Board of Park Commissioners

City of Hobart Board of Park Commissioners Minutes January 8th, 2016 Call to Order: Mr. Ehrhardt called the meeting to order at 5pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Ms. Mandon took roll call. The following Commissioners were present: Mr. Ehrhardt, Mr. Spain, and Mrs. Sills. Also present were the School Board representative Mr. Rogers, Councilman Herzog, Park Superintendent Mr. Mitchell, and Park Board Secretary Ms. Mandon. Mrs. Liss was not in attendance. An organizational meeting was held to nominate and vote in the Park Board officers. Mrs. Sills nominated Mr. Ehrhardt for President and Mr. Spain seconded. Mrs. Liss was nominated for Vice President by Mr. Spain and Mrs. Sills seconded the nomination. Mr. Spain was nominated for Secretary by Mrs. Sills and Mr. Ehrhardt seconded the nomination. All board nominations carried. Approval of Agenda: Mr. Spain made a motion to approve the agenda as presented, seconded by Mrs. Sills. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Approval of Minutes: Mrs. Sills noted a change that needed to be made in the minutes from last month. Under the register of claims it should say that Mrs. Sills seconded not Mrs. Spain. Mrs. Sills motions to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Mr. Spain seconds. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Approval of Register of Claims: Mr. Spain made a motion to accept the register of claims as presented for $16,622.01. It was seconded by Mrs. Sills. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Correspondence: None. Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Mitchell stated that Mrs. Lopez and Ms. Mandon are currently planning dates and have entertainment booked for the upcoming season. He said that there are big issues to fix this year like the pool plumbing. The baby pool plumbing did not get updated when the other pool did in 2007 and not it is leaking under the concrete. Robinson Lake well and septic need to be replaced as well as it is old and needs updated. Plan Commission Report: Mr. Spain stated January was a light agenda with a presentation on the Neighborhood Spotlight. It is the grant for the Northwest area of the city. This is a grant to improve the economic development and the plan is in place. Council Report: Mr. Herzog wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and he welcomes the appointment to the board this year. He wanted to thank Nikki for the great City Tree Lighting event this year. School Board Report: Mr. Rogers reported that the School Board held their elections with Mr. Butler as President, Mrs. Guthrie as Vice President and himself as Secretary. Mr. Rogers also stated that they are awaiting the ISTEP scores. Old Business: None. New Business: Mr. John Garza addressed the board in regards to the duck and goose problem at the lakefront. The park is constantly full of the birds and people are feeding them the wrong items. The bread and other items have no nutrients and make the birds weak. Mr. Garza requested that he may be able to re-home the hybrids and domestic geese to his home. Mr. Ehrhardt asked how Mr. Garza will attempt to get the geese. Mr. Garza said he will try to lure them into a fence that funnels them and he can grab them or last resort would be sedate them and take them home. Mr. Garza stated that there were 14 birds that he was looking to re-home. He cannot touch the protected Canadian Geese. Mr. Rogers asked what guarantees that they won’t fly away and come back. Mr. Garza said he will clip their wings. Mr. Mitchell stated that he called DNR right away and they said that the domestic geese are not protected and they bring disease to the Canada Geese. DNR told Mr. Garza that they were going to euthanize the hybrid ducks if he did not take them and they have no problem with him taking them to his property. Mrs. Sills made a motion to allow Mr. Garza to re-home the geese and Mr. Spain seconds. All aye, motion carried (3-0) Mrs. Muldoon addressed the board in regards to Pennsy Park being the location for the proposed dog park. She suggests Veterans be the location for the city dog park instead of Pennsy mainly because of the proximity to the houses. She has a petition that has about 75 names of people opposed to the Pennsy dog park location. Some discussion ensued. Mr. Herzog reassured Mrs. Muldoon that we will be upfront with the public especially because the Mayor and Council will get complaint calls. Mrs. Sills stated that Pennsy Park location has been ruled out. Mrs. Muldoon did not understand why she had to fill out a form to be on the Park Board. Mr. Mitchell stated that it is done at all city public meetings but the Parks Department was the last to implement the procedure. Announcements: Mr. Ehrhardt stated that the next meeting will be February 8th and that Mrs. Liss has her baby boy Christmas Day. He wanted to wish her the best. Mr. Hildenbrandt addressed the board as his topic of the dog park was tabled from previous meetings. He submitted the petition for a dog park in Hobart. Mr. Hildenbrant was told that the board will take the petitions under consideration. Adjournment: Mrs. Sills made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Spain. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________