Zionsville Board of Park and Recreation

Summary Minutes of the Meeting of the Zionsville Park and Recreation Board February 14, 2018 The Zionsville Board of Parks and Recreation met Wed., February 14, 2018 at 7:00 PM. The meeting took place at the Zionsville Town Hall’s Council Chambers (Room 105). Board members Tim Casady, Jeff Edmondson, John Wollenburg, and Steve Bullington were present. Not present was George Abel and Wayne Bivans. Also present was Park Department Superintendent, Matt Dickey & Park Board Attorney, Roger Burrus. Agenda/Meeting Steve Bullington made a motion to approve the January 10, 2018 regular board meeting minutes. Tim Casady seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Public Presentation/Comments - None Identified Staff Reports The overall annual reports were given; Superintendent Matt Dickey started with his departmental report that was originally given to the Town Council earlier. Overley-Worman Park and the 5 Year Master Plan processes were talked about and updated to the Town Council. Mr. Dickey mentioned some of the survey questions and their answers from the public. He also praised our Naturalist, Mindy Murdock on her Joe Wright Recognition of Excellence Award. He thanked Allen Shaffer our Maintenance Supervisor and staff for the work on removing the Ash trees. The maintenance staff lost an employee due to a spouse’s out-of-state promotion, but gained one with experience working in parks. Mr. Dickey also updated the Park Board on the golf course. The golf course netted a net profit this year that is their 2nd to 3rd highest yearly profit to date. They are continuing to earmark and protect funds for future major capital issues; a new golf cart fleet and replacing the irrigation system. The annual report was given to each Park Board member for their review. Allen Shaffer, our Supervisor for Parks Maintenance gave his annual report to the Park Board. With his staff and with the help of Ping Tree Service, they were able to remove all of the Ash trees. He informed the Park Board that the fallen trees, snags/brush were left for biomass; habitat for wildlife. Another item Allen Shaffer updated the Park Board on were the Starkey Park stairs. Mr. Shaffer signed with (through the current manufacturing company Amezz) a new production company; Heartland Engineering, to order the new stairs. Delivery will be in nine weeks; which should be around mid-April and the stairs will be installed by the Parks’ maintenance staff. The parks will be switching over to LED lighting; Mr. Shaffer informed the Park Board that there is $12,000 in the budget for this. Lights will be changed in Lincoln Park, the Golf Course, Mulberry Fields, American Legion, and the tunnels on the Big-4 Rail Trail. All-in-all this should save the Parks ~$7,000 a year. All the highlights of the maintenance annual report were given to the Park Board for their review. Mindy Murdock, our Naturalist, gave her annual report on the Zion Nature Center. She presented the Park Board with her report and went over some highlights. The Box turtle exhibit was finished in time for the anniversary party in May. Full cost was $8,800; with the total being funded entirely by donations. Ms. Murdock pointed out that in conjunction with the Indiana Nature Play Days, the Zion Nature Center held Zion Nature Play Days; counting all involved organizations, this event (which was part of a state-wide initiative) comprised of a 9 day event with 380 in attendance. The Mayor also did a proclamation award for this event. For his report, Park Board Attorney, Roger Burrus mentioned that he has been asked to look at the new smoking & tobacco ordinance changes and how they would affect the Parks. Also, Mr. Burrus received a request from Ed Mitro, the Town’s Deputy Mayor to look into an easement by Duke Energy that would go onto the Golf Course and along the maintenance drive which is shared by a homeowner. Also, Attorney Burrus has put together a summary of information as requested by the Mayor for the Holliday Nature Reserve and has been trying to contact the Holliday family. New Business Under new business, Mr. Dickey shared with the Park Board information about two special events. The first one is for the Turner Syndrome Event; a non-profit walk (Chasing Butterflies Walk) to raise money for their organization. This walk would be held in Mulberry Fields. The other event is a for-profit event by Tinkergarten. This event would hold programs/lessons that would be held in our Parks for 8 consecutive weeks, for a fee, with 10% profit going to the Parks & Recreation. After much discussion with the Park Board, a motion was made by John Wollenburg to not make an exception to current policy against the use of public parks by private profit use of Parks for Tinkergarten. This was seconded by Tim Casady and the Board passed this motion unanimously. Park Board President Jeff Edmonson and Superintendent Matt Dickey met with Mayor Haak (as part of the yearly goal setting for the Superintendent and Department) to discuss updating all the signs in all the Parks. Per the branding standard set by the new entrance sign at Creekside Corporate Park, the Park Board /Department was directed to utilize similar stone in the base. Allen Shaffer has put together an inventory of the current Park signs, a diagram of newer signs with costs, and he presented this to each board member. This would be an additional appropriation to the Parks budget instead of rearranging funds. After some discussion, Steve Bullington made a motion stating that the Park Board approve moving forward with the signs pending Town Council approval as indicated by their appropriation of the necessary additional funding entailed by this mandate. Tim Casady seconded this motion and this was passed with one dissenting vote. Old Business Superintendent Dickey updated the Park Board about the irrigation project at the golf course. He has left messages with the irrigation company and has been trying to get a proposal in writing from them. Updates on Park Board’s Citizen Advisory Committees - None Identified Other Board Related Items - None Identified Claims Steve Bullington made a motion to approve the claims as submitted. Tim Casady seconded and the motion was passed unanimously. Adjournment The meeting was then adjourned with a motion made by Park Board Member Steve Bullington, seconded by Tim Casady & the vote was unanimous at ~8:45PM. The next regular Park Board meeting is scheduled for March 14, 2018 at 7PM, at the Zionsville Town Hall’s Council Chambers (Room 105). _______________________________ ____________________________________ Jeff Edmondson, President John Wollenburg, Secretary