Board of Park Commissioners

City of Hobart Board of Park Commissioners Minutes Meeting of January 13, 2014 Call to Order: Mrs. Sills called the meeting to order at 6:00pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The following Commissioners were present: Mrs. Sills, Mrs. Liss, and Mr. Tom Ehrhardt. Also present were Plan Commission Representative Mr. Mendoza, Council Representative Mr. Maggio, School Board Representative Mr. Rogers, Park Superintendent Mr. Mitchell, and Secretary Julie Mandon. Election was held for Park Board 2014. Sergio nominated Tom Ehrhardt for President of Park Board. Dana Liss seconds nomination, motion carries. Sergio nominated Mrs. Sills for Vice President and it was seconded by Mr. Ehrhardt, motion carries. Mrs. Sills nominated Dana Liss for Secretary, Mr. Ehrhardt seconds and motion carries. Mr. Ehrhardt took over the meeting as the new Park Board President. Mayor Snedecor thanked John Hevel for his service on the Park Board and would like to have a plaque made to present to him in thanks. The Mayor introduced the new Park Board member Dana Liss and discussed her background. Approval of Agenda: Mr. Mendoza made a motion to approve the agenda as presented, seconded by Mrs. Sills. All aye, motion carried. (4-0) Approval of Minutes: Mrs. Sills motions to approve the minutes from December as presented, seconded by Mr. Mendoza. All aye, motion carried. (4-0) Approval of Register of Claims: Mr. Mendoza questioned the purchase of a trailer and John Mitchell addressed the question and said we had the storage capacity for the trailer. Mrs. Sills made a motion to accept the register of claims for December as presented, seconded by Mrs. Liss. All aye, motion carried. (4-0) Correspondence: None Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Mitchell welcomed the new Park Board member Mrs. Liss. Mr. Mitchell reported that the parks employees were busy doing snow clean up. He stated that they did at least 50 hours of snow removal from this big storm and they did a great job. The employees are working on maintenance and repairs this time of year with intentions to upgrade vehicles in the spring. During the next meeting Mr. Mitchell said he will address the event expenditures especially for the festival. Mr. Mitchell suggested that the non-for-profit entities that benefit from the festival and park employees work give back more. Mr. Ehrhardt requested more information and Mr. Mitchell said will bring a detailed breakdown to the next meeting. Plan Commission Report: Mr. Mendoza reports on the new McDonalds site plan on Ridge Road and also a new landscape plan on Rand. Council Report: Mr. Maggio stated that he appreciates the snow removal effort by the park department and the city. School Board Report: Mr. Rogers reported that the school if finally back in session after an extended vacation. He wishes to state that Mary Jane Reese passed away and recognize her generosity towards the Park Department and the city especially in Veterans Park. Old Business: Working Cats representative was not in attendance. Mr. Mitchell stated that there is not a rodent problem for the Parks Department. Mrs. Sills asked the Mayor if he has heard of rodents being any type of a problem for the city and the mayor replied no not that he is aware of. Mrs. Sills motions to remove the item from the agenda and Mr. Mendoza seconds. The motion carries 4-0. Festival Park entryway change order representative was not in attendance. Mr. Mendoza motions to remove item from the agenda. Mrs. Sills seconds and the motion carries 4-0. New Business: Friends of Robinson Lake discussed the picnic tables that were drug out onto Robinson Lake before the storm and Mr. Mitchell said he is not going to risk the safety of his employees to go retrieve them. Friends of Robinson Lake passed out examples of rule signage that they would like to see displayed at the entrances of Robinson Lake. The Mayor offered to invest in Robinson Lake from his office and pay for the signs if Mr. Mitchell would get them made up and installed, he agreed. The issue of Four Wheelers in the parks was addressed by Mr. Mitchell stating that it is difficult to enforce. Friends of Robinson Lake asked that we install more garbage cans that cannot blow away and are secured somehow. Mr Mitchell said he can do that. Zeta Allan took time to say Thank you to the Parks Department and said she appreciates all the time the Parks Department puts in. Announcements: Sandy O’Brian addressed the board in regards to getting funding for native plant seeds in Fred Rose Lakeshore Park. She stated that she can get the seeds in bulk from a distributor. Mr. Mitchell states that the Park Department will be able to fund her native plant seeds for January planting and instructed her to have the seed guy bill the Parks Department. Mr. Mendoza asked where the seeds will be used and Sandy O’Brian said the North and East shorelines of Fred Rose Lakeshore Park area. Mr. Ehrhardt announced that Mr. Mendoza is a published author of a Hobart history book and there will be a launch event January 24, 2013 from 6:30-9 at the Hobart Community Center. The book will be $20 and may be signed by Mr. Mendoza at the event. Mr. Mendoza explained the event and said that half of the royalties will go to the Historical Society and half to the Hobart Preservation. Adjournment: Mrs. Sills made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mrs. Liss. All aye, motion carried. (4-0) The meeting adjourned at 6:35pm. ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________