PRINCETON — During Monday night’s meeting, the Princeton Park District Board discussed an issue that was brought to their attention by a patron of the Bureau County Metro Center. The Jacuzzi, which was constructed along with the rest of the building, is not handicap accessible.

Maintenance Director Mike Anderson has been in contact with several companies to get prices on installing a lift, similar to the one in the pool, for the Jacuzzi room.  Prices have ranged from $47,000 to $106,000 depending on the equipment and work that needs to be done to the Jacuzzi to have the lift installed properly.

Park Board Attorney Bob Russell explained that the Metro Center building was built the year before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) went into effect. The ADA was signed into law in 1990.

Russell said, “If after researching the options with due diligence and you find it would bring an undue financial burden to the park district, you do not have to make the changes since the building was built prior to the act.”

Russell went on to explain that staff had been in contact with an architect, got prices on different options from several different vendors and presented all of the information to the board so that a decision could be made.

Executive Director Tammy Lange said, “We have not had much of any revenue since March of 2020 with COVID.  It is our mission to make the building as ADA accessible as possible.  It just is not financially a good decision at this time and would cause a financial burden on the park district.”

Board Commissioner Brandon Nyman agreed that the park district does not have the money at this time.  

Nyman also said,  “The Jacuzzi and sauna aren’t even being used at all right now by orders of the Illinois Department of Public Health due to COVID. I think we should revisit this at the time the Jacuzzi is able to be used again.”

All board members voted in favor of not purchasing a lift at this time.

In other news:

• Superintendent of Parks Matt Wright told the board that hockey nets were put out at the tennis courts in Alexander Park. They are available for use by the public when the snow melts off the courts.

Wright said, “I just want to give the community as many choices as possible for things to do during these times.”

• Assistant Director Nick Davis told the board that he is implementing a Biggest Loser Challenge. To be part of this challenge, register at the front desk of the Metro Center.  The cost to participate is $10 for members of the Metro Center and $20 for non-members. The first weigh in will be on Friday, Jan. 15, with weigh-ins occurring every Friday until Feb. 26. The overall biggest loser (percentage lost) wins a one year free membership.

Davis said, “This is one piece of programming that we can do now.”

Davis also told the board that attendance numbers are staying pretty steady and that a few new members have signed up since the beginning of the new year.

The next meeting will take place on Monday, Jan. 18, at 5 p.m at the Bureau County Metro Center.