?Coffee with Mayor? event sees attendance boost

WASHINGTON, Ill. ?

Representatives from the five entities that built and operate Five Points Washington shared coffee, fruit, biscuits and conversation Saturday with residents.

The occasion was the monthly ?Coffee with the Mayor? hosted by Washington Mayor Gary Manier. If the size of the crowd in the meeting room at the Washington District Library at Five Points was any indication, the event was a success.

?There must have been 30 or 40 people here within 15 minutes after the coffee started,? Manier said. ?I normally get eight or 10 during the two hours, sometimes three or four. Maybe we should do this more often with the Five Points entities. I?d be in favor of it.?

Elected officials from the city of Washington, District 308 School Board, and Washington Library District and Washington Park District boards were joined by members of the Washington Area Community Center board, District 308 Superintendent Jim Dunnan and library director Pam Tomka.

They heard mostly positive comments about Five Points, a multipurpose facility that will celebrate its fifth anniversary in October.

One resident with fiscal concerns requested a one-page spreadsheet showing what each taxing body spent to help get Five Points built and how much they continue to contribute.

?We can do that,? Manier said. ?It?s important to be as transparent as possible.?

Another visitor, who doesn?t live in Washington but often comes to Five Points, told the mayor that Five Points should become more environmentally conscious.

It was Tomka?s idea to hold Manier?s coffee at the library with elected officials and administrators who are connected to Five Points.

?I thought the timing was perfect, with Five Points? anniversary coming up,? she said.

She?s seen a substantial uptick in annual use since the library opened at Five Points. From 2007 to 2011, the number of patrons walking in the door increased from 143,963 to 169,371, items checked out increased from 161,711 to 219,861, and library card holders increased from 11,220 to 13,316.

Five Points also has fitness, banquet and party facilities, additional meeting rooms, swimming pools and the 1,000-seat Caterpillar Performing Arts Center.

Manier said his next coffee will be held the first Saturday of February at Double D Diner. That will mark the one-year anniversary of his decision to take his coffee event on the road after attendance stagnated at City Hall.

Source: http://www.pekintimes.com/homepage/x123109135/-Coffee-with-Mayor-event-sees-attendance-boost

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