Park Board

Kendallville Park and Recreation Department 211 Iddings StreetKendallville, Indiana 46755 Phone (260)347-1064 BOARD MEETING MINUTES May 13, 2024 6:30PM Present: Tracy Tipton, President, Kevin Jansen, Vice-President, Jen Blackman, Dave Button, Sam Zollman, Dawn McGahen, Park Director, Diane Peachey & Ron Witham, Skatepark Enthusiast. Public Comments: None were presented. Minutes of the April 8, 2024, meeting was approved. (Jansen, Zollman) Claims were reviewed and approved as presented (Jansen, Button) Skatepark Discussion: Diane told the board that the skatepark is almost completed and the grand opening date has been set. There is still work that we need to do in house. Diane is also working on having the donor sign made so that we can install it. Directors Report: 1. The steering committee met regarding the 5-year Master Plan. The meeting went well, and we are planning on scheduling a public meeting soon. 2. The park received hail damage to two vehicles and several buildings. We are working with the insurance company to meet and assess the damage. 3. The campground has opened, and the new campground manager is doing a good job. 4. The semi we used for storage and for the skatepark mobile office was donated to The Boy Scouts to use at Camp Chief Little Turtle Camp for storage. 5. The weekly water tests have started and so far, results have been very good. Maintenance Report: 1. Staff filled in holes caused by muskrats around the fishing channel. 2. We continue to clean up trees and limbs that came down from the storms. 3. Used asphalt milling to resurface the maintenance barn parking lot. 4. Filled in a sinkhole at the dam on Sherman Street. 5. Put banners out at the KORC for the season. 6. Finished epoxying the east beach bathroom floors. 7. Assembled a bike to be given away at the skatepark grand opening. 8. Poured a footer for the fireplace at the Lions Pavilion. 9. Continued working on the skatepark. 10. Worked on the Rush Street parking lot, grading it and smoothing it out. 11. Sunset garden plots were cleaned up, tilled and marked for the season. Recreation Report: 1. Continue to work on summer day camp, hiring staff, setting up training, registering campers, etc. 2. Saturday May 18th, the Armed Forces Endurance Run will be held at the Lions Pavilion in the campground. 3. We are working with local pickleball enthusiasts to host a recreational tournament. Dates will be decided soon. 4. The free princess concert will be held Wednesday June 12th on the west terraces of Bixler Lake. Kendallville Outdoor Recreation Complex Report: 1. We have been dealing with all of the rain and trying to keep the fields in playable shape. 2. Jason has done a great job keeping the fields full and being used. ENYBL, KGSL and travel teams have been utilizing the facilities. 3. Adult Softball leagues have started. Acceptance of Donations: (Jansen, Blackman) Lions Pavilion Fireplace: The Rockwell Foundation-$500.00 Community State Bank-$1,000.00 Black & Ramer Insurance-$1,000.00 AMI Investment-$1,000.00 Jansen Family Dentistry-$1,000.00 Kendallville Lions Club-$1,500.00 Tom & Linda Jansen-$1,000.00 Daycamp: Matt & Cheryl Spears-$50.00  Kendallville Park and Recreation Department 211 Iddings StreetKendallville, Indiana 46755 Phone (260)347-1064 Eagle Scout Tree Project: Kendallville Lions Club-$200.00 Board Input: Sam mentioned that the Noble County Bike Club is starting to get active and might want to meet with us to see how we can work together on activities. Jen talked about a concern regarding staff at the KORC concession stand. Dawn told her she would take care of talking to staff regarding this. Jen is also excited about summer day camp numbers. The meeting was adjourned at 7:25PM (Button, Zollman)