In response to River Forest Park Board member Molly Hague’s viewpoint that was published in last week’s Wednesday Journal, there are several inaccurate statements about the River Forest Township that are contained in her letter. [Clear need for new RF rec center, Viewpoints, Sept. 23]
Specifically, the River Forest Township does not absorb the cost of maintaining the River Forest Community Center facility. In fact, not only does the community center pay the operational and maintenance costs of the building, it also helps fund a capital fund to provide for long-term building improvements. Furthermore, the township does not subsidize the community center. In accordance with the grant that was funded by the State of Illinois for the purchase and initial renovation of the facility, the township is responsible for the management of the facility as Civic Center Authority trustees and, as typical of most business settings, employs a person to carry out these duties. Although this was explained to Ms. Hague last year, unfortunately she continues to espouse nonfactual information.
The community center is a self-supporting organization that relies on program user fees, not tax dollars, to fund its operations. The center has been a viable tenant in the Civic Center building for more than 15 years and continues to provide a number of programs and services that are available to village residents.
Veronica Krawczyk
River Forest Township supervisor