Merits, costs of athletic facilities at issue
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
After a 16-month hiatus, discussion is again heating up about holding a referendum to OK athletic facility improvements at Union Grove Union High School.
Monday night, District Administrator Al Mollerskov held a meeting to get feedback from the community on what, if any, items should be included on a future referendum to fund improvements and additions to the field, which is directly east of the high school.
However, a crowd of about 50 residents debated on the bigger picture and never got into specifics during a spirited debate.
Proponents cited the need to enhance extra-curricular activities. Opponents expressed concerns about costly taxes.
More than half of the roughly dozen speakers favored taking another crack at the referendum question, which failed in September 2010.
At that time, 55 percent of voters were against the proposal, which would have funded the placement of an artificial turf and rubberized track as well as adding more drainage pipes to address ongoing flooding problems.
At the Jan. 30 meeting, these items were back on the potential list of referendum items, as were a number of new components, like light fixtures, a proposal to expand the track, construction of a retaining wall and adding more bleachers.
The expansion plans were a concern to resident Howard Scott, who questioned priorities as he reviewed the list at the meeting.
“How does this expense prepare our students for employment?” Scott asked school officials. “We’ve been concentrating for many years on fun and games.”
Another resident, Jim Fox, said he was concerned about the impact a referendum would have on older adults in the community. While Fox said it is important to focus on providing opportunities to youth, he also stressed the importance of remembering the other end of the spectrum.
“This is a part of the community we need to be looking at,” Fox said. “People in their 70s and 80s will be pressured out of their homes because of rising costs.”
But 73-year-old Russ Peterson countered by saying he wouldn’t mind spending a little extra each year to ensure students have an adequate, comparable playing field.
“I don’t think we can continue the way we are,” Peterson said. “At least let the people vote on this. If it gets voted down, that’s the democratic way.”
Union Grove High School alum Katie Hein said she intends to be a taxpayer in the community for at least 5 decades. She said she believes enhancements to the athletic field would benefit students and the greater community.
“I wholeheartedly believe extra-curricular activities develop students,” Hein said. “I’m sick of doing the minimum of what we can to get by. Let’s do it and invest in this community.”
UGHS physical education teacher Joe Busalacchi said the proposed referendum is an opportunity to have a first-class facility on one site.
“We shouldn’t be forcing our kids to go to other places just so they can play in an adequate space,” Busalacchi said. “With the way things are right now, you’re talking about putting patches on a bleeding artery.”
Mollerskov opined briefly at Monday’s meeting, stating he believed the community should have another opportunity to weigh in on the future of UGHS’ athletic field.
“When you invest in a facility, it increases the value of your house,” Mollerskov said. “But we won’t keep trying with this. If it gets voted down a second time, why would we go back again?”
The School Board will likely continue discussing the referendum proposal at its next regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Feb. 13.
Regardless of what the board decides, a referendum on the athletic fields would not appear on the ballot in April for the spring general election since the deadline to have it included has passed.
But the question could appear on a ballot later this year.
Possible items on a future referendum:
•Artificial turf, $725,000
•Remedies for drainage issues, $425,000
•Track expansion (nine lane straight-away), $325,000 to $350,000
•Addition to bleachers (800 more seats and two new sections), $160,000
•Construction of retaining wall and earth wall on east side of field, $70,000 to $120,000
•Four light fixtures, $60,000 to $100,000
•Fencing, $15,000
Total Estimated Cost: $1.78 million to $1.895 million
-
-
-
-
-