$150 for kids' camp? Round Lake says no, on principle

Two Round Lake trustees say it was principle - not the amount of money - that led them to vote Monday night against contributing $150 in public money to a private foundation that assists the village's park district.

It turned out those two votes were enough to thwart the $150 donation that had been sought by Friends of the Round Lake Area Parks Foundation Inc. The cash would have gone to a program to send children to summer camp.

Round Lake village board members voted 3-2, with one abstention, to donate the money. Trustee Dale Multerer recused himself from voting because he's a parks foundation volunteer board member.

Village Attorney Michael Zimmerman said four "yes" votes were necessary because the agenda item was a request to spend money.

Trustee Donald Newby, one of the dissenters, said it was inappropriate to approve the donation when the village is tightening its belt across the board.

"What message are we sending to the employees when they're all taking a freeze and no raises?" Newby said.

Trustee Susan Triphahn, who also voted against the contribution, said she did so in part because the village does not have a specific policy on such expenditures. Like Newby, she said it would have been a poor message to Round Lake municipal workers.

"From my perspective, I don't feel we're doing enough diligence on this," Triphahn said.

But Multerer said while he appreciates keeping a lid on spending, earmarking $150 to help disadvantaged children attend a summer camp or approving other low-cost similar requests that surface are worthwhile in the long run.

"What kind of image is Round Lake getting in worrying about $150?" Multerer said.

Internal Revenue Service records show Friends of the Round Lake Area Parks Foundation had net assets or fund balances of $17,000 in the most recently available 2008 tax year.

The parks foundation sent $12,000 to the Go Girl Go! program that provides health education for females in third through eighth grade, according to the IRS. The 2008 documents also show $3,614 went to a golf outing and $4,823 to KaBoom! Project, a national group that builds playgrounds across the United States.

At a meeting April 7, the village board was approached for a donation or other assistance by the Round Lake Area Pageant's director, Lisa Stay. The annual event is set for June 18 at Round Lake Beach's annual festival.

Round Lake officials haven't responded to the pageant's request.

Donate: Trustees say it's inappropriate in light of pay freezes