Park Board considering advisory referendum to allow public help determine future of Art Keller Marina

QUINCY — The Quincy Park District’s Board of Commissioners discussed during its annual retreat on Friday the possibility of letting the public weigh in on the future of the Art Keller Marina.

The seven commissioners spent several hours at the Quincy Park District’s administrative offices planning for 2025 by reviewing finances and proposed capital projects while looking at future decisions involving the Bill Klingner Trail, Gardner Park and future employee compensation.

Commissioners said during their August 2022 retreat that they could only commit to keeping the marina open through 2023. However, two months later, commissioners unanimously voted to commit to keeping the financially struggling marina open through 2025.  

Park Board President Mark Philpot said after Friday’s meeting that commissioners considered using an advisory referendum to allow voters to decide how they want the Park Board to proceed with the funding of the marina. 

Figures provided by the Park District show the marina lost $105,601 last year and has lost at least $30,000 every year for the past 10 years. A capital needs assessment to keep the marina operational, provided by the Park District, suggests $26,000 is needed for water lines and spud poles in the next two years, $50,000 is needed for fuel pumps in the next five years and $330,000 is needed for fuel lines, an ADA-complaint ramp, a refloat dock and a restroom/shower house in the next 10 years.

Commissioners learned at their July meeting that the marina has 111 rented slips this summer, including 11 new renters. The number of slips rented in 2011 was 194.

“The marina has been suffering financially for a number of years,” Philpot said. “The thought is that we want to empower the residents to decide. This is your money. We’re funding this initiative that is being used by X number of individuals, and 60 percent of those are actual taxpayers for the district.

“If we’re going to continue funding this, then we want the people to have a say in how that proceeds. If there’s a huge rally of support for keeping that a Park District expense, then I’m all for it. At this point, the can has been kicked down the road long enough, and the people deserve to have a say in how they want to have this resource funded.”

Philpot said a boater committee meeting will be reinstated to foster better relationships with the boating community. Commissioners John Frankenhoff and  Jeff VanCamp met with 10 local boaters in 2022 to discuss long-term and short-term goals for the marina.

“(That group) paused for a bit under Jared (Jones’ term as Park Board president) for whatever reason,” Philpot said. “I wasn’t privy to that when that occurred, but I’m anxious to reach out and connect with those groups involved in boating so we can get some successful projects going forward.”

New Quinsippi Island shelter, Madison Park bandstand planned in 2015

Philpot said the Park Board plans to issue $1.17 million in general obligation bonds for 2025. An estimated $85,000 will roll over to next year’s budget from the 2024 bonds.

The biggest ticket items are spending $140,000 to resurface the playground at Lincoln Park, $250,000 to replace the shelter on Quinsippi Island, $200,000 for a bandstand for the Quincy Park Band in Madison Park and $225,000 to resurface the road in Moorman Park that leads to the T-ball fields.

Also on the proposed list of capital projects for 2025 are:

• Moorman Multi Courts Resurfacing $50,000 
• Madison Tennis Courts Resurfacing $30,000 
• District Equipment $209,000 
• Paul Dennis Restroom/Shelter Updates $40,000 
• Paul Dennis 2 Drinking Fountains & 4 Sets Trash/Recycling $20,000 
• Paul Dennis Playground $65,000 
• Moorman Sign on 36th Street $10,000 
• Moorman Sidewalk and Railing Fishing Dock $10,000 
• Bond $7,000 
• Roll-Over Bond from 2024 $85,000
• Total $1,256,000

“That list is still subject to be approved during the regular (Park Board) meeting on Wednesday (Aug. 14),” Philpot said.

Federal overtime rules could prove costly

The Park Board reviewed new federal overtime rules for executive, administrative and professional employees. 

Park District staff members attended a Zoom meeting held by the Illinois Association of Park District attorneys to learn about a law signed by the Department of Labor on April 23 for updated rules on salaried employees. 

The current salary minimum of $35,568 ($684 per week) rose to $43,888 ($844 per week) on July 1. A second increase to $58,656 ($1,128 per week) will occur on Jan. 1. Scheduled increases will be determined beginning July 1, 2027, and every three years after. 

Executive Director Rome Frericks and Brian Earnest, director of business services, told commissioners a potential reclassification of employees may need to occur. If salaried employees need to be converted to hourly employees …

• Permission would be required before working overtime. 
• No off-the-clock work. 
• Compensatory time off rules. 
• After-hours/substitute coverage. 
• No after-hours communications. 

Potential salary increases totaling $4,724 for two employees have not been budgeted for the 2024 fiscal year. Six employees will be affected next year for an increase totaling $60,520.

“It’s affecting not only just our district but also the city and other taxing bodies,” Philpot said. “We want to take care of our team. We want to make sure they’re appropriately compensated for the hard work they do for the district. At the same time, we have to be fiscally responsible and deal with our crucial responsibility to the taxpayers. 

“This really isn’t being discussed a lot in the media, mostly because it’s very sensitive. It involves negotiation with unions and taking care of tenured employees who have been around for a long time and might be at the top of (a salary) scale. It’s a very, very touchy subject, and we’re trying to do that as understanding as possible.”

In other items, the Park Board: 

• Is looking into bringing a Senior Olympics competition to Quincy.
• Reviewed a proposal from Klingner and Associates to send $3.526 million in construction, engineering and surveying costs to extend the Bill Klingner Trail from Parker Heights to Lincoln Park.
• Was lukewarm about a proposal to sell property in Gardner Park. “The board at this time doesn’t appear to be interested in that sale that was brought up by one of the commissioners,” Philpot said. “It doesn’t seem to have any legs.”