The Hound is scratching behind the ears over why Antioch can’t make any headway in building a new pool. The park board spent years and thousands of dollars of taxpayers’ money to research the best location, choosing a piece of property on the north side of the village for the new aqua center. They even paid a consultant to come up with concepts for the project.
But ever since this new round of trustees was elected almost a year ago, nothing further has been done except a lot of yammering and posturing and barking. Lindenhurst Park District officials put feelers out to other municipalities, including Antioch and Lakes High School, about partnering to build a pool. Most likely, those folks will build their facility closer to Lindenhurst than anywhere close to Antioch.
Antioch park board members simply want to build something really nice for their swim team and residents in Antioch. But when Park Board President Jeff Benes said the board wants to build in Antioch on what is called the “Bitner property” village Trustee Bob Caulfield called the board’s decision and Benes’ comments “garbage.”
The Hound has to wonder where Caulfield is coming from, when as liaison to the park board for almost a year he’s only attended a couple of park board meetings and that only happened after the park board made a written request that he show some interest in their activities. Past board liaisons attended just about every park board meeting.
From what he said at the last Village Board meeting, he apparently thinks the park board isn’t willing to look at any other option but the Bitner property, while claiming he has the interest of the whole village at heart.
Caulfield told the park board: “It sounds like the park board is only interested in a pool on the Bitner property, but I am interested in pool for whole community of Antioch. Stop letting it be so personal. This is about what is best for the entire community.” Says he.
This is coming from a trustee who was asked in front of several witnesses why he didn’t like the Bitner piece and he admitted that it was politics behind his unwillingness to buy into the Bitner location, which is next to NIMBY-minded neighbors in the Arbors of Windmill Creek subdivision.
Sounds like the pool question in Antioch is going toward a watery grave. Looks like the swim team might have to use Sequoit Creek. If it doesn't have any oil spills on the surface.
The media has been misleading by saying "the village paid for concepts for the new pool". That suggests the detailed plans are ready to go and just need a stamp of approval. The only drawings I see on the village web site are nine two-dimensional "conceptual" drawings that use colors to vaguely suggest where things could be built. These drawings do not detail what materials are needed, what would the structure(s) look like, what is the maximum capacity of the facility, how large is the outdoor pool, how many parking spaces, how many restrooms, how would neighbors be protected from noise and light pollution, etc. All the park board has done is buy land and get some preliminary drawings, and they did it without knowing how to pay for the development of the land. That is not a plan. Our taxes are high; if taxes increase, I would rather see the money go to our overcrowded schools. Having a pool is nice, but I would like to see the pro-pool people tell me specifically where the millions of dollars will come from to fund this new development. Until then, the trustees should continue to block this development. Why won't the park board consider partnering with neighboring communities to share resources and minimize the financial burden on taxpayers? Lindenhurst is willing, but Antioch park officials slammed the door in their face. I am embarrassed to be an Antioch resident.
THE HOUND SAYS: If you're embarrased to be an Antioch resident, move. Seeing that village officials have torpedoed pool plans, you'll never see any firm plans on the village Web site. And by the way, taxes are high all over Lake County. Wait until you get Lake Michigan water. They'll be even higher. Remember, you folks wanted all that housing and development. You got it and what are you doing about it?
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