Tuesday, October 15th, 2019
St. Henry community center proceeds
By Tom Stankard
Submitted Photo
This rendering shows the interior of the proposed St. Henry Community Center. Plans for the $1.9 million, 21,000-square-foot facility, include a weight room, basketball courts, a walking track and more.
ST. HENRY - School board members thanked athletic boosters club for their efforts on the community center project and wished them well as the project proceeds.
Club president Jeremy Schwie-
terman told board members all funds for the $1.9 million, 21,00-square-foot facility to be built directly east of the high school have been acquired and additional funds will be used by the club to pay down debt.
With prior approval from the board for the project, Schwieterman said club members hope to begin preparing the site for construction soon and submit final plans for permits and final approval.
Village employees should be able to help the club install utilities and move dirt, village administrator Ron Gelhaus has said.
Board president Andy Fuhlenkamp congratulated the boosters for reaching this milestone and expressed gratitude on behalf of the board for their efforts to better the community.
"The efforts from so many have brought this project forward for seven years," he added. "We are very fortunate to have such an athletic boosters club with a history of successful projects, which we look back on with thanks and we look forward with excitement as you begin construction with the largest project to date."
Plans designed by Garmann/Miller Architects-Engineers call for two indoor basketball and volleyball courts, two batting cages that can be lowered and raised, a walking track surrounding the courts and a weight room.
"This community center will be a wonderful gift for students and residents of St. Henry. It will be used by future generations to come and be a lasting reminder of the generosity and support of many past, present and future," Fuhlenkamp said.
Booster club member Ben Miller said the project would be good for the community because it would "provide space that promotes health and happiness through exercise, provides an opportunity for education for youth and can be a socially responsible leader in the community through numerous events."
Also during the meeting, members approved the resignation of elementary school secretary Eileen Brackman, effective Jan. 3, and cafeteria worker/custodian Jody Lange, effective Dec. 31. Brackman has served the district for 24 years and Lange has served 311/2 years.
