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prbm20120813 City of Muskego PARKS & RECREATION BOARD Monday, August 13, 2012 Approved 9/10/12 Board President Whipple called the monthly meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board (Board), City of Muskego, to order at 5:35 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting notice was posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law on Thursday, August 9, 2012. Present: Mr. Jerald Hulbert, Mr. Hyde, Mrs. Kelly Koble, Mr. “Butch” LeDoux, Mr. Paul Peardon, Ald. Dan Soltysiak (5:55 p.m.), Mr. Toby Whipple and Director Anderson GUESTS: Ald. Harenda, Ald. Borgman, James Mortle, Ron Borezp, Troop 141 Boy Scouts , Paul Piaskowski APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 11 and July 9 Minutes Mr. Brett Hyde moved to approve the minutes of the June 11 and July 9 meetings, seconded by Mrs.Koble. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. COMMUNICATIONS: Decorative Brick Engraving Donation/Old Town Hall Flag Pole Mr. Fred Korth’s request on behalf of the Muskego American Legion Post 356 to provide labor and material to install decorative bricks around the flag pole and eventually engrave the names of veterans was presented by Director Anderson. Mr. Korth was asking for the Board to accept the donation of the bricks around the flag pole area. Mr. Hulbert inquired if they were selling bricks as a fund-raiser. Director Anderson did not know. Mr. Hulbert moved to approve the request for the brick donation subject to finding its not being used as a fund-raiser on public property. Mr. Peardon seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. LML Access #12 Partial Land Purchase Director Anderson gave a historical background on Mr. Mortle’s request regarding Lake Access #12 and his driveway access through the lake lot. He now is requesting to purchase a portion of the lake lot to facilitate driveway access for the new home he would build on the enlarged property. Board members heard Mr. Mortle’s argument regarding his proposal which also included renderings of the lake lot and his property. He indicated that he would improve and enhance the appearance of the public lake lot at his cost. Mr. Hulbert, also, gave a historical account of the happenings in the area relative to the lake lot. He could not support divesting of any of the property unless the Board had a public hearing and received input from the residents. Mr. LeDoux’s concern was if the remaining width of the access would allow trucks to get down to the lake area. Director Anderson stated there would be for the smaller trucks considering the 11-foot paved area and the 5-foot grass area up to the chain link fence. Board President Whipple questioned if he is rebuilding the house, why can’t he access from Lake Drive. He could, but wouldn’t get the garage size he wanted and he did n’t feel it was safe to do it that way as the driveways would butt up against each other. He purchased the property with the driveway access as it is now. Back in 2008, Director Anderson shared that the Planning staff advised there is no reason why access cannot be gained directly onto Lake Drive as all other homes along the street instead of making it a non -conforming lot. Discussion Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, August 13, 2012, page 2 continued and after hearing Mr. Mortle’s petition, Board members felt they needed to receive input from the neighbors . Having recently experienced what entailed the purchase of the Boxhorn launch, Director Anderson cautioned that legal fees and closing costs can be substantial and can affect the net sale. Mr. LeDoux felt those fees should be borne by the purchaser. He did express that lot would be much nicer and enhanced, making it a better place and aesthetically pleasing. Mr. Hulbert moved to defer until they have input from the people in the surrounding area especially the people on Park Drive. Mr. Hyde seconded. Director Anderson asked how far out they wanted the notice to go. Mr. Hulbert stated everyone on Lake and Park Drives should be notified and a notice to the LMLA and LMLD so they can get the word out and the alderman for the area. Mr. Hulbert will take this Board’s concerns /comments to the Plan Commission. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. Vandalism at Bluhm #1 Shelter The vandalism at Bluhm #1 shelter was a urinal divider torn off the wall. It has been replaced. Usage of Certain Park Facilities Board members reviewed the email from a citizen regarding the bathroom facilities and garbage cans. Director Anderson had responded to the email advising her of when the bathrooms are open to the public as well as the procedure for cleaning the facilities. He explained also that putting garbage cans along the recreation trail is not feasible considering they get vandalized and the department cannot manage an operation of emptying/cleaning containers with animal waste effectively. Board did not see a need to change the open hours or provide receptacles along the trails. NEW BUSINESS: 2013-17 Capital Equipment/Projects Budget Director Anderson reviewed the capital items for 2013 which included improvements for the shop. He was requesting 1,100 square feet of flooring to be replaced in the office area, lunch room and locker room. Also, the overhead garage doors need to be replaced as operating dollars have been used to fix them the last three years. It is a matter of safety and security. He did state that since this list was initiated, there has been discussion of a feasibility study being done whereby the parks crew would move to the public works area and the current parks headquarters be abandoned. Mr. Hyde did not want to invest in new doors if the building would be abandoned in a year. Mr. Peardon acknowledged that those being the original doors eventually no parts will be available and they will have to be hand -made. In Mr. Hulbert’s opinion, he could let the flooring go, but he felt they wanted to do the doors even for a year and possibly recoup the loss if the building was sold. Ald. Soltysiak would like to go with what the department has and if they need to be fixed, they will find money to fix it or repla ce. He did not want to invest more in a property that the city may be divesting in the next year, two or three. Director Anderson questioned the source of the money for the doors. Ald. Soltysiak stated they budget a contingency every year. There is money that can be allocated for emergency situations. Mr. Hulbert moved to remove the flooring from the capital budget request. Ald.Soltysiak seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. Mr. Hyde made a motion to remove the doors from the capital budget request with the understanding that if something ha ppen, the Common Council would support the fixing or replacing of the doors. Ald. Soltysiak seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. Director Anderson presented the justification for the Bobcat 5610 Tool Cat equipment request. With the additional recreational trails, a heavy duty piece of equipment will be needed to remove snow/ice more quickly and efficiently. Board President Whipple commented that right now, they are not clearing any trail along Woods. Director Anderson said that there was nothing linked up. With the current equipment, clearing of trails of snow gets delayed and then ice forms, making it difficult to clear the trails especially after the county’s plowing of the area. Board President Whipple asks if the department had any piece of equipment that would do a 5’ wide path. Director Anderson answered that the department uses the DPW skidster and a snow blower. Mr. Hyde asked how important was it to the Board to have these trails open 12 months out of the year. To him, it was important. Board President Whipple added that the department prioritizes sections Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, August 13, 2012, page 3 now, some are done, some are not. Mrs. Koble commented that some people don’t want them done; those that do cross- country ski or whatever. Mr. Hulbert stated to continue to prioritize. He mentioned the sidewalks now on Janesville Road and it is too narrow for equipment. Director Anderson said the bobcat would do a 5 -foot path. Mr. Hulbert’s personal opinion was to not clear Woods Road; however, do Janesville. This should benefit the commercial section and maybe they should be cleaning it to have access to their businesses along Janesville Road as it becomes expanded. He was less inclined to open up more areas to be cleaned than they do now. Mr. LeDoux stated it makes sense in certain areas to open up areas. He noted that along Janesville, he has observed people walking on the roadway which is dangerous. He mentioned that in some areas, the property owner shovels the trail. Ald. Soltysiak did not think any of the trails should be cleaned as he couldn’t say how much they are used in the wintertime. Mr. Hulbert did not think that homeowners should shovel a path. Mr. Hyde said it was important for him to have the trails cleaned; however, if they get this piece of equipment, is it going to speed it up or just expand the trails that are clean. Director Anderson said it was a little of both. It depends on the snow. This allows the department to put a seasonal into this equipment and get going right away. He mentioned the top priority levels that need cleaning. Mrs. Koble mentioned her earlier concern that Woods Road be prioritized for the students, then, on second thought, if it is adverse weather, they take buses and clearing Woods is not that important as she previously thought. Mr. Peardon asked if it was fair to say that with or without the acquisition of this equipment that current staffing levels would not improve the response time to clear those paths either way. Director Anderson said that first response time at clearing the snow, no.; however, the amount of time it takes to clear the snow would be done quicker. Mr. Hyde would like to see the request come back next year or the next couple of years. Ald. Soltysiak moved to remove the bobcat from the capital budget. Mr. Peardon seconded. Board President Whipple inquired if they leave the amount of trails to be cleaned the same, is the department okay with the current equipment. Director Anderson said they would be running the same way if the linear footage is not increased; the operations would stay the same. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. Project Budget Director Anderson quickly reviewed the project budget as follows:  Boxthorn Launch…install cable-tie concrete ramp/new piers  Garbage Cans  Idle Isle Park…replace ADA fishing pier  Jensen/Schmidt/Lions Parks…pave existing basketball courts at Schmidt and Lions and paving overlay at Jensen  Kurt Park…grade/seed south section and pave asphalt paths to bathrooms  Mill Valley Baseball Fields…replace fencing, bleachers, benches and dumpster enclosure  Park Arthur East…College Avenue entrance, lights at ball fields and sledding hill, bleachers, baseball fields  Moorland Park…sand volleyball court and replace skateboard laminate  Recreation Trails….Racine (Culvers-Woods Road) and Janesville (west of Racine to Mercury) and engineering  Security Camera Replacement Of all the above projects, there was a lengthy discussion on the security cameras. Board members concluded they would want the security cameras to serve as a deterrent, not so much for prosecution purposes. Ald. Soltysiak moved to remove the $20,000 for security cameras from the budget request but put $750 into the operating budget for a camera at Jensen Park and a monitor at each site. Mr. Hyde seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. Mr. Brett Hyde moved to approve the budget minus the security cameras. Mr. Hulbert seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. 2013 Operating Budget Director Anderson explained the operating budget, going over the revenue and expenses. Mr. Hulbert moved to approve the budget. Mr. Hyde seconded. From the audience, Ald. Harenda advised that the Common Council recently decided that the grounds maintenance for the two fire station buildings owned by the city be budgeted by the Parks & Recrea tion Department. The department would receive the current budgeted amount .Director Anderson informed the Board that the grounds maintenance and mowing would be a contracted service. These added two facilities will need to be included in the Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, August 13, 2012, page 4 contract. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Muskego Warriors Youth Baseball Sponsorship Monies Director Anderson shared that the group has raised $69,000. They have three pending and a potential large donation forthcoming from a sponsor. They have three banners at $5250. This brings them roughly to about $75,000. The checks will be coming in shortly. There is a separate revenue item for Park Arthur Ball Field Scholarship as well as a separate GL for the expenses. He will be having a meeting with Mick and the Junior Warriors at the site to find out what needs to be done between now and mid-September. ALDERMAN’S REPORT: None. STATUS OF PROJECTS: Park Arthur They met with the county in regard to the entrance. They will be getting an altern ate bid so they have the actual amount. They looked at the lot line at Park Arthur and could not find any post for where the dividing line might be. Dave will be working with Bonestroo to get a mapping. He’ll get the distance from the chain link fence to w here the lot line would be and then will measure to establish some kind of line and that should be done by this fall. There are areas near the ball field th at need to be reseeded. Mr. LeDoux asked about the drainage near the baseball field. Director Ander son said that Dan had checked it out and it is okay with the water flowing down toward the pond. For the signage, it was sent off to the insurance carrier for their opinion. The paving work will be bid out. Water Bugs Monthly Review Board members were in receipt of the July review and had no inquiries. DIRECTOR’S REPORT: Director Anderson provided the Board with a report on the following: Recreation Movies in the Park This Friday, the department will be showing “Dolphin Tale.” There were only 40 people at the last one and he felt it had to do with the heat. Even though the park was sprayed, the mosquitos were terrible. Ald. Borgman gave his user input and felt that the movie should have started earlier so it could be over sooner; not wanting to keep t he children out so late. Director Anderson announced that next year, the department will have only one movie coinciding with the playground cookout in August. Fall Program Guide The guide should get mailed August 23 with registration starting the next day. Jammin’ on Janesville The department had representation at all three dates. The staff member s received input from the people. A sign indicating the department’s activities/events/projects was displayed. Parks Highway 36 Trail Cutting Cutting was done on the trail ½ mile east of Muskego Dam Road. Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, August 13, 2012, page 5 New Idle Isle Launch Sign Idle Isle sign is installed and looks very nice. The LMLA is already planning phase 3, the boat rinse station. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND OTHER BUSINESS: ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business, Mr. Hulbert moved for adjournment at 8:03 p.m. Seconded by Mr. Hyde. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. Stella Dunahee, CPS Recording Secretary pc: Board Members, Craig Anderson; email: Peter Theis, Tammy Dunn; posted: www.cityofmuskego.org