Dwight Village Board

by Madelyn Fogarty madelynfogarty@yahoo.com

Frustrated community members gathered at the January 9 meeting of the Dwight Village Board of Trustees wanting answers regarding the tornado-damaged Garrett Park ball fields and calling the current situation “unacceptable.”

With three years approaching since the June 2010 tornado swept through Dwight, little has been done to repair damages at the park used for Dwight Youth baseball and softball. Summer of 2010 saw no play on the fields following the tornado and last summer the fields saw limited use as the village waited to find out if a requested Illinois Parc Grant would be available to help fund a new facility. The grant, a State 75 percent /Village 25 percent proposition, had been applied for by the Village in November 2010 with hopes of being used for a proposed four-field base- ball/softball complex with an estimated cost of $1.3 million. Awarding of grant money was continually delayed by the State, and when finally made, it excluded Dwight’s request. Organizers of the league and the community members have expressed their exhausted patience with the situation and pushed the board to take action.

“My frustration comes from knowing in September or October that there was no grant money and here we sit in January and still no plan,” said Youth Baseball Vice President Mike Calandro.

“Keep in mind, it is January 9 and our season starts in April”, said Calandro. “We are under the gun.”

While no bids have been secured for the repairs, Mayor Wilkey indicated that the village is still working to resolve several insurance questions and that there is not enough insurance money available to cover the pending repairs.

“We don’t have nearly enough money for what you people are asking for,” Mayor Wilkey told the group, indicating that $39,000 was received for concession stand damages, but the lowest replacement cost, with additional bathroom facilities, that could be found was $150,000.

But League representatives would not settle for the response.

“What we are asking for is to have the weeds pulled out of the ground and give our kids a place to play,” said Calandro. “We are not asking for LED lights or astro turf.”

Dwight Village Trustee Jared Anderson sided with the League indicating there was money available to start repairs for things such as the damaged fence and crow’s nest.

“October 3 is now over three months ago,” stated Anderson, regarding how long it has been since news of the denied Parc Grant was received. “The things we know that could be done aren’t being done. It is inexcusable.” Anderson went on to say that “best case” scenario for starting repairs now would be middle of March since securing formal bids requires a “six to eight week window” for the bid process.

Pushing the Mayor for a commitment on getting the project completed, local resident Sean Connolly asked for a deadline.

“Is it safe to say that by the end of 2012 it will be done?” pressed Connolly.
“Yep,” responded Mayor Wilkey before moving to other business. A Properties Committee meeting has been set for January 16 to discuss plans for Garrett Park .

In other matters, the board passed an ordinance reducing the speed limit on Fieldman Road from Columbia Street east to Route

47 (blacktop running behind South Subdivision). The new 35 mph speed limit will be posted and is effective immediately. Columbia Street west to Route 66, which is in the jurisdiction of Livingston County, will remain at 55 mph until a study can be completed to determine if a reduction in speed is necessary on this stretch of road as well.

The board also:

• approved a SHOW BUS donation of $500.

• approved a GLCEDC annual investment of $8,520 ($2 per capita based on a population of 4,260).

• learned that newly-hired Dwight Police Officer Brett Middleton has started academy training and is expected to graduate March 29.

• approved a fund transfer of $70,794.55 from the Sewer Fund to the Sewer Replacement Reserve Fund for paying interest on the wastewater treatment plant loan.

• a Dwight Community Chest donation request was not considered by the Board since the Village has opted to donate to individual group requests instead.

The next meeting of the Dwight Village Board of Trustees will be Monday, January 23, 6:30 p.m., in the Public Services Complex.