Park Board

Kendallville Park and Recreation Department 211 Iddings StreetKendallville, Indiana 46755 Phone (260)347-1064 BOARD MEETING MINUTES April 8, 2024 6:30PM Present: Tracy Tipton, President, Kevin Jansen, Vice-President, Jen Blackman, Dave Button, Dennis Nartker Sam Zollman, Dawn McGahen, Park Director, Diane Peachey, Skatepark Enthusiast. Public Comments: None were presented. Minutes of the March 11, 2024, meeting was approved. (Jansen, Blackman) Claims were reviewed and approved with a correction being made on the payment to Amanda Taylor. It should have been $1,875.00. (Jansen, Button) Skatepark Discussion: Diane Peachey shared with the board the update on the skatepark build. She has visited the site and encouraged the board to stop out and see the progress. Directors Report: 1. Dawn informed the board that the Community Foundation of Noble County increased their fees. There was discussion on what avenues we could take in the future regarding this. 2. There is a meeting scheduled regarding the 5-year master plan. In the near future, we will have a steering committee meeting and send out surveys to the community. 3. Colton Ihrie is working with the tree commission on planting several trees in the nature area of the lake. This is for his Eagle Scout project. 4. A professor from Loyola University will be doing a snake study within our park system. He has all the required permits from DNR. 5. We found out that we need to get a certificate of liability from anyone that rents our facilities regardless of the event. This has changed and has created some confusion with renters. Maintenance Report: 1. Staff continue to pick up limbs and trash around the park. 2. Water has been turned on in all of our bathrooms, concessions, campground, etc. 3. Work is being done on the east beach bathroom floor. Staff will install an epoxy floor there soon. 4. Replaced the benches in the dugouts at Sunset ball diamonds. 5. Built a wall and door in the new concession building storage room. Also installed a shelf in the concession. 6. Put dirt down and leveled the ground on the south end of the lake to try and prevent the area from flooding. Recreation Report: 1. Back to camp night for summer camp is Wednesday April 17th. This will be the first day for signups. 2. We are hosting an endurance run in the campground area on May 18th. 3. Contracts have been signed and we are working with Tara Streb to expand the July 4 th event by having games, music and food trucks. 4. A BBQ cookoff will be held on July 27th in the campground area of the park. 5. Tom Jansen has solicited donations to build a brick fireplace in the Lions Pavilion. Staff will prepare the site and pour a concrete footer before the building. 6. Don Gura, Jason Meade and Dawn are working on hosting a pickleball tournament this summer on the park courts. Kendallville Outdoor Recreation Complex Report: 1. Ballgames, soccer and teeball/ragball have started. 2. The summer schedule is filling up and we have several travel teams who are utilizing the complex for games. 3. Sunset diamonds have been groomed and fencing has been installed. Acceptance of Donations: (Blackman, Jansen) Eagle Scout Tree Project (Colton Ihrie): Campbell & Fetter Bank-$200.00 Kendallville Rotary Club-$250.00 Pickleball Tournament: Campbell & Fetter Bank-$300.00 Lions Pavilion Fireplace: Lawrence & Jane Doyle-$1,000.00 Cole Foundation-$5,000.00 Campbell & Fetter Bank-$1,000.00 Kendallville Rotary Club-$1,000.00  Kendallville Park and Recreation Department 211 Iddings StreetKendallville, Indiana 46755 Phone (260)347-1064 Community State Bank-$1,000.00 Rockwell Foundation-$500.00 Board Input: Dave mentioned the asphalt breaking away on the south end of the lakeshore. Dawn will have the staff paint the area with bright paint and look into getting it fixed. Jen asked about the fireplace in the Lions Pavilion. It was explained that it will be a large brick fireplace for the public to use. The meeting was adjourned at 7:28PM (Jansen, Nartker)