Washington Evening Journal
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HHCC board looks to help fund skate park in the county
BY BRYCE KELLY
Mt. Pleasant News
After some discussion, the Healthy Henry County Communities (HHCC) board will now officially be looking to share some wealth.
During the board?s regular meeting on Tuesday, members of the board?s executive committee suggested looking into ways to use roughly $4,500 that has been sitting with HHCC for several years. Originally, the money was raised to help fund a possible skate ...
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Sep. 30, 2018 9:50 pm
BY BRYCE KELLY
Mt. Pleasant News
After some discussion, the Healthy Henry County Communities (HHCC) board will now officially be looking to share some wealth.
During the board?s regular meeting on Tuesday, members of the board?s executive committee suggested looking into ways to use roughly $4,500 that has been sitting with HHCC for several years. Originally, the money was raised to help fund a possible skate park in Mt. Pleasant. However, as the City of Mt. Pleasant has yet to take major steps to create such a park in town, HHCC moved to look at other communities within Henry County that might use the money.
?I would make a motion to allow that money to become available to an entity wanting to build a skate park in Henry County, and that money would be supplied to that entity after they have demonstrated to this board that they have done enough fundraising and planning that their project is viable,? HHCC board member Sarah Berndt suggested after discussion on the topic had ended.
The majority of the board approved Berndt?s motion, while there were still some board members who felt the money should stay within Mt. Pleasant. As originally stated, the money was initially raised to help fund a skate park in Mt. Pleasant, not in other communities within Henry County.
Thus far, the City of New London has held discussions in recent city council meetings about possibly building a stake park in New London. The city began talks about a skate park after several youth and their parents came to a New London City Council meeting to express their desire for a park where locals could safely skate. So far, no official approvals for a park have been done by the New London City Council.
Now that the board has approved the money to be used, HHCC coordinator, Kelly Carr, will send out letters to each city council or mayor regarding the funds available and what is required for that money to be given out. Carr also said she would contact some of the original fundraisers of the money to let them know of the board?s initial plans for the funds.
Besides talk of a skate park, the board also took time to discuss this year?s Midwest Old Threshers Reunion. During the five-day event, HHCC worked to provide information about healthy food options on the grounds to guests. According to Carr, this year?s food vendors were very welcoming to the board?s desire to provide more healthy food options to event goers.
?We had several additional healthy food options that were available to people this year compared to last year,? said Carr. ?We even had people who thanked us for providing information about healthy food options, which is great.?
HHCC worked with Henry County Health Center dietician, Elise Klopfenstein to help with the healthy food options program this year. According to Carr, the HHCC would like their involvement in Old Threshers to become a regular tradition.
In other news, the board:
Approved to hold the Healthiest State Walk on Oct. 5. More information regarding that event will be released at a later date.
Approved to hold the Healthy Halloween Walk on Sunday, Oct. 23, from 2 to 5 p.m. More information regarding that event will also be released at a later date.
Reviewed an update on the county?s Text-A-Tip line. After questions regarding the Text-A-Tip program?s ability to receive picture and video messages were brought before the board, Carr confirmed that the Text-A-Tip program does have the ability to receive both video and picture messages.
Approved the formation of a committee to further discuss how the county can better promote and develop walking and biking trails within the county. Those interested in being a part of such a committee should contact Carr at 319-385-6523.
The next HHCC board meeting will be held on Oct. 4, 2016, in the Henry County Health Center?s Health Education Center, at 1 p.m.