Park Board Meeting

Kendallville Park and Recreation Department 211 Iddings StreetKendallville, Indiana 46755 Phone (260)347-1064 BOARD MEETING MINUTES May 8, 2023 6:30PM Present: Kevin Jansen, President, Tracy Tipton, Vice-President, Jen Blackman, Dennis Nartker, Dawn McGahen, Park Director. Public Comments: None were given. Minutes of the April 10, 2023, meeting was approved as presented. (Tipton, Blackman) Claims were reviewed and approved as presented. (Blackman, Tipton) Skatepark Discussion: Diane ordered signs that the maintenance staff installed. They are near the future site of the skatepark. She is working on grants and fundraising and hopes to raise the money by this fall. Directors Report: 1. Dawn advised the board that the skatepark was awarded a grant from The Cole Foundation in the amount of $50,000.00. The Board voted to accept the grant. (Blackman, Nartker) 2. KFD did a preplan assessment on the Youth Center and advised us we should purchase another fire extinguisher to place near the back door. Staff did this as well as buy one for the campground office. 3. Purchased and picked up 60 trees. 50 of them will go near the Cole Garden and 10 will be planted throughout the park. 4. Discussed the renting of kayaks. It was decided they will be rented from Memorial Day through the middle of October. The campground manager will be responsible for renting them. The board also agreed to lower the rental price so that they are utilized more often. Prices are $10.00 for 4 hours for single kayak and $15.00 for 4 hours for a tandem kayak. 5. We discussed the new law stating public meetings will need to be live streamed. This doesn’t take effect until 2025 so we will have to plan on updating our system to meet this requirement by then. 6. Oak Farm School would like to use our tennis courts this fall for their team practices. The board agreed that Dawn could work with them and see if this would work out. 7. Dawn informed the board that there have been some discussions with additional ways the park and YMCA could collaborate on staff and projects. 8. The new campground manager has started, and he is doing a great job so far. 9. We have purchased permanent disc golf baskets and once they are installed, we thought about renting or selling the temporary baskets. Dawn will look into this. 10. The appropriation report for the month of April looks good. 11. Water testing started this week and will continue through the camping season. Maintenance Report: 1. Staff painted and fixed an old campground sign and installed it near the KORC access road. 2. Cleaned and painted the campground showers. 3. Filled several holes along the channel that we believe are caused by muskrats. 4. The ground around Jansen Pavilion was graded and grass seed was planted. 5. Continue to work on the Sherman Street maintenance barn. They are installing a new water heater and bathroom sink. 6. There were issues with the campground electrical. AEP was contacted and the issue was fixed in house. 7. Installed a railing at the campground office. 8. Helped city staff weed eat the cemetery. 9. Built and installed an Osprey nesting platform. 10. Installed the new skatepark signs. Recreation Report: 1. Continuing to work on various aspects of summer camp, hiring staff, registration of campers, field trips, etc. 2. Assisted with the Patriotic Pops fundraising concert that was held at the Community Learning Center. 3. Dawn is working with the CLC and YMCA to host three different kayak safety classes. These classes will be held at Bixler Lake. 4. Working on the Fourth of July Patriotic Pops event.  Kendallville Park and Recreation Department 211 Iddings StreetKendallville, Indiana 46755 Phone (260)347-1064 Kendallville Outdoor Recreation Complex Report: 1. There are several new banners being purchased and installed at the ball diamonds. 2. Weekend tournaments have begun and are going well, except for the weekend rain we have experienced. 3. Several travel teams are scheduling practices and games at the KORC which has helped bring additional revenue and people to the complex. 4. Concession sales are going well. There have been a lot of compliments about the food and service. 5. Jason and Dawn met with adult softball representatives to discuss the upcoming season. Games start this week, and we are anticipating a good season. 6. Jason uploaded the KORC schedule on Team Reach application so that people can see when games are and if we have open fields. This has been well received as coaches can reschedule their rainouts by viewing the app and seeing what is available. Acceptance of Donations: - General Use: Erica Dekko $12, 432.76 Board Input: Dennis inquired about the progress of Sunset Park ball diamonds. He was told that the diamonds have been moved to the south side and the north side will be planted as a natural prairie. Dennis asked if the campground had an AED. There is one available to put there, however we are waiting on new pads that were ordered through the fire department. Dennis wondered if there have been any Bald Eagle sightings at the lake. We have seen one a few times this spring. Tracy inquired about Sunset Park as well. The northside prairie area will take a few years for plants to be established so it won’t look the prettiest until then. The meeting was adjourned at 7:26PM (Tipton, Blackman)