Hickman to fill remainder of Steinkamp’s term on Park Board

QUINCY — Alan Hickman will get a head start on his four-year term as a Quincy Park Board commissioner by filling the remainder of the late Jeff Steinkamp’s term.

Hickman’s name was drawn from a hat late Wednesday afternoon by Park Board president John Frankenhoff. Hickman’s name was one of three in the hat, representing the three men scheduled to take office in May after the April election.

Hickman, Jarid Jones and Mark Philpot were running for the three open positions and guaranteed spots on the board. Hickman simply gets a jump start, beginning at the Jan. 18 Park Board meeting.

None of the three were in attendance at the drawing, conducted by Frankenhoff and Park District executive director Rome Frericks.

“Why not let one of the three get a little bit of a head start?” Frankenhoff said.

Hickman, Jones and Philpot will serve four-year terms.

Hickman, 63, does not feel the “head start” is necessarily any sort of advantage.

“I’m just glad to be a part, so my voice can be heard,” said Hickman, who retired after working for more than 15 years for the Quincy Housing Authority. “This will be the first time I have served on a board of this magnitude.”

The Park Board opening Hickman is filling was created by the death of Steinkamp, 71, in December.

The other two openings were created when current board members Nathan Koetters and Roger Leenerts opted not to run again.