GRANITE CITY — At the Legacy Golf Course, players have access to just about everything found at other links in the metro-east except paved cart paths.

And if that’s important, it might be good news that nearly $200,000 in public funds from two sources, including a $97,653 county grant, will be used to lay down asphalt along two miles of the course’s six miles of cart paths. In all, about $700,000 will be spent over five years to pave all the paths.

But that angers Madison County Board member Helen Hawkins.

The veteran County Board member, a Democrat, said she can’t get $20,000 from the state or anywhere else to complete a flood prevention program that has been dogging residents of her district who live near Doubrey Slough for decades.

“It makes me sick that a golf course comes up with a project and that’s more important than we are,” she said. “Because when the water has to be pumped out of basements, it is a threat to property and health.”

In a year when money for many state grants has been cut or curtailed and school districts routinely complain about cuts in funding, the Madison County Grants Department has come through with its annual Park Enhancement Program grants. In all $844,500 has been allocated.

The funded projects include a dog park in Glen Carbon, remodeling restrooms, replacing chain link fencing, paving walking paths and installing handicap access ramps and drinking fountains.

Larger park districts receive a total share of $3 per capita from funds generated by a one-tenth of 1 percent county sales tax. Smaller districts get a flat $15,000.

Hawkins said it took years before Ken Davis, supervisor of Nameoki Township, was able to obtain $21,000 through state funding to fix part of the flooding problem that vexed residents.

“We sit here with this problem and we never get any money from the county for anything,” she said. “That $21,000, it took years and that wasn’t even half the amount needed. It didn’t even do half the job and now you’re telling me about paving a golf course and dog parks. That makes me so angry.”

David Williams, director of the Parks and Recreation Program for the Granite City Park District, said the cart path paving program is needed to keep the 18-hole public course competitive.

Williams said that after a heavy rain, the current cart paths, which consist of packed down earth covered with gravel, can erode and prevent the course from opening.

“It’s certainly not our intention to squander the taxpayers’ money,” he said.

“But we need to stay competitive. And paving will help with that.”

Williams said that the 175-acre course, purchased from private owners about two years ago, was run down, with a pot-holed parking lot and a shabby clubhouse.

Using money set aside from operational funds, the parking lot was paved and the clubhouse modernized. There is now a well-stocked pro shop and an area where golfers, and members of the nongolfing public, can order a sandwich and eat at tables indoors.

There are 60 leased electric golf carts.

Williams said that currently the course is $25,000 in the black.

The district applied for a $500,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to fund the paving project, but has yet to receive a response.

“I wouldn’t bet on it,” Williams said when asked if he thought the state grant might still come through.

Dale Henson, public works coordinator for Glen Carbon, said the $35,000 his village will receive will go to building two small parks, one for humans and one for dogs.

“It’s just a small area where people can walk their dogs,” he said.

As for whether spending public money for canines was a wise use of money, considering the poor economic times, Henson said, “Well, it’s out there. Why not use it?”

William Ambrose, supervisor of Foster Township, said his township received $15,000 to install a handicap accessible ramp and for paying for concrete to hold, “engraved bricks and stones.” For $50, anyone can have their name engraved on a brick that will be permanently set in concrete. A name on a stone would cost $350. The proceeds go to improving the park.

Ambrose also was asked if spending public money in this fashion was a good idea, considering the times.

“If I don’t spend it in Foster Township,” he said, “Then they’ll get it in Alton or Godfrey.”

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