Park Board approves next step in securing self-funded $1.17 million GO bond for 2025

QUINCY — The Quincy Park Board approved the self-funding of a $1.17 million general obligation (GO) bond, which will be used to purchase equipment and to fund park improvement projects, at its monthly meeting on Wednesday night. 

GO bonds are a type of municipal bond that are often used to fund non-revenue generating projects pertaining to public facilities and services, like repairing park restrooms, building playgrounds and maintaining shelter houses. 

Following Wednesday night’s proposal, the board’s bond counsel will prepare the necessary documents for the issuance of the bond to pay for approved projects in the amount of $1,171,000 with a four percent interest rate, both of which will be formally approved at the next Board of Commissioners meeting on Dec. 11.

“The reason we’re in this position is because of what’s been done over the years where we have sufficient funds to loan ourselves this amount — over a million dollars,” board member John Frankenhoff said at the meeting. “It’s a win-win-win for taxpayers and for us.”

The board approved a $218,000 quote for one of the GO bond projects — replacing the shelter building at Quinsippi Island — at Wednesday night’s meeting. 

Brian Earnest, the director of business services, stated in his recommendation of approval to the board that the advantages of the Quincy Park District’s “self-funding” of the bond include “a reduced interest rate for the bond (and) an increase in investment income.” Additionally, since GO bonds are taxable, the bond “does not have to comply with the IRS guidelines for tax-exempt issues.”

Chris Collins, superintendent of the New Philadelphia Historic Site and the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument, addressed the board to discuss the establishment of new parks. 

The Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument is among the newest of national parks, having been established in August 2024. The New Philadelphia Historic Site, two miles east of Barry, was established in December 2022 by the National Park Service as “the first known town planned and legally registered by an African American before the Civil War.” According to the New Philadelphia Association, the town was founded in 1836 by Frank McWorter, who was able “to purchase 16 of his family members out of slavery.” 

“(The National Park Service has) established over 30 parks (since 2016) without an increase in our budgets, so we’ve seen an increase in the maintenance backlog and support needs,” Collins said. “Ultimately, we can’t do anything without partnership. I’m here tonight to meet you all and hopefully work with you all in the future, because we need each other in times of scarcity.”

Park Board President Mark Philpot said that having Collins address the board was to create an opportunity for collaboration due to their “symbiotic missions of being good land stewards.”

“When the New Philadelphia Site becomes more operational, there are going to be a number of tourists that are going to be coming to that location,” Philpot said. “This is an opportunity for us to get ahead of the curve and be able to support the mission of having a national landmark that close to us and also offer an opportunity for some tourism dollars for us here in Quincy.”

The board also approved an ordinance to authorize the 2024 property tax levy increase, which will result in a 2.498 percent increase from 2023 in the estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2024.

The board also approved a bid for 20 golf carts for Westview Golf Course in the amount of roughly $70,000 — $10,000 under budget. David Morgan, the board’s director of golf, estimated that $465,000 in revenue has been generated for the district this year from golf cart rentals.

An ordinance to authorize the public sale of surplus property — in this instance, a 20-foot fish and ski boat inherited by the board from a military member who moved straight to Tennessee upon returning to the states after being overseas and didn’t want to take it with him — was approved. Advertising for the sale will be placed in the Herald-Whig, with proceeds going to the board’s marina fund.

Fees for the following facilities and services for 2025 were also approved by the board (most fees increased minimally, if at all):

• shelter/special event/services;
• Art Keller Marina;
• Westview Golf Course;
• Indian Mounds Pool;
• showmobile services;
• financial assistance program;
• athletic surfaces;
• and batting cages.

Board members also mentioned a handful of upcoming events throughout the meeting:

• Festival of Lights, which will run from Nov. 28 to Dec. 31 at Moorman-Wavering Park with admission starting at $20 per vehicle;
• Special Pops Christmas Dinner and Dance, which will be held for special populations on Dec. 4 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Holiday Inn with a $3 admission fee (RSVP requested);
• Tea at the Mansion on Maine, a ticket-only event to be held on Nov. 17 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lorenzo Bull House (tickets are $40, few remain); and
• The Miracle on Maine Street, which will take place on Dec. 7 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Quincy Art Center, the Lorenzo Bull House and the Quincy Museum. Adult tickets are $10, kids are $5 and children under two are free.