Highland Council Hears Swimming Pool Update
By Stephanie Malench
smalench@timestribunenews.com
The Highland City Council received a briefing on the current status of the outdoor pool by Parks and Recreation Director Mark Rosen at its August 16 meeting.
Rosen said “Although the pool did have a successful year regarding operations, the items indicated by the FGM report have not changed. In general, accessibility remains a problem, the wading/baby pool is not operational, rest rooms/bath house is substandard, and the annual uncertainty of start-up are all concerns”.
An online survey completed by 908 people who visited the pool in 2019 found that:
• over 50% of those who use the Highland Community Pool do so for recreational swimming
• 61% believe the open water space is their favorite amenity
• nearly 60% believe the bath houses are their least favorite amenity
• over 75% of respondents believe an alternative location than Lindendale Park
•70% of pool users are City of Highland residents.
Highlights of the 2021 season included 24 after-hour rentals, 4,383 paid daily uses, and 2,132 season pass users (as of August 11).
In other business:
• Brad Korte and Bob Vance were reappointed to the Combined Planning & Zoning Board and Anthony Walker was appointed Chair
• 1808 Olive St. was declared surplus property and will be sold via sealed bids
• approval to request funds from the American Rescue Plan Act
•Notices of municipal letting for Silver Lake Spillway Retaining Wall Reconstruction, estimated to cost $250,000.
•Notice of municipal letting for a concrete and permeable paver parking lot at Broadway and Zschokke St. estimated to cost $160,000.
• waived competitive bidding requirements and authorizing purchase of a 2021 Chevy Silverado pick-up truck for $29,825 for the Parks and Recreation Department and a 2021 Ford Interceptor SUV costing $68,952 for the Police Department.
• allocation of Hotel/Motel Tax funds of $4,067.05 for Flugel Fest Marketing
• an ordinance authorizing the purchase of an option to buy additional real estate from Grandview Farms for Future Construction of the southern peripheral route for the City of Highland
• issuance of a restaurant (non video gaming) liquor license to Schlafly Illinois LLC
The next city council meeting will be held Tuesday, September 7 at 7 p.m.
