Creation of Quincy Riverfront Development Corporation complete after Park Board vote

QUINCY — The Quincy Park Board became the third and final governmental body to support the establishment of the Quincy Riverfront Development Corporation during its monthly meeting on Wednesday.

The QRDC will direct the implementation of the Riverfront Master Plan in the 89 acres of land along the Quincy riverfront, with the boundaries of Kentucky Street to Spring Street; Third Street to the riverfront; and the Maine Street right-of-way from Third Street to Fourth Street.

A nine-member board of directors will oversee the QRDC. The Quincy City Council, the Adams County Board and the Quincy Park Board will select two directors each. Only one director can be an elected member of each governing body. The Riverfront Steering Committee would select three other directors.

Funding for future projects will be determined by grants and/or the City of Quincy, Adams County and the Park District. The QRDC will vote on future riverfront improvement projects, which will go to the respective governing bodies for final approval.

“(The creation of the QRDC) potentially opens them up to other revenue streams,” Commissioner Nathan Koetters said. “I look at it like the Friends of the Trails. If there is something that they’re planning on doing, and the Park District can help, that’s for this board or future boards to vote on.”

“This is actually possibly a bigger deal than people realize, as far as the opportunities for potential revenue from other sources,” Board President Roger Leenerts said.

Westview to get 20 new golf carts

Leenerts said the Park District Board policy manual has a provision calling for the board president to appoint one of the seven commissioners to be a part of the QRDC.

“However, we do not necessarily have clear direction for the length of time of that appointment, or how a non-elected commissioner is appointed,” he said. “So we’re going to work on that next month. We will probably have something at the (February) meeting so we’re very clear on how that process is going to occur.”

Commissioners also voted to spend $51,200 on 20 golf carts from TNT Golf Car & Equipment Company of Quincy to be used at Westview Golf Course. The carts cost $4,905 apiece for $98,100. Westview is trading in 20 used Yamaha golf carts at $2,345 each for $46,900.

Westview had budgeted $45,000 for the new cars. Director of Golf David Morgan said the additional funds will come from reserves at the golf course. Westview bought 20 new cars last year and has plans to buy 20 more new cars next year to finish replacing the 60-car fleet it maintains.

Park District looking for ‘workamper’ at Art Keller Marina

Commissioners also learned the Park District staff recently created an advertisement searching for a “workamper” who will work 30 hours per week helping with trash pickup, restroom maintenance and security for the Art Keller Marina. In exchange, the workamper will receive a full hookup camping spot in the marina.

Director of Parks Matt Higley recently placed an ad on the workamper.com website. He hopes to have the position filled by April 1.

Don Hilgenbrinck, director of business services, made a presentation to the Park Board reviewing of Westview’s fiscal year-end financial data. Significant in his report was the 32,900 of rounds played in 2021. It’s the highest figure since 35,350 rounds were played in 2017. The course was closed for 96 days in 2021, the fewest since it was closed for 46 days in 2017. The course averaged 122.3 rounds each day it was open. That’s the highest figure since 131.1 rounds were played each day the course was open in 2016.

“We had a good December,” Morgan said. “We had 60 carts on the course on Christmas Eve.”

Westview’s total net revenue for 2021 was $178,702, easily the highest figure in the past 10 years. The course topped $100,000 in total net revenue only three other times since 2012.

“I’ve been told that weather and number of days (the course is) playable is a key factor. We don’t control that,” Leenerts said. “People were anxious to do anything outdoors last year. We did see improvements in the survey from some areas of customer satisfaction. As long as that’s not going the other direction, that’s a good thing.”