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Collinsville Township Board Rejects Funding YMCA To Use Senior Center

By Stephanie Malench

smalench@timestribunenews.com

The Collinsville Township Board of Trustees failed to pass a motion to fund the YMCA use of the Senior Center for childcare up to sixth grade on remote learning days for the first semester at its monthly meeting on August 11.

Supervisor Dan Hopkins had previously met with Nina Lindhorst, Executive Director of the Collinsville-Maryville-Troy YMCA and was in favor of using the center for this purpose since Governor JB Pritzker is not allowing senior centers throughout the state to open anytime soon due to COVID-19.

Trustee Derrick Cox made a motion to give the YMCA $30,000 but did not get a second to move the motion forward.

Hopkins then made a motion to give the YMCA $12,500 from the Programs For Youth line item of the budget (usually given to the reading program) which currently has $30,000 in it, for the first semester.

Trustee Rob Milam was absent. Trustee Derrick Cox and Supervisor Dan Hopkins voted in favor of the proposal. Trustee Mike Foley was adamantly against the proposal from the beginning, claiming that the seniors that had talked to did not want kids using the center and “tearing it up”. He also claimed it was “unsafe”, yet claimed schools should be doing remote learning only (and thereby leaving children with two working parents without childcare five days a week).

Lindhorst was on the conference call meeting and said that DCFS would come in and approve the site before hand, clean the facility every hour and at the end of each day. The ratio of children to staff would be 9:1. The Senior Center would also be listed on the YMCA’s insurance policy.

The Maryville Village Board had already approved letting the YMCA use their senior center for childcare last week.

In other news, the Township held its annual backpack give away for students in need in the township and gave away nearly 400 backpacks on August 5th and 6th as a drive through event in the back senior center parking lot.

The tuck pointing job on the Township office building has been completed.

9 Comments

  1. Anonymous on August 14, 2020 at 8:44 am

    Pitiful. It seems Mr. Cox is the only one looking out for the community. Mr. Foley appears that he has a hidden agenda as it stated he was opposed to it and appears to not even care about considering the proposal.

  2. Anonymous on August 13, 2020 at 2:58 pm

    This Township board needs to work together. If a board member receives a call from a resident regarding a problem/request, they should listen to what they have to say. Don’t be promising the resident anything or lead them to think their request will be granted or problem fixed. Explain to them that their problem/request will be brought up for discussion at the next board meeting. Let the other members know that you received a call from a resident regarding a problem/request and then ask the Supervisor to add it to the agenda. Have a civil discussion without cursing or name calling. And stop complaining about meeting in person. That will happen when it is safe to do. The city of Collinsville reopened and then had to close back down because of COVID-19. Highland schools opened and had 9 test positive in one day. It is better to be safe than sorry!

  3. Anonymous on August 13, 2020 at 7:43 am

    This is ridiculous! If Mike Foley would put down the beer bottle then he would hopefully understand. They have no clue how difficult this will be for parents. Way to go Collinsville.

  4. Anonymous on August 12, 2020 at 9:18 pm

    Too bad there is only one Derrick on the board. All his good work and ideas go for not as the longtime good ole boy system shoots him down out of shear ignorance and fear he is showing them up. Keep doing what your doing Derrick, help is on the way!

  5. Anonymous on August 12, 2020 at 2:12 pm

    I would like to know why you’s are do not want another meeting to discuss this matter. I think you are out numbered. This is what we all want.and dare you disrespect Derrick by just calling him Cox. His name is DERRICK COX. Just wait till the next election. I will personal go door to door to get you all out of there. You are not working for the people, you are just working for yourselves. I can’t even imagine what all of you are hiding from the people of Collinsville. With the exception of Derrick Cox. Please call the meeting. You dining want us protesting at your door. What reason do you having having the Senior citizen building have the children using that building. Waiting for a respond. Carlene wirth.❤️✝️🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  6. Anonymous on August 12, 2020 at 12:51 pm

    Mike Foley,

    Way to look out for the community Mike! Parents in this area have absolutely no childcare options available them. Kids will be early released from a school on days they actually attend this year and most parents are required to work 8 hour days on weekdays. Remote learning days means that at least 1 parent will need to stay home 3 days a week and leave work early the other 2 days. This is Severely reducing our families household income by nearly 50%.

    Thanks for shooting down our hopes to maintain two incomes that we need to earn in order to keep a roof over our heads. If you think funding a YMCA program at a senior center is a bad idea just because the seniors think the youth will “tear stuff up” I cannot speak for all families when I say this but I think your a clown with no sense of your communities actual needs. Get a clue already would you?

    Concerned citizen of Collinsville

  7. Anonymous on August 12, 2020 at 9:26 am

    When do we get to vote for change?

    Derrick is the change we’ve needed and he’s FIGHTING for Collinsville.

    Who’s going to step up and make changes?

  8. Anonymous on August 12, 2020 at 8:46 am

    So a senior citizen would assume young children would tear up the center?? I find that hard to believe. Did he think they would not be supervised? Wow

  9. Anonymous on August 12, 2020 at 12:04 am

    Guess this Mike Foley guy doesn’t have any kids or grandkids, nor does he understand that single parents and families need assistance during this pandemic. They’re not just going to drop the kids off and let them tear up the place. These children need to learn. These families need their community’s support. Come on Mike, have a little compassion for those in need!!!!

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