Attendees Anita Force, Chris Neumann, Gretchen Walker, Chuck Foreman, Mayor Randy Strasser

Previous meeting minutes
Chris motioned to approve the minutes from the last meeting and Anita Force seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as presented.

Old Business

Chris Neumann restated that signs have been posted at all Delphi Parks that no alcohol consumption is permitted. Chris advised that Chuck found only 2 beer bottles at Riley Annex from the previous Saturday. Brooke McCain of the Delphi Police Department addressed the soccer game attendees at Riley Park Annex that no alcohol can be consumed in the Delphi Parks.   

The summer recreation program continues and the annual canoe float trip with the Mayor was scheduled for Friday 6/26/09 pending river height. July 3rd is the swim trip at Tropicanoe Cove from 10-4pm in Lafayette. It was discussed that since summer recreation should encompass all summer and not just the month of June, possibly next year we could spread out the projects and recreation to cover the whole summer to mirror when school is out.

Chris spoke to Xtreme contractors as to when they would be completed. They were scheduled to be done 6/22/09-6/26/09. The basketball court at City Park was paved but not stripped yet. The section in front of the Park maintenance building was already completed with paving.

Staff reimbursement for extra hours worked during the flood has been resolved and paid.

Chris was going to followup with Bob Burton regarding the proposed Trailhead Park canoe launch. Mayor Randy advised that all permits from DNR and IDEM with approvals will be needed prior to any changes being made to the area. Mayor Randy advised there was already a canoe launch there. 

New Business

Anita spoke to Chris Jones regarding a water soil sample (approximately $150 cost) for the Riley Annex septic. Discussion continues for possibly rerouting the Riley Park restroom holding tanks by boring a hole under the road and to the Riley Annex septic due to restroom overflow issues in Riley Park. No one was aware of when the Riley Annex septic was installed. An estimate for boring under the road is in possession. A lift will also need to be purchased should this become an option. Anita was going to contact Alan George to discuss options.

The 2010 budget was revised and submitted by Chris. Mayor Randy advised we should be aiming for a final Park Board budget of $145,000 overall. The Parks Budget will be submitted on 6/29/09 so the Council has 1 week until 7/6/09 to review it prior to final budget meetings on 7/13/09 per Mayor Randy. Any funds needed for 2008 encumbered funds capital projects (ie. new truck and mower) that were lost (appx $37,000) and not encumbered could be resubmitted to the City Council for additional appropriations during 2009. Thereafter, the budgeted funds for the new truck and mower could be removed from the 2010 budget. Mayor Randy was going to review the overall budgets in the next 2 weeks and would review the new truck and mower request then to possibly move on these items during 2009. Anita motioned to approve the budget as presented. Gretchen 2nd the motion.

 

Chris spoke to Dan McCain who is President of the Delphi Canal Association regarding a replacement mower. As the Parks Department provides free mowing all year long, reimbursement for the mowing has been through financial assistance with a new mower. Chuck advised that he would like 2 new mowers to keep up with the additional mowing demands. Chuck was going to check with McGavic’s to get a trade in price from the 2nd mower. Chuck mentioned a 3 year lease option that McGavic’s has and was going to research if this might be a good option for the mowers he purchases.  

Discussion regarding the pumping of the Riley Park sewage tanks was held. Chuck mentioned he calls for random pumping of the tanks by the Delphi Water Department. Gretchen mentioned that this should be a scheduled and planned event to avoid overflows. Mayor Randy was going to speak to Dick VanSickle to have the Riley Park restrooms pumped every 2 weeks.

Since the Parks Department will assume the mowing of the cemetery, cemetery budget dollars will be re-allocated to the Parks Department. However, per Mayor Randy, there is no need to be separate out budgeted dollars for labor or fuel costs. The Delphi Street Department is to provide ongoing maintenance to the graves. However, the undertaker is to have the graves leveled and seeded to fulfill their obligations to the family as payment is provided to the undertaker for this service. Anita was going to review how other cemetery boards handle “future” maintenance issues when the graves are completed.

Gretchen discussed a review of the Duke Energy lighting bill from May 2009. After visiting each park to determine if the Parks were being charged correctly for lighting, it was determined that we could eliminate timed lights at Riley Park due to daylight savings and the utilization of the Parks from dawn to dusk. No lighting should be required as the parks aren’t to be used after dark anyways. Chuck was going to disable all the timers to save in lighting costs. Gretchen also mentioned that 2 overhead lamps at City Park were obstructed by low hanging trees. She was going to contact Aaron Lyons to have the Street Department trim the trees back so as to have ample lighting at City Park. Trailhead restrooms have hot-wired lighting on 24/7 and the possibility of solar lighting was discussed.

On 9/11/09 and 9/12/09, the National Guard was wanting to utilize Riley Park and Riley Annex exclusively from early in the morning until 11:00pm to host the National Guard Warrior Challenge. It was discussed to allow the Delphi National Guard to utilize the Parks with signs marking off the area for this weekend. Chris made a motion to approve the request and Anita 2nd the motion.

Chuck advised that Jay Taylor asked if fireworks could be set off in Riley Park after the Delphi Car Show the 2nd or 3rd weekend of August or September. Since the dates and times weren’t specific, it was determined to have the request made in writing to ensure property individuals were notified near the Park prior to the fireworks being set off.

Four (4)  applications were received for the Delphi Parks Superintendent’s position that was posted in the Carroll County Comet’s News section. Applications for the position will be taken until 6/29/09. Review of all applicants will be completed on 6/30/09 by Mayor Randy and President Chris Neumann.

Mayor Randy brought up his vision for the Delphi Parks to include having year round recreation activities to coincide with the Delphi School breaks. Additional groups to be reached through the Delphi Parks programs should be Seniors and Hispanic individuals. Grants are available as well as community funding, and trustee funds which should be sought to help defray the costs to include more individuals with additional programs. Suggestions for future programs could be a dinner theatre trip, visiting a Chicago museum, or movie night at the Canal. Further discussions were anticipated once the current Parks Board issues were resolved.   

Next Meeting

Wednesday 7/29 @ 4:00pm. Location to be determined.