 through August. The Park Board paid $100,000 in earnest money, contingent on a decision being made by the end of the year. Rogers said the Park District has so far paid a total of $134,000.
The Park Board was still debating placing a proposed indoor sports facility at the Kieft Brothers’ 16-acre site, which would cost an estimated $56 million. It was part of the Park Board’s Vision 2020 strategic plan. Some park officials think the site could just be a large open space, which residents seem to want, according to the Park District’s many efforts to collect public input.
