Voters to Weigh in on Proposed REC Center Purchase
Yorkville aldermen approve a referendum for November's ballot.
Yorkville voters will be able to give a thumbs up or down to the proposed purchase - and the tentative terms - of the REC Center, which the city has been leasing for about five years.
Aldermen approved that referendum Tuesday as they rejected a similar question about selling bonds to build a new recreation facility. The second question surfaced through recent talks about partnering with the Fox Valley YMCA and the city providing half of the estimated $8 million cost for a shared building.
The second question was "silly" to ask voters, because the city can't afford to borrow $4 million for a new facility, Mayor Gary Golinski said.
“We’re in no position to issue $4 million in bonds, especially for a REC Center,” Golinski said, adding that improving roads should be a higher priority.
But purchasing the existing REC Center facility from Walker Custom Homes won't require borrowing money. The referendum will ask voters if the city should purchase the building through an installment contract of up to 20 years for up to $2.5 million at an annual interest rate not to exceed 6 percent. Those figures are part of a tentative purchase agreement announced this spring; a final agreement has not been made.
Ward 1 Alderman George Gilson Jr. pushed city leaders to include financial specifics in the question.
“I think they do need to know a sales price," Gilson said. "They do need to know the interest because the interest is pretty important here, and they do need a say."
Voting against placing that question on the November ballot were Ward 3 Alderman Chris Funkhouser, Ward 2 Alderman Jackie Milschewski, and Ward 4 Alderman Diane Teeling.
“As much as I want this (referendum), I don’t like the wording," Funkhouser said.
The referendum also will push back city leaders' timeframe for making a decision about the facility. Golinski had planned to host public hearings on the issue at the June, July and August meetings so aldermen could vote on the issue in September.
Related articles:
• Yorkville Considering Referendum, Rec Partnership with YMCA
• Two More Public Hearings Scheduled on REC Center Purchase
• Kendall County Property Tax Revolt Focuses on Education
• From Elected Officials Health Insurance to Employee Raises
• Mayor: Tentative Agreement Struck to Buy Rec Center
• What If the City Doesn't Buy the REC Center?
• City Cancels REC Center Lease
Dock Ellis
7:16 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
This group of nincompoops wants a referendum for every issue instead of just making the decisions like they were elected to do. They obviously don't understand the concept of representative government. We hired you to make the decisions, now make them and deal with the consequences or benefits!
Glass is half full
12:00 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012
Well said Dock!!!
Audity
7:44 am on Saturday, July 28, 2012
I apologize, but I am having a little trouble understanding the difference between committing to a long-term payment plan of a large sum of interest-accruing money whether it is borrowed or contracted - isn't a payment a payment and the taxpayers are still on the hook?
Yorkville1
6:35 pm on Saturday, July 28, 2012
If the dues paid by the members that join the REC Club can pay the bills, keep it open. Once non-members (Tax-payers) have to start paying for "entertainment" for others then U close it down or go smaller. Pay with what U have. That is how our house works! If we don't have $$ to join the REC Center, we don't join. My neighbors should not have to flip the bill for ME to work-out.
Kathy
7:27 am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
I do not believe that tax paying citizens should be purchasing the Rec Center. The point of government is to govern, not to be a business owner. Have we not learned from our past mistakes?
Dan
9:52 am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
It's not a business. It is a service for the community that provides programing space for people of all ages 0-100.