Zionsville Board of Park and Recreation

Summary Minutes of the Meeting of the Zionsville Park and Recreation Board March 11, 2015 The Zionsville Board of Park and Recreation met Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 7:00 PM. The meeting took place in the Town Hall’s Bev Harves room. Steve Bullington, George Abel, Phil Howard were present at the start and Manda Clevenger had a work conflict that caused her to arrive just a few minutes later. Dorothy Hitchins was unable to be present. Also present were Matt Dickey, Park Superintendent, and Roger Burrus, Park Board Attorney. Minutes Phil Howard made a motion to approve the February 11, 2015 regular board meeting minutes as amended. George Abel seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Public Comments/Presentations There were none scheduled and none came up that evening. Staff Reports The reports from the Superintendent of Parks & Recreation, the Park Naturalist, and the Assistant Superintendent for Maintenance Services were part of the Park Board packet and available for review. Superintendent Dickey began his verbal highlights by mentioning that the weather, to no one’s surprise, would be preventing the Zionsville Golf Course from opening on the original projected and advertised date of March 13th. The hope is that if the weather continues to moderate all the upcoming week, that perhaps we would open up only a week after the original projection. Mr. Dickey went on to discuss a golf course matter brought to him by the course staff. The issue is that of a ZGC neighbor living on Turkey Foot Rd and is walking his/her dog on the course and allowing the same dog to roam the course, generally in the area of the green for Hole 9. Last fall the Course Manager, Mike Maguire, observed a dog defecating on the course on the last day of the Penny Putter Season (that being the Ladies Golf League and on Sept 24th). Because he had seen the dog he was able to use that recognition to track the animal to its particular home and spoke to the lady of the house. Mike was told the doggie door had malfunctioned and that she would clean it up. And that incident was cleaned without further staff involvement. But since that time, the dog has been observed off leash and out of the homeowner’s yard again including doing its business on the course. The week of the Park Board meeting as the course was being readied for its spring opening; staff collected and bagged 43 piles of dog feces from Green #9. This took considerable time and necessitated going back for a cart (as they had been dropped on the sites). Subsequently it was found the bagged material was removed without staff involvement. Mr. Dickey merely wanted the Board to be aware as this may escalate. The Park Board discussed trying to get further direct witnesses or other similar evidence of the culprit in action to strengthen our “case” as the situation evolves. These can then be used to 1 approach the homeowner again if need be. As a last resort there is a Town Council Ordinance in effect, but such would require Police enforcement and ticketing to enact. Mr. Burrus’s verbal report indicated that there has been no progress by the landowners of Canterbury Stables on the large hole their project had left in the park/trail easement. In other news, he related that his work with the Flatlands firm regarding final contract for the 2015 LARE project is nearing completion. He also mentioned he and Mr. Abel still needed to get together on their legal review of the Mulberry Fields Splashpad document. New Business None Old Business None Citizen Advisory Committee Reports Land Resources – Phil Howard updated on the Bike Friendly application submission, the upcoming walk Friendly Application (May), and the possibility of a May Biking 101 course. He also mentioned work was proceeding to move the 2015 Zionsville Bike Challenge forward to May as originally envisioned by the Parks when we first discussed this in 2013. Finance/ Funding – Dorothy Hitchins. No report Communications –Manda Clevenger. No report. Recreation –Steve Bullington. Steve Bullington mentioned the Nature Fest program results, which was held by the Friends of the Zion Nature Center again this year. About 400 participants were there at least part of the day. Facilities–George Abel. No report Other Board Related Items None Claims Mr. Howard made a motion to approve the claims as submitted. Mr. Abel seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The meeting was then adjourned at 7:16 PM The next regular Park Board meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2015 at 7PM, at the Town Hall’s Beverly Harves Room. ______________________________ ____________________________ Manda Clevenger, Secretary Steve Bullington, President 2