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PEC EDC working to support family activities
By Christopher Johnson
A changing of the guard on the Pecatonica Economic Development Committee has not influenced plans already put in place nor the funds set aside, to make sure an annual Village of Pecatonica gathering will have resources in place to assure success.
At a recent meeting of the Pecatonica EDC, Chairman Tom Heister made sure there were no snags in the release of funding to support the annual hide-and-seek battles, across from the river, Easter weekend, at Sumner Park.
Within a few weeks households across the area will be celebrating Easter in traditional, and occasional non-traditional fashion. That includes visits with the Easter Bunny, Easter egg hunts and baskets of goodies for children of all ages.
A little under a quarter of a calendar year ago, Heister took over control of the Pecatonica EDC. After putting things in order, he explained, the learning process began.
“The first month was catching up and the second month was kind of like that too. Recently we started talking about events coming up like our Farmer’s Market and the Easter Egg Hunt..”
The annual Easter celebration held along the riverfront in northern Pecatonica features a slate of family activities through the oversight of the Pecatonica Women’s Club, according to Heister.
“The Village’s Economic Development Committee donated funds to the Pec Women’s Club. We are also going to help fund events on Main Street like bounce houses and visits with the Easter Bunny.”
The EDC Chairman said he is hoping Pec residents and business owners understand that the committee consisting of elected officials and citizens at large wants to help make Pecatonica a great place to visit and possibly, stay a while.
He explained an idea to bring families to the community’s parks is already in the works.
“We have been kicking around some great ideas along with working on our Budget. We have been talking about a possible disc golf course down by the park.”
In order for a measure to actually find success, outside of funding, such as what would be required for a disc golf course, an agreement with the Pecatonica Park District may have to be worked out as well
Fiscally, the Village of Pecatonica, the Pecatonica School Board and Pecatonica Township work as partners through involvement in intergovernmental agreements.
A measure such as purchasing gasoline or salt for winter road use is a shared expense, which often involves agreements on sharing a larger order, in order to save a few dollars on the line item.
If an agreement is worked out with the Village of Pecatonica as a whole and the Pecatonica Park District, issues such as mowing, maintenance and post-citizen clean-up could be an expense that can be shared, or funded completely through the EDC’s actions.
Heister explained that the Pecatonica EDC is doing what it can to make a difference in the community and relies on citizen input, which can be provided monthly on the second Monday of every month at 6pm at Pecatonica Village Hall.
