Paxton Park District Commissioner Hannah Meents, left, and former commissioner Kaye Harper discuss matters during the park board’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 13, at the Paxton Civic Center, 601 S. Fall St. Andrew Rosten/Ford County Chronicle
PAXTON — The Paxton Park District’s Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, May 13, voted 5-0 to spend up to $25,000 in capital funds to make the public swimming pool at Coady Park operational this summer.
On May 2, the park district announced via Facebook that the opening of the pool would be delayed due to the pool’s main pump being out of service and beyond repair. During last week’s meeting, Recreation Director Jordan Chapman said Phil Foster had volunteered to order and install a new pump.
“As soon as we know that we 100% have a pump that will work and our pool will work, we will announce to the community that we’ll be ready to open the pool,” the board’s president, Matt Quinlan, said. “We think we have a solution. We’re just waiting to be 100% sure before we announce it to the public.”
Added Quinlan: “I would like to commend Phil and Julie Foster and all members of this community for stepping up at our time of need. When we made that announcement (of the need to delay opening the pool), I knew we would get a lot of backlash and negative comments, but I also knew we would also have some people in the community who would step up, and that is what happened. It is great that they have helped us. It has made us, as a board, not have to make the toughest decision, and we’re able to do something that I think is beneficial for everyone.”
Vacant board seats filled by appointment
Hannah Meents was appointed as a member of the board, filling one of two commissioner seats left vacant when no one ran for them in the April 1 election.
“I just thought it would be a good cause to get behind and kind of make things better for the kids moving forward,” Meents said of why she wanted to join the board. “I just felt like I was seeing a lot of the things that Jordan was doing through Facebook and the newspaper and I liked the way he was leading the park district.”
Meents, 27, is a lifelong Paxton resident who graduated from Paxton-Buckley Loda High School in 2015 before receiving a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Illinois State University in 2019. She works remotely as a banking regulator for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, a federal organization within the U.S. Treasury Department.
Meanwhile, Mark Fredericksen was reappointed to the board after his initial term, which began last December, ended on May 13.
Gayle Griffin, who attended April’s board meeting to express interest in serving as a commissioner, said last week that she would not serve on the board after all.
“Even though I cannot serve on the board, you better believe that I’ll be very involved in the park district and help wherever I can,” Griffin said.
Harper, Piatt to depart
Like Fredricksen, Commissioner Kaye Harper’s term expired May 13. Unlike Fredricksen, Harper chose not to apply for reappointment, leaving her seat to be filled by Meents.
Harper had been on the board since 2012, serving as its secretary since 2013.
“I have been through four directors and many fun and exciting programs. I believe we are on the fifth (board) president,” Harper said in an email to the Ford County Chronicle. “So as I say farewell for a job well done to so many volunteers and directors, I say thank you. It’s been fun watching family and friends grow throughout the years. Reach for the stars and may all your dreams come true. Been a blast from the past in volunteering for the district.”
One of the park district’s past directors was Neal McKenry, who served from 2011 to 2020.
“We ran out of funds during Neal’s time, and he was a real trooper,” Harper said. “This only happened once in my park district term, which was one too many. Thanks, Neal.”
Cody Evans served as director from 2020 to 2023.
“Thanks to Cody for bringing on our extra employees and a new truck,” Harper said.
Though his term does not end until May 12, 2027, Denver Piatt said he is in the process of stepping away from the board.
“It’s time to let the young people in,” Piatt said.
Other business
Also at last week’s board meeting at the Paxton Civic Center, 601 S. Fall St.: The board made plans to hold a discussion with the Paxton Predators following the baseball and softball seasons regarding its rental agreement at Nelson Field.
Angie Ridder said donors would be willing to donate money to redo the blacktop for the pickleball court at Coady Park if the board obtains a cost estimate.
The board approved raising the hourly pay wage for summer maintenance workers to $17, an increase of $1 from last year. The board also approved an hourly wage of $19 for the lead maintenance worker. The board also approved an hourly wage of $16.50 for summer grounds workers.
The board approved the awarding of $250 park district scholarships to two graduating seniors at Paxton Buckley-Loda High School, which will announce their names. Five applications were received.
The board approved the payment of bills totaling $25,575.
The board approved the renewal of workers’ compensation insurance coverage at a cost of $4,140.
Chapman discussed said the new swing set at Coady Park will be built next month by park district staff.
The board tabled approval of hiring certified public accounting firm to complete the district’s annual audit and financial report to be filed with the state. Quinlan said he “would like to challenge everybody on the board to have it resolved” by the July meeting.
The board tabled discussion on pursuing a tax referendum on a future election ballot.