PRINCETON — Bureau County Metro Center membership rates will be rising in 2020, after the Princeton Park District Board gave its approval to the proposal at Monday’s meeting.

The increases, similar to those of recent years, call for a resident adult annual new membership rate to rise by $3, from $283 to $286, which represents a 1.1 percent increase. The renewal rate will be $236.

Annual new family memberships for park district residents will rise by $5, from $425 to $430, a 1.2 percent increase. Renewals will be $380.

Other annual rate increases for park district residents are:

• One-parent family, and couples: Up $5, from $360 to $365, a 1.4 percent increase. (Renewals are $315.)

• Senior citizen couple: Up $5, from $240 to $245, a 2.1 percent increase. (Renewal is $195.)

• Senior citizen, college and youth: Up $3, from $178 to $181, a 1.7 percent increase. (Renewals are $131.)

Non-resident annual rates will rise by 0.8 percent to 1.6 percent, depending on category, an increase of from $3 to $5 per year.

Six-month rates will rise by $3 to $5 per year for both residents (increases of 1.8 to 3 percent, depending on category) and non-residents (increases of 1.4 to 2.7 percent).

Monthly memberships for residents will rise by $5, from $50 to $55, a 10 percent increase, and for non-residents by $5, from $60 to $65, an 8.3 percent increase.

Increases in daily pass fees are $1 for adults (from $6 to $7, or a 16.7 percent increase) and $1 for senior, youth and college (from $5 to $6, or a 20 percent increase).

The rate increases will take effect on Jan. 1.

It was pointed out that Metro Center membership rates compare favorably to area facilities’ rates.

New adult and family rates in Princeton will be $286 and $430, respectively, compared to similar facilities in Geneseo ($335, $585), Sterling ($400, $650), Kewanee ($474, $618), Peru ($664, $826) and Chillicothe ($448, $678).

The board received an update on Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund rates, which will rise for the district from 9.25 percent last year to 9.43 percent this year.

“There was a slight increase over last year but certainly not anything that would affect our budget,” Elaine Russell, executive director, stated.

Russell added that the park district’s retirement fund “is fully funded.”

On another topic, Russell said the district is awaiting a list of who received or will receive bid packets for the Metro Center roof project.

Keith Scherer, superintendent of parks, described the various methods used to restore turf on the large field at City County Park that was damaged by horses’ hooves during the Shadows of the Blue and Gray Civil War battle re-enactment.

“For the most part, it’s back to pretty much normal,” Scherer said.

The board discussed the Heaton offer regarding land near Zearing Park. Attorney Bob Russell will draw up a license agreement that allows access to the landlocked Heaton property.

Payment of bills in the amount of slightly more than $53,000 was approved.