Election 2011: Park District Candidates Discuss Future Capital Projects

If you’re elected/re-elected to the Park Board, what is one capital project you would like to see completed in your new term?

The one capital item I would like to see finished by the time I am off the board is
the Prairie Point outdoor facilities’ project.

In 1991, the Park Board purchased those 83 acres at a cost that was originally criticized by some because the Board paid above the appraisal price. After watching my grandchildren play soccer there on many Saturday afternoons and seeing all of the football games going on at the same time, I can’t imagine what we would be using for outdoor facilities today if that Board didn’t have the vision they had.

In addition, we still need more baseball and softball fields to serve those teams who can’t find them for practice and games. The Board has had to wait the past twenty years to receive the proper grants and funding to finally complete this project. So, I look forward to the next stage at Prairie Point which is lighting for the soccer fields so we can serve more youth, their families, and the total community better.

If the District is successful in obtaining a grant, I would like to see the renovation of Winrock Pool completed.

This is an opportunity to take a 35-year-old facility and upgrade it to better fit the community’s needs and improve its efficiency. The improvements in energy efficiency, decrease in water usage, and reduction in chemical usage would lead to long term cost savings for the District.

The one capital project that I would like to see is the development of a Community Center that would include a banquet facility.  This would provide Oswegoland residents with a place to meet for various community activities, weddings, and other gatherings.  I believe there is a great need for such a facility and that this facility could pay for itself with fees from individuals for weddings and other parties at facility.

OPD’s 137 page budget gives no supporting detail. This is amazing, but is typical of a Board that has been in place too long in an environment of high growth, where money was readily available to spend. These Boards usually abdicate their fiduciary responsibilities to the Administration, whose goals are to spend as much money as they can.

Buried in OPD’s Operating Budget is its Capital Budget, which just lists projects and
estimated cost. Examples: “Prairie Point. Community Park $734,423;” and, “Civic Center Building Improvement $194,000”.

I’m sure some of these projects are needed, but equally confident that fat can be trimmed from many. These projects total $1,872,443 which is a lot of money.

All projects would be included in the review outlined in the prior question. Projects that pass the test of being needed and efficiently planned would proceed. Some would proceed only after unneeded costs are cut.

To accomplish this pledge to you most quickly, we need to fill three Board seats with the three challengers: Barocio, Wass, and White. Please vote for us so that we can serve you, and your Park District needs better, and at lower cost.

I would like to make sure that our community has all of the programs and facilities that they need, for children, parents, singles, and seniors.  For example, maybe a Kids Center where they can go have fun and hang out.  It would give them a place to go, along with keeping them out of trouble.

Editor's note: did not respond to requsts for answers to followup candidate questions.