Zionsville Board of Park and Recreation

Summary Minutes of the Meeting of the Zionsville Park and Recreation Board 4-8-2020 The Zionsville Board of Park and Recreation met Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 7PM. Note: Due to the COVID- 19 Emergency Health Situations, this meeting was required to be a virtual meeting. Park Board Members, Tim Casady, John Stehr, John Wollenburg, George Abel, Jill Pack, Jeff Edmondson, & Wayne Bivans were present. Also present was Park Department Superintendent, Matt Dickey and Park Board Attorney, Roger Burrus. Note: Park Board Member George Abel had some difficulty with Wi-Fi connection and had to type in his responses. All votes passed even if it was determined his vote could not count. Agenda /Meeting The Park Board by motion and verbal vote with a show of hands approved the previous month’s minutes with a minor clarification; Jill Pack was not present, but was available to listen/comment through media. Motion made by John Stehr, seconded by Wayne Bivans, approved unanimously by roll call vote. Public Presentations/Comments -None Identified Staff Reports Superintendent Matt Dickey informed the Park Board that he and the other Department Heads have been meeting with the Mayor/Deputy Mayor by virtual meetings. Per these discussions, playgrounds, restrooms, tennis courts, basketball courts have been directed to be temporarily closed due to COVID- 19. There were some scrimmages going on at the Basketball courts which shows that some were ignoring the guidelines & directives. The rims now have been pulled from the Basketball goals and gates have been locked at the Tennis Courts. Signage, tape, & some fencing have been used to close off the playgrounds. Attendance has been above average at the Parks; people are using the Parks and appear to be generally practicing social distancing. The Golf Course remains closed to the public. Disinfecting the shop and some mowing are continuing. Most of the carts are still in storage. Per COVID-19 related instruction in Department Head meeting, Parks Maintenance staff are minimizing their trips to mowing, general maintenance, and trash pick-up. Maintenance Director, Dave Moliterno reports he regularly inspects the Parks, as does other Park Staff. Naturalist, Mindy Murdock is the primary one to come in to the Nature Center to feed the animals, clean the tanks once a month and do remote programming. New Business Mr. Dickey explained to the Park Board the procedure laid out at an AIM Webinar to pre-approve claims during this COVID-19 crisis. Once normality returns the Park Board will have to ratify the dockets and sign as catch-up. Till then clarification by verbal roll call vote and motion are being used. Jeff Edmondson motioned to authorize Tim Casady or John Wollenburg to sign claims as submitted. Jill Pack seconded that motion and the Park Board approved unanimously by a verbal roll call vote. Mr. Dickey, Lance Lantz, & the Mayor met through a virtual meeting, just after the COVID-19 implementation to discuss potential’s use of Town Property by the Zionsville Schools for a combined School-Town access route across south portion of the old Perkins Gardens. Some of the Park Board members questioned into meeting if the project would be allowed to move forward with the ZNC & Parks Complex, but the Mayor texted in the chat and affirmed that the previous plans for the property are not moving forward. Park Board Member, Jeff Edmondson stated that since this is indeed town owned, then the Parks Board has little ability to take any action at this time. Old Business Park Board President, Tim Casady updated the Park Board of the Turkey Foot Bridge Project. As of now, Mr. Casady stated that in working/meeting with engineers from the SJCA firm, after taking pictures and also talking with the Director of Maintenance Service, Dave Moliterno, that the Park’s maintenance crew would not be completing the repair. The construction manager and engineers pointed out a post had sunk as a result some beam had sagged. To do the survey and specs on fixing the run up to the bridge, Mr. Casady said the cost would be approximately $11,000. A flood permit would also be needed and that will take months to get. Until the project is done, a temporary solution would be to make this a “pedestrians’ only” trail. A motion was made by John Stehr to move forward with the SJCA contract in the amount of up to $12,000 for the design specs and to begin permitting for Turkey Foot Bridge and to begin temporary use for pedestrians. Jeff Edmondson seconded that motion and this was passed verbally by roll call vote. The Rail Trail North and the Rail Trail South; Trail Head is moving along. Park Board Attorney Roger Burrus is working with property owners on the Trail Heads and on the north property extension. According to Mr. Burrus, the Mayor had indicated she will approach the last proper owner needed for the South Rail Trail Extension. Items are still being worked on with Vonterra on the Overley Worman Park. Per the original commitment to the Town, the last donation has not come yet. Other Board Related Items Mr. Dickey informed the Park Board of a citizen who asked that the fences be moved back along Maplelawn and Mulberry Fields. This is the wood fence that Maplelawn built and the wire fence put there by the Parks on the south side of Maple Lawn at that group’s request. Park Board Attorney, Roger Burrus indicated he will be looking into who is responsible for the fences.. Superintendent Dickey reported receiving a call from another citizen asking about a neighbor’s playset being built near the north end of the Rail Trail across from Heritage Trail Park. Mr. Dickey inspected this construction and said it appears to be off the homeowner’s property, but not necessary ably on Park owned ground. Right now information is being gathered and this is a work in progress. Attorney Burrus had indicated his records would assist with who actually owns the land up there and where the potential homeowner’s property may end. Claims A motion to approve claims was made by Park Board Member Jeff Edmondson, and seconded by Wayne Bivans. Motion was approved unanimously by a verbal vote. Adjournment The meeting was then adjourned with a motion made by Park Board Member Tim Casady, seconded by George Abel & a verbal roll call vote at ~8:50PM. The next regular Park Board meeting is scheduled for May 13, 2020 at 7PM, at the Zionsville Town Hall’s Council Chambers (Room 105). _____________________________________ ______________________________________ Tim Casady, President Wayne Bivans, Secretary