PRB010995minutesMINUTES
PARKS & RECREATION BOARD, CITY OF MUSKEGO
MONDAY, JANUARY 9,199s
The monthly meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board, City of
Muskego, was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by President Jerald Hulbert.
It was noted that this meeting was posted on January 5, 1995, in accordance with the Open Meeting Law.
PRESENT: Jerald Hulbert, Howard Schneider, Toby Whipple, Adele
Kehoe, Richard Manchester, Aid. Donna Woodard, Ron
Stephens, Gordon L. Jacobson (Recreation Director) and
Peter Theis (Parks Director).
GUESTS: (see attached list)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Richard Manchester moved to approve, as corrected, the minutes
of the December 12th Board meeting. Howard Schneider seconded.
Pete asked to remove ski in minutes. Motion carried.
PERSONAL APPEARANCES:
Horseback ridino on MRT trail (Woods Rd-Janesville Rd)
Al Spitzner, who appeared before the Board, feels that the trail
is level and has several pull-off points. County says road
option on Highway L can't be used. There has been letters and
phone conversations to Pete in opposition. Primary objective is
to link the two county parks. Al Spitzner also suggested that
it could be a horse trail only. Question was asked if there has
been any problems in county parks. It was brought up by Pete
and Jerry that many problems have occurred this summer on existing trail. State trail book was left for Board to review.
No action was taken.
WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE:
Refund request for Fall swim class
Adele Kehoe moved, Alderwoman Donna Woodard seconded, to allow a
transfer of classes. Motion carried.
Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board Meeting, January 9, 1995 - 2
OLD BUSINESS:
l Request for swim pass renewal
Alderwoman Woodard moved, Richard Manchester seconded, to allow
renewal of swim pass. Motion carried.
Addendum to City/School District Facility Aqreement
Richard Manchester moved, Toby Whipple seconded, to agree to
addendum. Motion carried.
Request to utilie Denoon Park for cross-country meet
Gordon Jacobson has given him suggestions to check into Meyer
Park and has not heard back from him at this time. No action
taken.
Kurth Park alternative sites
Pete had hand-outs for the Board to review. Denoon area has
been sugegsted to look at for alternative site. City Attorney
advised the Board to get appraisal on Kurth. Other areas to
look at are along College, Hwy Y, and west of Bluhm.
Idle Isle dredginq project
l No discussion.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
RECREATION
Proqram status
Non-resident fee for senior trips for 1995 introduced. Gordy
also provided the Board with a sample of softwear registration
forms.
PARKS
Full-time job search status/drug screeninq policy
The deadline for job applications is Friday, January 13. The
department has receive 44 applications at this time. Pete
presented a drug screening policy for full-time employees in the department. Richard Manchester moved, Toby Whipple seconded, to
approve the drug policy as presented by Peter. Motion carried.
Shelter building at Denoon Park
This item was asked to be placed on the agenda by Toby Whipple.
a
Pete stated the present escrow account is approximately $30,000.
Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board Meeting, January 9, 1995 - 3
The Board will review this again in a few months depending on what may happen at Kurth.
NEW BUSINESS, OTHER BUSINESS:
Subdivision plans from Plan Commission
In the matter of Deer Creek, the Board discussed access along
Lannon Drive and private access to outlots. Board members are
recommending an El-wide, paved public path connecting Court "A"
with the W.E.P.Co. right-of-way (Muskego Recreation Trail),
between either lots 13 and 12 or 12 and 71. Also, the same kind
of connection between Court "C" and Lannon Drive. (Board
members envision an off-road path along the east side of Lannon
Drive between Janesville Road and Woods Road in the future.)
Members are asking the developer to consider installing private
access points between Street "B" and Outlot #l and between Court
"B" and Outlot #l. The width and surfaces are to be determined
by the developer but some kind of privately owned and well
marked access points are being suggested.
Ownership of Outlot #2 was briefly discussed with the Board
expressing no interest in it.
Finally, the off-road path along Parkland Drive, south of both
Bridgeport Way and Court "B" was discussed as to which side of
the road should it be placed. Pros and cons of each side were
pointed out with a decision deferred depending on the status of
lots 11 and 10 in Lake Point Estates West.
In the matter of the Moorland Road Corridor, the Board reviewed
the plan.
COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW:
Bike trail plans
Pete discussed bike trail plan that has potential monies
available to develop.
Custodian position
Gordon is currently accepting applications.
Bike trail designation alonq Janesville Road
Mr. Sharrock was present and expressed his desire to see what it
would take to make Highway L an official bike route from Hales
Corners to Big Bend. A contact name at the county level was
given.
Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board Meeting, January 9, 1995 - 4
Boat ramp rip-rap
Howard Schneider had received a call concerning the rip-rap along the boat ramp at Idle Isle.
Idle Isle floatinq pier
Jerry Hulbert had questions regarding the floating pier and
drain down of Little Muskego Lake.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, Adele Kehoe moved to adjourn.
Alderwoman Donna Woodard seconded. Motion carried. Meeting
adjourned at 9:lO p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Run Sbephens
for Parks and Recreation Board
sjd
pc: Board Members, Mayor, Aldermen, City Clerk, Parks Dir.,
Plan Dir, Recreation Dir, Recreation Supvr
ATTENDANCE
PARKS & RECREATION BOARD MEETING, CITY OF MUSKEGO
MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 1995
.
CARSTON & MERNA KOELLER
5103 W1854.3 Keiser Lane
Muskego WI 53150
(414) 679-1884
January 4th, 1995
Huskego Parks & Recreation Board
W182 58200 Racine Avenue
Muskego WI 53150
Dear Sirs,
A recent article in the local paper, The Muskego Sun, caught our attention
and prompts us to write because there seem to be glaring misunderstandings
about bicycling and bike paths. We write as serious bikers who bike
regularly on local & state paths and who have participated in many organized
group biking tours in this country and overseas, the most recent being a 3
week biking tour in New Zealand last February.
We are keenly aware of the problem of equestrian use of soft-surfaced bike
trails because of the damage done to the Racine bike trail in the Wind Lake
area recently, and because of the damage done to the Huskego bike trail just
as it "as being extended last summer to North Cape Road and to Blum Park. And
it is obvious that horse riders have no concept of the problems they cause
for bikers.
Every time a horse puts down a hoof it gouges out a hole in the surface of
the trail and very quickly riding a bike on the trail is like riding on a
washboard, it is very uncomfortable and very annoying. It is also annoying
that horse riders do not carry pooper scoopers with them, or if they do they
don't use them. And we very seriously question whether bikers and horses can
safely ride past each other on the same trail at the same time. We shudder
to imagine what a leaping, hoof thrusting or rearing, kicking horse might do
to a biker. There would be a certain element of danger even with the best of
training and intentions on the parts of both bikers and horse riders. But
when one considers that that ideal is quite unlikely to exist and that there
is always the portent of mischievous or malicious action, especially from
immature youths, we quickly see that this presents unacceptable risks to both
bikers and horse riders. Also unacceptable is the liability this imposes on
the city and the taxpayers.
Clearly * bike trail cannot also be a bridal path, it must be one or the
other, it cannot be both. So if this trail is to be a bridal path, then
Huskego has just wasted all the money it put into making it a bike trail.
Horses do not require a nicely surfaced path such as "as bullt. we *l-e sorry
for the equestrians, but joint use of the same trail is simply not in the
cards. Equestrians will have to work to get their own bridal paths built.
Rflpectful,ly Your?,
Carston & Merna Koeller DD#148
January 5, 1995
* Recreation Dept.
Atten: park and Rec. Board City Hall Muskego, WI 53150
Dear Park and Ret Board:
I am writing to express my concern about the possibility of
horseback riding being allowed on the bike path extending west of
the Muskego County Park entrance. Although horseback riding can be a pleasureable recreation activity, permitting it on the bike
path would not be in the best interest of the community for
several reasons:
1. Horses can be dangerous animals. My family raised horses
for a while as I was growing up. Even the most docile and well- trained horse can be unpredictable when spooked. This was clearly
demonstrated last year during the Circus Parade when several
Clydesdale horses were suddenly startled and ran into the crowd. As I recall, several people were injured, one seriously. It was fortunate that no one was killed considering the number of
children present.
Because the bike path is extremely narrow, often with steep banks
0 on its sides, it would be impossible for both bikes and horses to travel safely on the same path. The safety of both horseback
riders and bikers would be in question.
2. With the safety issues being considered, liability and
insurance could become a problem for the city.
3. I do not believe the surface of the bike path would be strong
enough to support the weight of horses--especially after a rain or
spring thaw. Bikers and pedestrians appreciate a smooth surface
to travel on.
4. The manure left on the trail by horses would create an
obstacle course for both bikers and pedestrians.
5. The Clean Air Act will surely result in greater use and
expansion of bike trails. The city needs to take an active role encouraging safe and adequate bike accessability to the city and
surrounding areas.
6. If the proposed Cowtown becomes a reality, the bike trail
would face even greater horse-related traffic, magnifying the problems mentioned above.
7. Although the city may not be responsible for activities at
0
Muskego County Park, horse traffic has caused considerable,
sometimes extensive, damage to the soft trails of the woodlands
there in the past. Because the County wishes to encourage
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multiple use of its park areas, it is reluctant, at this time, to
discourage this sort of recreation. However, because of the
sensitive nature of this designated state scientific area, I am
concerned about making this area more accessable to use by horseback riders.
With the above considerations in mind, I encourage the Park and
Rec. Board to turn down the request for horseback rider access to the city bike trail. I sympathize with the horseback riders who
may be losing safe, low traffic areas in which to enjoy their animals. However, I believe it is in the city's long-term best interest to restrict the bike trails to their current use.
Sincerely,
Betty Csarapx
Sll W19688 Sanctuary Dr.
Muskego, WI 53150
679-4996
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