O’Fallon council OKs replacing pool and community center, advances tax levy to fund it
A water slide for the new pool and plans to finance the Community Park Enhancement Project are moving forward in O’Fallon.
In a resolution Oct. 2, the city council approved the staff proceeding with replacing the pool and the Katy Cavins Community Center, building an outdoor amphitheater, and upgrading the outdoor event space, as well as using cash reserves to fund the project.
The majority of the enhancement project will be included in the budget for the 2025 fiscal year, but because some expenses may occur in 2024, the resolution also authorized amending the FY24 budget.
An ordinance advanced to issue general obligation bonds and for a tax levy to pay the principal and interest of such bonds using bond parameters and could be approved Oct. 16.
Finance Director Sandy Evans explained that as in the past, Ice Miller will serve as bond counsel and disclosure counsel for this bond issue.
“Since we do not have the exact amount needed for the project, the bond ordinance that is being presented is called a parameter ordinance which allows ‘up to’ a determined amount, so in this case, up to $8.5 million initial principal of general obligation bonds,” she said in her report.
The bonds will be issued by the end of this year so that the city can take advantage of the higher interest rates and invest the bond proceeds until needed to pay for the project.
Projected timeline is:
Oct. 16 City Council Meeting: Second reading of bond parameter ordinance for the pool.
November-December: Rating and Due diligence call, Preliminary official statement finalized and Issue Bonds for pool construction.
January-August 2024: Invest bond proceeds (possibly longer depending on need).
February-April 2024: FY25 Budget to include Community Park Enhancement Project funding.
Summer 2024: Begin construction of new pool.
August-September 2024: Close existing pool and begin construction of new community center and event space.
May 2025: Pool, new community center, and event space open.
Spring-Summer 2025: Demolish Cavins Center and build new parking lot.
Water Slide
After several aldermen inquired about adding a water slide to the original pool design, they were told it would put the project over budget, as $9.1 million was determined for the new pool and office building construction. The additional slide cost is projected at $800,000 to $850,000.
The city looked into the Build O’Fallon Trust Fund in the FY25 budget, based on the balance projection, to fund it. Staff estimate that $1,485,000 is available and could be used to complete the Family Sports Park parking project, allocating $600,000 for that, and then $886,000 would be available to fund the slide.
The council approved it, out of committee, on Monday so that it could so that the design could continue without delaying the project.
Condominium Plat Approved
The council OK’d a condominium plat for State Street Townhomes consisting of a 7-unit townhome with seven two-car detached garages on the northwest corner of the West State and Cherry streets intersection.
Individual units will be sold, not rented. The Cincotta State Street Townhomes is a complex made of seven townhomes, with each unit including a two-car garage, located behind the townhomes, that features two-story, three-bedroom, and two-and-one-half bath luxury units. Each unit will be 1,653 square feet and include amenities such as nine-foot ceilings on the first floor, Amish cabinets, granite countertops, and stainless-steel appliances.
Developer Sal Cincotta and builder Jeff Holland of H&L Builders are working on the project.
Mayor’s Report
Mayor Herb Roach will be hosting a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m.at City Hall. He will discuss changes and improvements that will take place at the Community Park over the next two years.
There will be a change of location for next year’s Cityfest because of construction planned at the Community Park. Cityfest 2024 will take place Aug. 23 and 24 at the O’Fallon Family Sports Park. This includes the parade, which will wind its way through the park. This is only a one-year change. In 2025, it will return to the Community Park.
Viewing Options
O’Fallon will now be live streaming council and committee meetings on Facebook and YouTube. Viewers can watch the stream on their official YouTube channel @cityofofallonillinois (https://www.youtube.com/@cityofofallonillinois) or on the Official City of O’Fallon Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/OfficialOFallonIL).
Virtual attendance is also available via Zoom. Please check the city calendar for the updated Zoom link to each meeting to register for virtual attendance (https://www.ofallon.org/calendar/upcoming). Our new live streaming options and broadcasting equipment upgrades will allow us to reach a larger audience and provide a higher quality viewing experience.
