By Heart of Illinois ABC
BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Board on Thursday agreed to provide tens of thousands of dollars to aid the homeless, and also voted to raise the cost for people renting boats at the county-run Comlara Park, north of the Twin Cities.
The board voted unanimously to take $48,000 from a fund helping small businesses and shift that money to the PATH Crisis Center. The agency is struggling to pay for homeless people to temporarily stay at local hotels and motels to protect them from the bitter cold.
Ordinarily, the homeless would go to the Salvation Army’s Safe Harbor Shelter, but that facility was closed due to a COVID outbreak, according to PATH’s Executive Director Karen Zengerle.
She said the money from county government should be enough for the rest of the winter.
Meantime, the county board voted 17-1 to increase boat rental costs at Comlara Park.
Starting March 1, paddleboat rental fees increase $2 per half-hour to $10. Hourly and full-day rentals for canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards rise $3 to $15 and $30. Hourly and full-day rentals for rowboats without gas motors increase $5 to $20 and $35.
Property Committee Chair Josh Barnett was the only board member voting against the price hikes.
“With so many individuals and families financially struggling during the pandemic, I did not want to make it more difficult for people to rent boats and enjoy all that Comlara has to offer,” Barnett told 25 News in a prepared statement.
The county’s parks and recreation director, Michael Steffa, said in a staff report that boat rental fees at Comlara remain competitive with nearby parks, and increased revenue from the fee hike are needed to keep up with operating costs.
The increases take effect March 1.
Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at News@WJBC.com.
