Stout Speaks at Chamber Meeting

Area Schedule
May 16 — Armed Forces Tribute at
VJHS, 4-8 p.m.
May 17 — ABATE Family Fun Fest,
downtown Vandalia, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
May 20 — Eye Care of Vandalia 30th
Anniversary Celebration, 2-7 p.m.
May 20— Vandalia Community Blood
Drive at Moose Lodge, Noon-6 p.m.
May 19-23 — Chamber Radio Week,
WKRV Radio
May 23 — 9th Annual Chamber Golf
Outing, Vandalia Country Club, 11 a.m.
May 26 — VFW Post 9770 Memorial
Day Service, Brownstown
June 4 — Chamber Meeting at
Ponderosa Steakhouse, noon (guest
speaker: Latisha Paslay, Vandalia
Tourism)
May, 2014
Stout Speaks at Chamber Meeting
By Seth Whitehead
Chamber Director
Vandalia Park District trustee Brian Stout spoke about possible renovations
to the city swimming pool at the Vandalia Chamber of Commerce’s monthly
members meeting on May 7.
Stout explained to a crowd of 28 gathered in the Ponderosa Steakhouse Lincoln
Room the park district’s decision to renovate the pool rather than build a new
facility.
“The Vandalia swimming pool is very important,” Stout said. “It’s important
for the wellness of the community. It’s important that we keep it going. I just want
Pictured from left are Dan Fisher, Sherry Meador and Rodney Potts of
John H. Crawford & Associates.
Seth Whitehead photo
the best thing for the community.”
Stout indicated building a new pool could cost anywhere from $3.5 to $4
million. Renovations, which Stout hopes will be paid primarily by grants and TIF
funds, would cost roughly $1.3M and buy the park district some time to line up
funding for a possible new facility in the future.
“I hope that we’re getting another 15 to 20-plus years out of our existing pool
with this renovation, and based on everything we know, with proper maintenance,
that should be very easily accomplished,” Stout said.
, President,
Investment Centers of America
, Vice President,
WKRV/WPMB Radio
, Secretary, Family
YMCA of Fayette County
, Treasurer, Fayette
County Real Estate
Jennifer Richards, First Bank
Dana Whiteman, Subway
Greg Starnes, Fayette Co. Hospital
Joe Schaal, National Bank
Paula Barenfanger, Kaskaskia Supply
Apke & Payne Law Group
Sally Emerick, Holiday Inn Express
Sandy Michel, Real Living Vandalia
Real Estate
Bryan Hobbie, Hosick Motors
May Spotlight Business
John H. Crawford & Associates
sulting and planning community development projects. The company recognizes
the special needs of the cities and villages in central and southern Illinois and
offers many extra services in addition to more common water and sewer projects.
Typically, they assist their clients with grant research and application, includ-
spent approximately $4M on a new pool and water park in 2008, but broke even
last year.
“That was a concern for me, breaking even on a $4 million pool,” Stout said.
public facility, solid waste disposal and economic development projects. They
also specialize in Tax Increment Finance, Enterprise Zone and Special Service
Vandalia Park District trustee Brian Stout spoke about potential renovations
something comparable.”
Renovations would include a new deck, adding and changing stalls in the to the community pool at the May Chamber meeting at Ponderosa
Seth Whitehead photo
bathhouse, many repairs to the pump house, replacing slides, refurbishing of the Steakhouse.
sagging south wall of the pool, and new fencing with no barbwire at the top.
Stout also said that the project would include installation of a mushroom cloud
• $100,000 to $150,000 of monies the park district has in its account now.
sprinkler, an underwater sound system, a wading pool and a zero-entry area for
• Funding from the city via TIF funds.
children and handicapped individuals.
Foundation.
Stout indicated there is a Plan B should the park district not receive any grant
money. That plan would not include a property tax increase.
The park district has applied for a pair of grants through the Department of
“The goal is to not take it before the voters,” Stout said.
One way to avoid that would be a non-referendum bond that could provide just
project. The other grant could provide an additional $400,000 to $800,000 in under $400,000 in funding.
funds, but may be tough to get.
Long-term TIF funding is another possibility.
recipient of that grant,” Stout said. “So that was kind of concerning, because there
are hundreds if not thousands of people who apply for these grants every year,
mind giving you some money, but we’re not going to maintain your swimming
pool for you.’”
Other funding options include:
something spread out over 10 years, a commitment to the pool effort,” Stout said.
In other business at the meeting:
• President Brock Brannon introduced the 2014 Vandalia Chamber of
SEE
MEETING ON Page 2
range of street and highway improvements and works with the Illinois Department of Transportation in the use of Motor Fuel Tax for maintenance and new
street construction.
relationship with each client, the aim being to keep each city and village abreast
of funding programs that would assist them with their individual needs and
community goals.
joined the company management team. Today, the company has 11 full-time
sional service for its clients.
Vandalia. The company recently completed water and sewer installation at the
working on a maintenance building for the Old State Cemetery, a water treatment study and repairs for the water plant, and the Sunset Drive project.
0344.
April RIBBON CUTTINGS
2014 Chamber
Scholarship Winners
ApexNetwork Physical Therapy, located at 1611 Veterans Avenue, Suite C, held a ribbon cutting on April 3.
The 2014 Vandalia Chamber of Commerce
Scholarship winners were recognized at the May
members meeting. David Zimmerman received the
$500 high school senior scholarship, while Katie
Henna won the adult scholarship. Zimmerman is
senior at VCHS who plans on majoring in English at
SIUE, while Henna is a Greenville College student and
VCHS grad who is majoring in elementary education
at Greenville College.
Embers Wood Fired Pizza, located at 7 Mattes Ave., held a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 7.
Current Chamber Members
ADS Electric
Allen’s Furniture Company
Ameren IP
American Cancer Society
ApexNetwork Physical Therapy
Arab Termite & Pest Control
Arthur Young, Inc
Assurance Home Inspection Services
Bandy’s Pharmacy
Bernhardt & Cain Appraisals Inc
Bond & Fayette County Shopper
Brookstone Estates
Bunny Brosman
Burnside, Johnston & Sheafor P.C.
Burtschi Bros. & Co.
Cable’s Sewing Machine
Cain’s Drug Store
Champion Trophies & T’s
Compass West
Copper Penny Bar & Grill
Corrective Care Chiropractic
Diekemper Photography
Double D Plumbing & Heating
Durbin’s Seamless Inc.
Edward Jones - Melanie Bowles
Embers Wood Fired Pizza
Evans Public Library District
Expert Service
Eye Care of Vandalia
Family YMCA of Fayette County
Farina Farms
FAYCO Enterprises, Inc.
Fayette County Fair
Fayette County Farm Bureau
Fayette County Habitat For Humanity
Fayette County Hospital
Fayette County Real Estate
First Bank
First National Bank
Flowers Insurance Center
H&H Computer Service
Holiday Inn Express
Hosick Motors
Illinois Real Estate Services
John H. Crawford & Associates
Kaskaskia College
Kaskaskia Supply & Rental
Ken Wamble/Wal-Mart
Laack Flooring Innovations
Land of Lincoln Credit Union
Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries
LeFevre Oldfield Meyers Apke & Payne Law
Group, Ltd
Liberty Energy
Lighthouse Pregnancy Center
Little Caesars Pizza
Luallen, Cearlock, Barth & Burnam
MCS Counseling
McKellar, Robertson, McCarty, Click Insurance
Midland States Bank
NAPA
National Bank
Octochem, Inc.
O’Kuly & Associates
Pine Ridge Homes, Inc
Pisces Pool & Spas, Inc
Ponderosa Steakhouse
ProFab Metals, Inc
Prowire
Real Living Vandalia Real Estate, Inc
Roger Sanders/Emerick Farms
Rotary Club
Schaal & Associates Real Estate
Schaufelberger Law Office
Security Finance Co.
Slack Glass Company
Something Special
South Central FS
Subway
Summer Breeze Wine House
Sun Loan
Sweetbriar Retirement Home
The Lake House
The Leader-Union
The Red Door
The Tourism Bureau Illinois South
Timmermann & Company, Ltd
Tomlinson Electric
T.K. Markets
Vandalia Community Unit School District 203
Vandalia Golf and Country Club
Vandalia Field of Dreams
Vandalia Fire Department
Vandalia First United Methodist Church
Vandalia Mutual Insurance
Vandalia Sports Boosters Club
VFW Post 9770
Waitland Trust
Walnut Street Weddings
WJLY 88.3 FM
WKRV-WPMB Radio
World Finance Corporation
WTRH 93.3 FM
*Premier Members in Bold
Welcome New Members!
Durbin’s Seamless Inc.
Farina Farms
The Red Door
VFW Post 9770
Tomlinson Electric
O’Kuly & Associates
World Finance Corporation
Contact Us
Phone: 618.283.2728
Email:[email protected]
Website: www.vandaliachamber.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/vandaliachamber
Mail:
Vandalia Chamber of Commerce
1408 N. Fifth St
P.O. Box 238
Vandalia, IL 62471
MEETING continued from Page 1
David Zimmerman was the winner of the $500 high
school senior scholarship. He plans to attend Southern
Illinois University-Edwardsville and major in English
education. He would like to become a high school English teacher. Katie Henna was the winner of the $500
adult scholarship. She is attending Greenville College
and is majoring in elementary education and she plans
to get her special education certification.
• Brannon announced that a work day has been
scheduled for Saturday, May 24, at the Chamber office,
1408 N. 5th St., from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. to do regular
maintenance and yard work at the facility. All members
interested in helping out are invited to attend.
• Brannon encouraged everyone to participate in the
9th Annual Vandalia Chamber of Commerce Golf
Scramble on May 23. The event will be held at the
Vandalia Country Club and have a noon shotgun start.
Hole sponsorships are still available.
• Brannon announced that Chamber Bucks are now
available at the Chamber office in $5, $10 and $20
increments. “Basically they are gift certificates that help
support local businesses,” Brannon said. “The Chamber
isn’t making any money off them; it’s just to try to promote member businesses in our community.”
• Chamber Director Seth Whitehead welcomed new
members that have signed up since April’s members
meeting: Durbin Seamless Inc., The Red Door, Embers
Wood Fired Pizza, Tomlinson Electric, O’Kuly & Associates and VFW Post 9770.
• Whitehead noted that the Chamber’s 100th anniversary will be coming up on May 19. In conjunction with
that milestone, he will be featuring in the newsletter
and on the Chamber website businesses that have been
in businesses for 30 or more years.
• Tourism secretary June Mahon announced that the
tourism center had 83 visitors from 14 different states
in April.
• New Chamber member Earl O’Kuly of O’Kuly and
Associates discussed a market survey he hopes to conduct in conjunction with the Chamber.
“One of the things I’d like to do with the Chamber
is to reach out to the community and find out not just
which phone book (they are using), but a lot of people
are using their smart phones and they’re not even going
to the phonebook,” O’Kuly said.
“What I’d like to do is, one, find out which phone
book the majority of locals are using and two, how
many are not using a phone book at all and are just
using their smart phones or home computer to find out
information about businesses. I think that would be
some knowledge that businesses could put to use, one,
to save money and, two, to find more customers.”
An example of what the survey will likely look like is
included below.
1. Which do you use the most to lookup information
for a local business?
a. Phonebook
b. Internet
2. If you use a phone book, which book do you use the
most?
a. Hometown phonebook
b. Yellowpages phonebook
c. Yellowbook phonebook
d. Fayette County phonebook
e. Other
f. I seldom use a phonebook
3. If you use the internet, which one of these do you use
the most?
a. Smartphone
b. Tablet or laptop
c. Home computer
d. I do not use the internet to lookup a local business
4. What is your age bracket?
a. 16 - 30
b. 31- 40
c. 41 - 50
d. 51 - 60
e. 61 or older
Information desired from the survey:
1. The preferred phonebook.
2. Percentages of use for phonebooks versus the internet.
3. Age brackets to differentiate demographics.
May Chamber Member Meeting Attendees
Erica Foltz, WPMB/WKRV Radio
John Ashdown, Family YMCA
Rick Myers, LOMAP, Ltd.
Larry Cable, Cable Sewing Machine
Ricky Gottman, Mayor of Vandalia
Rodney Potts, J.H. Crawford & Associates
Sherry Meador, J.H. Crawford & Associates
William F. Lytle, J.H. Crawford & Associates
Amy Jachino, Luallen, Cearlock, Barth & Burnam
Mark Burnam, Luallen, Cearlock, Barth & Burnam
Joe Schaal, National Bank
Dale Timmermann, Timmermann & Co.
Walt Barenfanger, Kaskaskia Supply & Rental
Allison Laack, First National Bank
Teri Kampwerth, ApexNetwork Physical Therapy
Sarah Sasse, Corrective Care Chiropractic
Jed Cox, DC, Corrective Care Chiropractic
Doug Knebel, Midland States Bank
June Mahon, Vandalia Tourism Secretary
David Zimmerman, Chamber Scholarship winner
Katie Henna, Chamber Scholarship winner
Jennifer Richards, First Bank
Earl O’Kuly, O’Kuly & Associates
Brian Stout, Vandalia Park District
Brock Brannon, First National Bank Financial Center
Sally Emerick, Holiday Inn Express
Dave Bell, The Leader-Union
Dana Whiteman, Subway
Seth Whitehead, Vandalia Chamber of Commerce
*Next Meeting is Wednesday, June 4, noon
Thank You to Our Premier Members
Platinum
Chamber News & Announcements
Chamber 100th Anniversary on May 19
The Vandalia Chamber of Commerce will celebrate
its 100th anniversary next week. The Chamber was
incorporated on May 19, 1914.
Chamber Radio Week May 19-23
Promotion, to be held the week of our 100th anniversary,
May 19-23.
Chamber members. You get your business some air time and
help support the Vandalia Chamber by doing a live recording
Gold
Chamber recently reached 100 members in its 100th year
of existence.
To celebrate this milestone -- and longevity in general -we would like to feature Chamber members who have stood
the test of time. Chamber members whose businesses have
been going strong for 30 years or more will be the subject
of feature stories in the monthly newsletter and Chamber
website, www.vandaliachamber.com, throughout the rest
[email protected] if your business meets the
criteria and you would like to be featured. Look for stories
Best Fries
Company
Eye Care of Vandalia 30th Anniversary
will celebrate its 30th anniversary from 2-7 p.m. on Tuesday,
are interested.
Chamber Golf Scramble May 23
Store
Childers and company.
Goodwill Store Coming To Vandalia
Silver
available for $50. If your business would like to sponsor a
hole, please return this form by May 18. Signup forms can
also be downloaded at www.vandaliachamber.com and hole
sponsorship includes lunch.
The scramble will be held at Vandalia Country Club, with
lunch at 11 a.m. and a noon shotgun start.
Community Blood Drive May 20
The Vandalia Community Blood Drive, sponsored by the
Vandalia Rotary Club, will be held on Tuesday, May 20,
is located at 328 S. 3rd St. Food and refreshments will be
provided for all presenting donors.
To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org
to the Moose.
is happy to announce that it will be opening its 13th retail
store in Vandalia, on Friday, June 20. Be watching your local
paper for more information. The store will be located on
VFW Post 9770 Auctioning HOF Balls
of Fame autographed baseballs on June 7. Tickets are
available in several locations around Vandalia, including
Chamber-member businesses Land of Lincoln Credit
Tickets may also be purchased at the Vandal Sports
Boosters concession stand at the Field of Dreams complex
during home games.
Chamber Members Named ‘Area Best’
Longtime Businesses to be Featured
In case you missed it in an email sent out last month, the
Spring Has Finally Sprung!
After one of the longest and coldest winters
in recent memory, spring has finally sprung
in the Vandalia area. Pictured to the left is the
Madonna of the Trails statue on the corner of
Fourth and Gallatin streets. To the right, the
Vandalia Statehouse basks in the glow of the
sunset on Monday evening. Visit the Chamber
Facebook page for more spring photos from
around town.
Seth Whitehead photos
Congrats to Chamber members recognized in the LeaderUnion’s 2014 Best of Fayette County section this week!
Relay For Life Ribbons Available
If you are interested in purchasing Fayette County Relay
For Life ribbons to display at your home or business, call
Prices are as follows...
• 12-inch, $15
• 22-inch, $20
Please allow about a week and a half for delivery.
This year’s Relay for Life event will be held on June 7 at
Rogier Park in Vandalia. For more info, visit www.facebook.
com/FayetteCountyRelayForLife
To submit news and announcements, call 283-2728 or
367-4751, or email [email protected].