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Park & Rec Board - MINUTES - 11/10/2008 City of Muskego PARKS & RECREATION BOARD Monday, November 10, 2008 Approved 1/12/09 Board President Whipple called the monthly meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board (Board), City of Muskego, to order at 6:00 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, November 6, 2008. Present: Mr. Gary Boisits, Mr. Eric Hetzel , Mr. Jerald Hulbert, Mr. Brett Hyde, Mrs. Kelly Koble, Mr. Toby Whipple and Director Craig Anderson Absent: Ald. Dan Pavelko (excused) GUESTS: Larry Lefebvre, Ald. Borgman, Jim Poteraske, Kevin Pope, Dan Wendorf APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 13 Minutes Mr. Brett Hyde moved to approve the minutes of the October 13, 2008 meeting, seconded by Mr. Eric Hetzel. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. PERSONAL APPEARANCES: Little Muskego Lake District Weed Tipping Director Anderson went over the proposed agreement changes for the weed tipping agreement with the Little Muskego Lake District. Larry Lefebvre presented his proposal for the next year. They need a spot in Park Arthur for a limited amount of weed tipping. They will be using it now and then. In 2009, they expect it to be less than 2008. They are leasing a new truck so they don’t anticipate breakdowns. One of the reasons they had tipped at the Park Arthur site was the old trucks would break down. Mr. Hulbert inquired of their 1% usage, how many truckloads. Larry Lefebvre stated that they had about 650 truckloads. Mr. Hulbert asked if they were anticipating no more than 30 truckloads. Larry Lefebvre said if they had 20 truckloads tipping at Park Arthur that would be a lot. Mr. Hulbert questioned if something could happen with their use of the gravel pit that would cause them to use Park Arthur more. Larry Lefebvre could not foresee anything as the quarry is gigantic and they should be okay for several years. They do continue to look for other sites. Director Anderson asked if the acreage could be reduced from 2 to 1. He expected to meet with Dave Burch of Bonestroo to see if the department needs any extra room in Park Arthur south. Larry Lefebvre indicated it should be okay. Mr. Hulbert moved to approve the same plan as last year with a one percent time period in emergencies and that the area be reduced from 2 acres to 1 acre and the weeds being turned at least once a year with an annual review. Mr. Boisits seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. Snowmobile Trail Kevin Pope was present to request permission from the Board to establish snowmobile trails through the park areas of Denoon Park and Lake Access #17. Director Anderson stated there were no problems from last year’s usage. However, Tom Zagar was requesting that they place the trail in Denoon Park following the fence Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, November 10, 2008, page 2 and tree line. He would like them to come straight through the prairie area. Mr. Pope shared that they had established the trail as the landowner was complaining they were running the trail too close to his driveway. Mr. Pope said they will relocate their trail to comply with Mr. Zagar’s request, taking into consideration the landowner’s concerns on the noise and the traffic crossing his driveway. He asked if there was a concern if they would brush out some of the area. Director Anderson recommended he contact Tom Zagar. Mrs. Koble moved to approve the request the same as last year with the modification of the trail through Denoon Park. Mr. Hyde seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. Restoration of Lands on Southern Portion of Moorland Park Director Anderson presented Tom Zagar’s request to allow approximately 16.5 acres of lands in the southern portion of Moorland Park to be restored to natural vegetation and hydrology. He wants to turn it back into prairie. The land is either within the 100-year floodplain, contains wetland or is being utilized for the storm water retention pond. Director Anderson said the department doesn’t use it for any active-use land. There is also a lot of geese in the area. The plan would reduce mowing cost while providing for a more aesthetically pleasing look. It would also enhance any trails that the department puts through the park. The cost for this plan would all be funded from conservation funds and would probably start seeding in 2010. Mr. Jerald Hulbert moved to approve the plan for restoration of the lands. Mr. Eric Hetzel seconded. It’s a great idea. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. (Mr. Dan Wendorf arrived and voiced his concerns about the weed tipping at Park Arthur. This year wasn’t bad because the summer was cooler than the previous year. Director Anderson shared what had transpired earlier in the meeting on the weed tipping. Mr. Boisits added that they would only be using it for 1% of the time as 99% they are tipping at the quarry. Director Anderson offered to have him call the office if he had more concerns and the department would get in touch with the district.) Muskego Historical Society 2008 Update Mr. Hulbert presented the annual report on the Muskego Historical Society. A number of projects completed were in the building maintenance. One of the major face lifts was the residing of the machinery shed with the work being done as an Eagle Scout project. Some other buildings have been spruced up and painted. They redid new drywall in the basement of the Old Town Hall and they are looking at putting in wainscoting to protect the walls. On another positive note, they have some new members. One of the new members with their family put together the craft fair which brought a lot of people from outside the community. They have approximately 240 people on the membership list but many are lifetime members and aldermen, but through the craft fair and other activities, they have brought in the new members for the society and the tractor club. Their funds are around $50,000, but $29,000 has been set aside as a foundation fund that cannot be touched. A elderly lady member had her heart set on the society putting up a general store and had contributed dollars for it. While it is on the master plan, it hasn’t happened because of staff and resources and now the family attorney has advised the family wants the money returned. The ghost walk, a joint venture with the Muskego Players, which was for two nights has recently been completed. Buy Seasons, a costume company, donated costumes and other materials for the event. They had about a couple hundred in attendance. The next event coming up is the Country Christmas. They have planned for Santa to come in a sleigh and if no snow, then he’ll come in a rubber-tire wagon drawn by horses. This event is in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce. Some of the buildings will be open for this event. The intent is for the community to access some of the buildings that the general public owns. Another project was the relocation of the totem pole up to the log cabin trading post. They did threshing during the festival and had some tractors on display. A new member, Laura Mishefske, is working on putting together history of Muskego as well as successfully getting the web site updated. The Herdas are doing curating and fund-raising. They are working at finding a way to display the dugout canoe which currently resides in the barn. They have made an agreement with the Common Council on the old barn with members only being allowed to access it and the appropriate signage is in place. The barn Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, November 10, 2008, page 3 will continue to be used for storage. He concluded, with what can be expected with the Country Christmas event. A recent donation of pictures from the Denoon Saloon was received; large pictures of 1950 aerial view of Dandelion Park, 1930 or 1940 picture of Denoon Saloon, 1940 view of Pioneer Drive. The single best thing is the new members that are excited and active. WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE: Parks Vandalism Director Anderson reported there was graffiti on the playground at Denoon Park and a couple of broken split rails which were replaced. At Bluhm, the men’s room door sign was ripped off. Mr. Hulbert shared that during the festival, the door to the Heinrich cabin was kicked open. Park Arthur Field Stones Board members reviewed the email communication on the field stones being removed from Park Arthur along College Avenue. Someone went in with a small end loader and removed the stones. A gentleman had approached Karl Thiesenhusen who advised him that the land was city land and could not give him permission to remove the rocks. A few weeks later he observed the man removing the rocks and the man indicated to Karl that he had permission. The only identification was the man was driving a S & W Farms truck. The police were advised and extra patrols are being done in the area. NEW BUSINESS: None UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 2009 Baseball Prepping Fees Director Anderson was contacted by Jim Prusinski who wanted to set up a meeting to discuss what would be available to them for prepping the fields. He explained to Jim Prusinski that they wanted to get the groups together to discuss what’s available. Mr. Prusinski will contact Ed Horwath of the M.A.A. and he’ll get back to Director Anderson. In January, the department will have to decide what to do. There is some areas where they can store equipment and also a tractor that could be let out to the groups. Mr. Hulbert voiced his concern about letting the groups use capital equipment. Director Anderson said the groups will be responsible for the equipment from string lines, templates, to chalkers, to rakes and replacement of any that is returned damaged. Mr. Boisits suggested a bond be considered for the equipment. Soccer Field Use Policy Review Director Anderson stated that all the changes had been made to the policy as directed by the Board members. With the understanding that changes could be made in the future, Mr. Hulbert moved to approve the soccer field usage policy. Mr. Boisits seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried with Board President Whipple abstaining. ALDERMAN’S REPORT: None STATUS OF PROJECTS: Highway 36 Trail WDNR went through their internal review and they are requesting two things before awarding the grant. They are requesting a floodplain analysis for the canal because the original floodplain study did not have the abutments in it. The abutments are close to 100 years old so the department needs to come up with a study of what it was before the abutments and what it is with the existing abutments even though the bridge is going up over the 100-year floodplain. The city engineer is working with FEMA to figure how to do it. It’s an added cost Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, November 10, 2008, page 4 to the city so Director Anderson emailed the WDNR that it would be an added cost to the project and would they fund it. The other item is the WDNR thinks that a Chapter 30 permit needs to be done because they think the department has to excavate dirt to put in the existing abutments. He did not feel that the department should have to do this as the abutments are existing and has a message into the WDNR person. Moorland Park/InPro Skate Park Staff met with the contractor regarding the grass growth and the prairie. The contractor assured them that the grass growth would be ready for next fall. There is a two-year warranty on it once it is accepted. The department expects an 80% take of grass. The grass is coming in better than it was. The contractor didn’t take out the stones yet. The contractor was coming back to remove them. Tom Zagar could not find any prairie grass in the area they had planted first. The area was planted before the rains in June and Tom Zagar did state that there should be some growth but he’ll give it until middle of next spring and if he doesn’t see anything, they will have to replant the prairie. Board President Whipple summed up that they would then look at the fields being played on in the fall of 2009. DIRECTOR’S REPORT: Winter/Spring Program Guide The program guide will go out in November. It was sent today to the printer. Dog Park Staff met with the one individual that was at the Board meeting in the spring. She wanted to use the area out at Denoon Park, the straight stretch off of Kelsey by the split-rail fence where the Icetronauts have their trail. Also, where the department allows golfing. She was advised that the department would not have funding for the dog park and fund-raising would need to be done. She would have to pay for paving a parking lot, fencing, cooperation of landowners, etc. She wondered if they could use the parking lot down by the launch. Director Anderson informed her that there was not enough for car parking and besides, there are two conflicting user groups with the playground and the dog owners. There is too much activity for this to be a viable area. She then asked about Kurth Park’s southern area. Director Anderson recommended that she contact the county to see if they have an area at the Muskego County Park that can be used since the dog park at Minooka Park in Waukesha was successful. Operating Budget 2009 budget is set to be approved. Two park staff positions will be removed, the Maintenance Person I and Maintenance Person III. Last week, they preliminary threw it out for discussion to eliminate the Parks Supervisor also. They would give the Conservation Coordinator to the parks department. That did not carry weight with the other alderman and at the public hearing, it was not a part of the budget. He was told that it was not going to be brought up as part of the approval on Tuesday. It stands that the department will lose staff, receive $25,000 in the operating budget to use for outsourcing and seasonal staffing. Discussions have occurred with DPW and Utilities and they will free up a person to help the department with snow removal. They will also help with maintenance of the fleet and equipment. Mr. Hulbert inquired if the department was still going to do maintenance on the baseball fields. Director Anderson said the department will be opening up and releasing the fields in the beginning of the year. Games are on the field almost everyday so they will be dragged and lined by the people using them. The department will be closing them at the end of the season. Mill Valley fields will be done by the department on Wednesday for the men’s league and Thursday for the women’s league. There will be a plan in place whereby the department monitors the fields and how they are maintained by the groups. Manuals will be prepared for the groups and training sessions for them. They all will have to be trained before they start game prepping on the fields. Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, November 10, 2008, page 5 OTHER BUSINESS Subdivision Plans—Continued Driveway Access on Lake Access #12 (extension of Park Drive) Mr. Mortle, who resides at W176S7408 Lake Drive is planning to tear down the existing home and garage and replace with a new home with an attached garage, would like to continue to use the lake access to access his garage. If new construction is going to occur, this would provide the opportunity to connect to Lake Drive as all of the other homes do in the area. Director Anderson pointed out on the map the boundaries of the lake access and the location of the Mortle property. Plan staff was advising against approving this request. In this case, the only reason that lake access was used was the existing house was there. The recommendation of the Plan staff is to have them make their access off of Lake Drive when they rebuild. Mr. James Poteraske said what they were trying to achieve with the access off of Lake Drive was create some additional storage area to address some of the Plan staff concerns about parking of vehicles, etc. They were trying to alleviate having a four-five car garage, leaving very little green space on the property. Director Anderson voiced his concern relative to calls received from people questioning if it was a lake access as they have observed cars parked on that road end. This leaves a narrow path and department staff have had to walk in from Lake Drive between his vehicles and the fence to get down to the lake access. It does somewhat limit the lake access. Mr. Hulbert felt they should go with the recommendation of the Plan staff. He did not want a precedent to be set as there are 18 other accesses. (Mr. Hulbert’s motion to go along with the Plan staff recommendation that if they do a new construction the access would have to be off of Lake Drive did not receive a second.) Mrs. Koble questioned where the entrance to the existing house was located. Director Anderson said that access to the house can be on the walkway and through the garage. To access their property at this time, they have to go on the road end to access the garage. Board President Whipple summarized that if they went with the new construction, they would no longer have access off the road end, it would have to be off of Lake Drive. Mr. Hyde’s biggest concern was that it would set precedent. Mrs. Koble’s concern was that it is public access land and there was a note in the documents about liability and maintenance of the lake access site. Mrs. Koble moved to follow the Plan staff recommendation on the Mortle property. Mr. Hulbert seconded. Mrs. Koble stated if they don’t do the construction, then at this point, the access stays the same. Upon a voice vote the motion carried unanimously. COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW: Director Anderson shared that he will be the advisor for girl scouts on projects at the Old Settlement Centre. They will be coming forward at the January meeting and make their presentations. Board members were advised that the department may dispense with the December meeting. ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business, Mr. Hyde moved for adjournment at 7:15 p.m. Seconded by Mr. Hulbert. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. Stella Dunahee, CPS Recording Secretary pc: Board Members, Craig Anderson email: Mayor, Alderpersons, Department Heads, Peter Theis, Tammy Dunn,