Quincy Park Board puts Riverfront Development Corporation dollars on the backburner

QUINCY — The Quincy Park District Board of Commissioners has indefinitely tabled a request for $350,000 in funding from the Quincy Riverfront Development Corporation to assist in the burial of underground power lines along Front Street.

The board was unanimous in its action to table the request for financing.

The Riverfront Development Corporation is asking all three taxing bodies, the City of Quincy, Adams County and the Quincy Park District, for $350,000 each. The Adams County Board voted last month to make its financing contingent on what action the Park Board took, which means the County won’t be putting forth any funding unless the Park Board commits first.

If the proposal had been approved, the money to cover that request would have come from the district’s reserve funds. Commissioner Mark Philpott said committing to that amount of funding could have an adverse effect on the district’s overall budget.

Commissioner John Frankenhoff continued his staunch opposition to the concept of Riverfront development. He said in the seven weeks since the possibility had surfaced he has not talked with anyone who supports the idea of such a contribution.

In other action the Park Board approved:

• A $2.5 million property tax levy that would increase the district’s revenue somewhere between $77,800 and $118,560, representing a revenue increase between 3.5 percent and 4.9 percent.  
• 2024 fees proposals for Art Keller Marina, Westview Golf Course, Indian Mounds Pool, the showmobile, baseball field rentals and The Batting Cage. Season passes will increase $50 at Westview, making an a annual golf pass $800 for adults, $700 for seniors ranging in age from 62-69 and $500 for golfers over 70. Junior passes (for kids in high school and younger) will be $310.
• Two general obligation bonds. The first bond for $1.3 million will be used for the Park District’s annual capital improvement plan and the second for $1.1 million will pay for the new irrigation system at Westview.
• A $100,000 deal with Q-Town Tournaments to go toward funding the new turf at the Wavering T-ball fields. Q-Town Tournaments will pay $10,000 each year of the agreement, to be raised through admission fees at the tournaments.