At its September 6 meeting, the Cook County Community Center Steering Committee voted to support wood flooring over a multipurpose surface in the proposed community center gym. The decision was not made easily. The vote was split 11-7.
At the September 21 meeting, the decision was affirmed, with Steering Committee Chair Paul Sporn reiterating how difficult the decision was. “I think the group did its due diligence,” he said. The group met with three flooring companies to talk about flooring and individuals on the committee, as well as Cook County Schools coaches, conducted a great deal of research. Sporn said, “Anderson Ladd did the best job as they sell both types of flooring. He [the representative] broke it down really well. I felt very comfortable voting after hearing from him.”
At the meeting was Rod Wannebo, who while not on the steering committee, has attended many of its meetings. A member of the Cook County Tennis Association, Wannebo said that yes, a multipurpose floor would be better for tennis. He said with a multipurpose floor there is less skid and there are more color options. However, Wannebo said that is not the only reason he feels multipurpose is better. “If we’re going to use that floor for floor hockey, kids on big wheels, all kinds of activities, multipurpose is better,” he said.
Commissioner Bruce Martinson said, “With all the time that has been spent, I think it’s best to go with the majority. But I also don’t think there can be any ‘No, no, you can’t do that on the floor.”
Extension Director Diane Booth explained, “I think what swayed committee members the most was the fact that wood is proven, the sports accidents evidence is better for wood. And, they are coming out with better finishes for wood, to make them hold up better,” Booth said.
Commissioner Sue Hakes noted that since School District 166 really preferred a wood floor, the steering committee was requesting that the school pay the annual maintenance of $2,000. The county would pay for the more extensive refinishing, which would likely be every 15 years.
The group asked YMCA Director Chris Francis for his thoughts and he said he would work with whatever the county decided. However, he noted that in other facilities he has tried to cut expenses by stretching the annual refinishing to a year and a half. “With multi-use, we’d have to stick to annual maintenance,” said Francis.
Commissioner Hakes said, “It was a tough, tough decision. Both are good.”
School Board Member Jeanne Anderson agreed and said, “And both are better than what we have.”
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