Councilmen Riddler and Kneemiller agree on importance of facility
By: Mike McMurran
Sports Editor
Photo by Bob Barton
Surprise. Councilman Rory Riddler and Bob Kneemiller both agree that a “civic center” for the residents of St. Charles City is a priority. “I have and continue to support the concept of a community/civic center,” Kneemiller offered in response to an open letter to the entire council. Riddler’s response takes it to the next level. “This is my number one goal and I believe it is a high priority for the City Council,” was included in his response.
The problem seems to be “where” to build the project. “We have a preferred site on the land the Boys and Girls Club now occupies, as they are buying the land next to them and building a new facility,” said Riddler. Kneemiller agrees the City should purchase the property, however suggests “This may not be the best place for a community center,” he continues, “but the land is most appropriate for expansion of Blanchette Park.”
As sold as Riddler seems on the property on the north side of town, Kneemiller isn’t so sure. “The second location involves looking at an existing building for conversion into a community/civic center. Several members of the city parks staff, public works and administration along with the mayor, some council members, and park board members inspected this building for a temporary civic/community center,” he said. “For obvious reasons we are not in a position at this time to disclose this location.” (The First Capitol News reported in our last edition that it was the closed Bally’s building on South 94)
First Capitol News sports writer Louis Launer indicates, “The now-abandoned facility that used to be Bally’s might be just such place. I haven’t been inside Bally’s facility, but several friends of mine have used the place and if the facilities are still in good shape, St. Charles could have one great recreation facility.”
Riddler disagrees with Launer. “The Bally’s facility is difficult to get to (you have to be coming North on 94 to turn into the facility), it has some water damage and probably can’t be expanded. It might make a great teen center with a lot of work, but it would not be one-tenth as good of a Community Center as the St. Peter’s RecPlex or the Renaud Spirit Center, let alone the O’Fallon YMCA. We will have to see what the Park Board says about the renovation, but I prefer to have a facility we can all be proud of.”
Of the undisclosed site Kneemiller says, “We hope to know within 30 days if this location will be financially and physically practical.” Thirty days seems to be the magic number here. Riddler says of the Boys and Girls Club, “I would hope to have that agreement to buy the land introduced before Council in the next thirty days.”
Both Councilmen agree, it is, and will be a slow process. “For the past six months we have been slogging our way through having the lawyers for both sides work up an agreement,” said Riddler. Kneemiller concurs. “This has been a painfully slow process, but once the center is built there is no going back. I for one would rather go slow and get what the residents want, need, and most importantly what they will use.”
