HILLIAR TOWNSHIP — The Hilliar Township trustees held a public hearing on Wednesday, looking for feedback on a proposed transfer of Memorial Park to the Village of Centerburg.
The township has owned and maintained the park for decades. The village offered to take on the responsibility.
“With their resources and staff, they have assured us they are well prepared to manage the park and look at ways to improve it,” Trustee John Moore said.
“The transfer includes provisions to maintain the park as a public space in perpetuity, with the township retaining the right to reacquire it if necessary.”
The township has done minimal upkeep over the last several years. Concession stands need repaired and the electric upgraded. Additionally, there is no public water or sewer.
Centerburg Mayor Greg Sands said village officials saw the frustration surrounding the park and felt the village had the expertise, staff, and resources to step forward and manage it.
“The reason our council feels it needs to step forward is because the trustees have felt the burden with financial, personnel, and all the things involved. We can fill that need,” Sands said.
The city has already annexed the back part of the park and a parcel close to the footbridge. Plans are to annex the remaining 12.9 acres so the village can offer sewer service to the park.
Centerburg Councilman Greg Myers explained that many grants the village would apply for require the land to be in the village.
Del-Co is responsible for bringing water to the park.
Previous joint efforts were unsuccessful
Sands said numerous solutions proposed over the past decades have not worked. Trustee Eric Cochran noted township residents voted down creating a park district to operate Memorial Park.
Cochran said the township would have to put on a levy to raise enough money to operate the park.
“We see growth coming. We feel the park is very important to the community and want nothing but the best for it. I do believe the village is equipped with more resources that it will benefit everybody in the community,” he said.
“We tried to do a joint venture between us, but it became an issue of another board, another administrator, and different things that continually cost more money. … With us having the first refusal if they’re going to get rid of it, I don’t see how we can’t move forward with this.”
Cochran said the transfer will save the township quite a few maintenance costs.
“The village is going to have the burden of some future expenses with maintenance that we have been lacking and need to be done, but they feel they’re willing to step up and have a plan,” he said.
“I don’t see how we can do this without burdening the township, and we didn’t want to ask the township residents to pony up more money to try and maintain it.”
Sands said the village knows there will be costs to operate Memorial Park. The village will prioritize those costs and move forward from there.
No immediate changes anticipated for Memorial Park programs
Jared Patterson asked about a time frame for transferring recreation league leases to the village. Sands said the village will meet with the baseball and softball leagues and USA Today and Old Time Farming festival committees as soon as possible.
Regarding whether the leagues and festivals should increase their fees, Sands said the village does not anticipate changing anything currently.
“We have to get through this year first, see where we’re at, share with you where we’re at at the end of the year, and then make decisions before next year,” he said.
Bloomfield Road resident Connie Moore appreciates that everyone is looking at the transfer from a community as well as a financial perspective.
“I am tax exhausted. … I want my grandchildren to play in the park, but I also want to have people in the community that can be fiscally responsible,” she said. “So I thank you for coming together to look at what’s best and ensure I’m not tax burdened.”
Jennifer Fielding said she, along with everyone else, wants what is best for the children. Her concern was that the village would be partial to village residents regarding park use.
Sands said the park currently offers services to residents within the school district. That will remain the same.
Noting the village will not draw lines, Sands said the local community will have priority over someone coming from another area.
“Our community is the Centerburg community. I think it’s very important that it stays that way,” Fielding said. “Not drawing lines is really important. I appreciate that.”
Why give away an asset?
Julie Laughlin and Mark Pinyerd cautioned the township not to give away an asset.
Laughlin said that with the coming growth, the township at some point will have the population to become a home rule township. If that occurs, the township will function more like a village.
“Thinking forward, when that happens, what will Hilliar Township have to offer its residents?” she asked.
Laughlin said she is skeptical because of the township’s past history with the village.
“If you’re going to move forward, I ask that you seriously think about incorporating things in that agreement that protect the rights of Hilliar Township residents as far as use, fee structure, all of those things, because the history has not been good,” she said.
Pinyerd agreed.
“Why would Hilliar Township want to give away an asset that no one has wanted a fiscal part of responsibility?” he asked.
He noted that council members are elected, and future council members might see and handle the park different.
“I think it’s imperative that Hilliar Township incorporates some of the things as far as fee structures to be equal among village and township residents,” he said.
The township has a rollover of around $500,000 from 2024. Several residents asked how the trustees will spend the money formerly spent on the park.
Cochran said the money is in the township’s general fund and will be part of future budget decisions.
Trustee Jason Rogers noted upcoming expenses include providing a match for Updike Road improvements and buying a new truck.
“So, when you hear that big dollar amount, understand that money, a lot of it, is already ear-tagged,” he said.
