Park & Rec Board - MINUTES - 1/13/2003
MINUTES
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING
CITY OF MUSKEGO
January 13, 2003
Approved 2/10/03
Board President Toby Whipple called the monthly meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board, City of
Muskego, to order at 6:30 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, January 9, 2003.
Present: Ms. Debbie Carlson, Mr. Jerald Hulbert, Ms. Kelly Koble, Ald. Eileen Madden, Mr. Richard Manchester,
Mr. Howard Schneider, Mr. Toby Whipple, and Director Craig Anderson.
GUESTS: Ald. LeDoux
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
December 9 Board Meeting
Mr. Richard Manchester moved, Mr. Howard Schneider seconded, to approve the minutes of the December 9
meeting. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
PERSONAL APPEARANCES: Jeff Muenkel, Tom Zagar
A Park and Open Space Plan for the City of Muskego 2003-2007
Mr. Zagar presented the plan to the Board members. The time frame was changed to make it a five-year
plan. By changing the time frame, it would enable them to be eligible for WDNR (Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources) grants. Some of the bigger changes in the plan were in the inventory of the lands--the
land acquired for the community center, three properties along Pioneer Drive, and several WDNR acquisitions
for the Big Muskego Lake wildlife area. The amenities in the parks were also updated. The city has also
adopted a conservation plan. Associate Planner Jeff Muenkel updated all the GIS maps so they are more
accurate in depicting the park sites. They also added the facilities at the high school. The trail system was
also updated. Board members noted that with the plan being updated by city staff, it is completed in a timelier
fashion than when it was done by SEWRPC (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission). Mr.
Hulbert moved to approve the amended A Park and Open Space Plan for the City of Muskego 2003-
2007. Ms. Koble seconded. No further discussion. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE
Police Department Incident Reports
Director Anderson had nothing to report.
Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board Meeting, January 13, 2003, page 2
Other Reports
There were no other reports for the Board members to review.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
MHS Athletic Fields
At this date, no other meetings have been set up for the joint committee working on the high school fields. Mr.
Hulbert mentioned that members of the school board would like to know the city’s time frame regarding
acquiring the properties to the southwest of the high school. The lower one-third of their forty acres cannot be
developed until that happens. He stated that Director Anderson and Board Chairman Whipple have done a
good job of representing the Board’s interest to meet the city’s needs for athletic fields. Director Anderson
said the committee’s recommendation is going before the school board in January and the Common Council
th
will be reviewing it on the 28. By the next Board meeting, there should be an answer. The committee has
made a recommendation and will have a final meeting but all members will not have to attend. If the school
board and Common Council drastically change things, then the whole committee may have to meet. Mr.
Hulbert asked who exactly was going to set up the time line before the school board meeting? Director
Anderson indicated that committee would not be working on the time table as that depends on when the
money is available and the time line would be set up by Mr. Ray Schrank and Ald. Rick Petfalski. The sole
purpose of the committee was to look at the amenities for each facility and the percentage of costs to be
shared. Mr. Hulbert mentioned that though Common Council has appropriated funds for the project, they
might change what item it is spent on. Mr. Schneider questioned how much of the land is owned by the school
district? Mr. Hulbert said there is a development proposed for the area. As he mentioned earlier, the school
district cannot develop the lower area of their property because of the wetlands. If the city acquires the Ewald
Engel property, then they could trade off part of the property for replacement of the wetlands, then the lower
end of the school property could be filled in and athletic fields established.
ALDERMAN'S REPORT
Nothing to report at this meeting.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Recreation
Director Anderson said the department is working with Class to set up Internet registration. There will be three
separate training sessions for staff in March.
Due to lack of gym facilities, the department was not able to accommodate those on the waiting list for the
youth basketball program. Facilities are limited and people were encouraged to sign up early.
Parks
Board members received copies of the Muskego Historical Society’s annual reports.
The parks crew is working on getting the ice rink at Manchester Hill Park open. They are also cutting back the
Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board Meeting, January 13, 2003, page 3
growth along the roadway to the Denoon Park boat launch. With the cutting back, the people are now parking
their vehicles in those areas. There may be a need to put up no parking signs or some big boulders to curtail
the parking.
NEW BUSINESS
Horse/Snowmobile Trail Network for the City of Muskego
Mr. Hulbert pointed out on the city map the areas that would be conducive to establishing trails for equestrian
or snowmobile usage. These would be in the area of the city that are still zoned agricultural and also along
Racine Avenue and Kelsey Drive. The trails could just be rough graded for this type of usage. This is a
reasonable quality of life issue. Board members discussed the merits of having trails established for these
groups and also preserving the rural nature of the city. Mr. Hulbert moved to form a sub-committee to
explore the possibility of a network of equestrian/snowmobile trails in the City of Muskego. Ms. Koble
seconded. No further discussion. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. Sub-committee
members are Mr. Hulbert, Ms. Koble, and Ald. Madden.
OTHER BUSINESS
Subdivision Plans from Plan Commission
No plans submitted for review by the Board.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION REPORT
Mr. Schneider shared that the property owner to the east of the 27 acres of park land off of Tans Drive
interested in purchasing the property was at the Conservation Committee meeting. The Conservation
Committee is not interested in selling the property. The Conservation Committee wants to get a conservation
easement on that property so future administrations could not sell the property. Also, they are considering
using some of the Ewald Engel property for athletic fields. There were some oil tanks on this property and the
issue is who is going to clean up the property? If the city cleans it up, then the city is responsible; if the owner
cleans it up, then the owner is liable forever if it wasn’t cleaned up right. There is no time line on the
acquisition of this property.
Next Meeting –February 10, 2003
COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW
Director Anderson informed the Board that Ald. LeDoux had clarified that the Parks and Recreation
Department would be responsible for the maintenance and cleaning of the Quietwood subdivision path.
ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business, Mr. Hulbert moved for adjournment at 7:25 p.m.
Seconded by Mr. Manchester. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried .
Stella Dunahee, CPS
Recording Secretary
pc: Board Members, Craig Anderson
Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board Meeting, January 13, 2003, page 4
email: Mayor, Alderpersons, Department Heads, Peter Theis, Irene Schuder, Tammy Dunn,