Park & Rec Board- MINUTES - 10/13/2008
City of Muskego
PARKS & RECREATION BOARD
Monday, October 13, 2008
Approved 11/10/08
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, October 9, 2008.
Present: Mr. Gary Boisits, Mr. Eric Hetzel , Mr. Jerald Hulbert, Mr. Brett Hyde (6:13 p.m.), Mrs. Kelly Koble,
Ald. Dan Pavelko, Mr. Toby Whipple and Director Craig Anderson,
GUESTS: David Burch, Dennis Shook, Frank Shook, Larry Lefebvre, Gary Christopher, Mark Morarity, Ald.
Borgmann, Howard Schneider
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
September 8 Minutes
Mr. Jerald Hulbert moved to approve the minutes of the September 8, 2008 meeting, seconded by Mr.
Gary Boisits. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried.
PERSONAL APPEARANCES:
David Burch—Park Arthur Grading Plan
Mr. David Burch of Bonestroo went over the current grading plan for Park Arthur. Some items that he
highlighted in the presentation was the additional parking areas, weed tipping, storm water retention ponds, ice
hockey area, large ball diamond and terracing for hillside seating and wetland preservation. This would be
Phase I of the development. Project status report documentation was provided to the Board members. In
regard to the sledding hill, they plan on regrading the slopes from the staging area to 40-60 percent slopes
with 100-200 foot running distance, then going to a run out area with 10-20 percent slopes. The run out area
in spring/summer/fall could be used for other recreational activities. They will also plan gentler slopes for
younger children. The ice hockey area was cut to 75x150 foot concrete area that could also be used also for
other recreational activities in the off season. He recommended bidding the project in late winter or early
spring to get better pricing. They will be meeting with the WDNR on the funding application which didn’t rank
as high as other proposals. The existing application that was done can be updated and resubmitted for the
next grant cycle.
Dennis Shook—MHS Class Reunion
Mr. Dennis Shook presented his request for renting Veterans Memorial Park for the Muskego High School all
class reunion on September 5, 2009. He briefly reviewed their track record for the previous two all-class
reunions that were held at the park. His request included
Allowing the Icetronauts tent from the foregoing Muskego Festival to remain up for the reunion
Usage of the power box for the beer truck and band
Chairs and tables
Waiver of park fees and electrical usage fees
Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, October 13, 2008, page 2
Extension of park hours
He informed the Board members that they will
Obtain the appropriate permits to sell beer/wine coolers
Provide additional security
Provide a nylon fence around their area of the park
Provide portable restrooms, not use the shelter bathrooms
Have a licensed bartender on site
Comply with any and all appropriate regulations
Provide a certificate of insurance
Restoration of any park areas/facility
Provide a dumpster on site
Cleaning the grounds the next morning
Director Anderson stated that the old tables they used previously are no longer available. There are newer
tables available but at a cost. Mr. Shook said they may consider bringing in tables of their own. Mr. Hulbert
moved, Mr. Boisits, seconded, to approve the usage of Veterans Memorial Park for the MHS all-class
reunion on September 5, 2009 as outlined by Mr. Shook with the same hours as set forth for the
community festival activities with the park fees being waived. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously.
Gary Christopher—Water Bugs Ski Team, Inc. Annual Review
Director Anderson went over the synopsis of the police compliance reports for the 2008 season. There was an
issue with buoy locations which Mr. Christopher said the team addressed immediately. Sometimes the waves
move the buoys around. In regard to the litter, he said after the shows, they check the beach and the park
areas. Mr. Hyde questioned how this year compared to previous years. Director Anderson said it was about
average with the noise complaints. The new public address announcer and the new sound board technician
have helped control the noise impact. Mr. Schneider, who resides 1/3 mile away, commented that they still
could turn the volume down. He also stated it would be nice if they could find a way to anchor the buoys and
staying away from the island as he is part of a group that has installed stone and riprap around the island. Mr.
Hulbert shared that the city has purchased a decibel meter. Director Anderson refreshed the Board members
that a few years ago decibel meter readings were taken around the site to establish a benchmark. Mr.
Christopher introduced their new president, Mark Moriarity. Mr. Lefebvre said the noise has a lot to do with the
weather and wind. He thought it was a minor problem.
WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE:
Waiver of Fees
The Board was in receipt of a request from the Muskego Lion’s Club to use Veterans Memorial Park for their
Easter egg hunt scheduled for April 11, 2009, and to waive the park fees. Members of the Board felt that
parking and bathrooms would be an issue for this event. Director Anderson advised that for this large group,
they should provide their own dumpster and portable toilets. Mr. Hyde moved to approve the request for
waiver of the park fees and to advise them that the shelter restrooms are not available. They will have
to provide their own dumpster and portable toilets and be responsible for garbage clean up and any
attributable restoration. Ald. Pavelko seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Lions Park Mowing
Board members reviewed the e-mail on the cutting of grass at Lions Park by someone from the football
league. Director Anderson did advise Mr. Doug Roskopf of it being a liability issue. Also, he was informed that
Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, October 13, 2008, page 3
the mowing of the grass on the fields needs to become a part of his annual request to use the fields for
practice.
Park Vandalism
Director Anderson reported that at Schmidt Park, three molded grips were torn off the volcano climber; at
Denoon Park, some car donuts were done in the lower level parking lot; and someone unsuccessfully tried to
break into the Durham boat launch box. At the launch, the improvements have kept the people from getting
into the box.
NEW BUSINESS:
Soccer Field Use Policy Review
Director Anderson briefly reviewed the proposed policy for soccer field usage. The policy mirrors the athletic
field usage policy. Usage of the soccer fields would be limited to practices only by other than the Muskego
Kickers. One addition to the Priority Level II would be the addition of “more than 75% residency rate.” Under
the Mill Valley Complex Lights Usage (E), remove redundant language “theft, vandalism, etc. which occurs due
to the lack of properly securing.” This will be an agenda item for the next meeting for further review.
Horn Brothers Parking Agreement
Director Anderson shared that he had spoken with Bill Horn and they are still interested in continuing with an
agreement for parking. No changes were made to the agreement. An individual did call the department
stating he did not like that they were able to park and every business on Janesville Road is mad and would like
the use of it for parking. He didn’t want the city to have any type of agreement with Horn Brothers. Director
Anderson refreshed the Board on the background for initiating this written agreement. Mr. Hyde moved to
approve the agreement with Horn Brothers for one more year with an annual review. Mrs. Koble
seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried with Mr. Hulbert abstaining.
Little Muskego Lake District Weed Tipping Agreement
Director Anderson asked if the Board was interested in seeking an agreement extension and if they are, he
recalled that some citizens who attended the Park Arthur informational meeting expressed an interest in being
informed of when the tipping agreement extension would be before the Board. How does the Board want to
advise these citizens; have the LMLA do it or the department and what distance from Park Arthur do they want
to go? Mr. Lefebvre said they do need a place to tip the weeds. Right now, they have an agreement to tip at
the quarry; however, it closes at 5:00 p.m. and it isn’t open on weekends. This is when they would like the
option to be able to tip the weeds at Park Arthur site. This year, very little weeds were dropped at Park Arthur
as 98%-99% went to the quarry. He also shared that he had not received any complaints from the Copper
Oaks residents. Mr. Hulbert was in favor of the extension for one year and possibly reducing the area from 2
acres to 1 acre and people within 500 feet of the property should be alerted. Board President Whipple
suggested using the same mailing that the department did for Park Arthur. In consultation with Ald. Borgmann,
he stated the area affected by the weed tipping at Park Arthur was Copper Oaks and the homes along Ranch
Drive. The Board members decided these residents would be ones notified when the Board would be
discussing any extension of the agreement. Director Anderson said in the current agreement, the LMLD is to
provide the Board with an operational plan for the cutting and non-cutting season to address the weed turning
and grading operations at the site. Mr. Lefebvre will have it to Director Anderson this next week. Mr. Hulbert
moved to enter into a potential agreement for a period of no longer than one year with an annual
review on the extension. Mr. Eric Hetzel seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously.
Boat Launch Fee
Based on the information received from the WDNR that the base launch fee was $7, Director Anderson was
Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, October 13, 2008, page 4
recommending changing the boat launch fees to Residents $42 (season pass); Daily $7; Non-resident $63
(season pass) and Seniors $14 (season pass). There was some discussion on the non-resident definition so
Director Anderson will check on it to see if the department’s definition of non-Muskego is accurate. (DNR
defined resident as City of Muskego.) Mr. Hyde moved to approve the new fee structure. Ald. Pavelko
seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
2009 Baseball Prepping Fees
Only two leagues (MAA and Warriors) have responded to e-mail asking where each league is in accomplishing
the field prepping in 2009. Director Anderson would like to meet with the leagues before the end of the year so
they would understand what they need to do and when they need to do it. Mr. Farner of the Warriors will try
and contact the other leagues next week. The leagues that want to meet, he would like to do as one group.
Mr. Hulbert asked if they don’t want to do anything, do they not use the fields. Director Anderson said the field
prepping fee is an optional service so they could use the fields as is. In the past, the couples league and the
Sunday men’s league used the fields without prepping. However, if it is a traveling team, there would be the
fee to use the field. Mr. Hulbert asked if there was a plan to monitor the fields. Director Anderson was in
agreement that the fields need to be monitored. Things that would come into play would be training sessions
with the league people and the list of names and a handbook.
ALDERMAN’S REPORT:
Ald. Pavelko deferred his report to later agenda items on the budget and park dedication.
STATUS OF PROJECTS:
Park Arthur
Received this report from David Burch earlier in the meeting.
Muskego High School Softball Field Project
The school district is tending to the weed issue.
Highway 36 Trail
The trail is complete except for the bridge. It looks great and is already being used. On the grant status, an
email from Tom Blotz indicated it was being routed for internal staff review. Director Anderson should hear
something within a few weeks. He stated that this would delay the bridge installation until next year (Spring).
Moorland Park
The usage on the skate park has been minimal. During a recent park tour, there were bikers at the park.
Director Anderson informed the bikers that if they wanted bike usage to do a needs assessment, present it to
the Parks and Recreation Board and do fund-raisers. Ald. Pavelko shared that people in the housing units
behind Jets are concerned about those leaving the park and not crossing at the intersections, but mid-street.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT:
Winter/Spring Program Guide
The program guide is being worked on right now and will be mailed out the week of Thanksgiving. Department
had a recent update of the Class and now an update on the Sequel server before registration takes place.
FEMA Projects
Kurth Park trail has been completed. Bluhm Farm Park, grass has been seeded in the 4.6 acre affected area
and at Denoon Park, the trail over the two culverts reinstalled. Once DPW and Utilities project paperwork is
completed, the cost will be submitted to FEMA for 75% funding. Because the projects had to be done, the
Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, October 13, 2008, page 5
funds were taken out of Park Dedication and this will be reimbursed once the 75% is received. The projects
were done in-house so the only thing that had to be purchased was the stone and the grass seed. Help with
the projects was received by DPW and Utilities staff. They all did a great job.
Operating Budget
It still looks like two parks staff are going to be removed at the end of the year. Both have been informed.
There was $25,000 put into the budget and part of that will be used for outsourcing mowing of remote park
locations. Also some of the gaps will be filled by seasonal staff in the summer and fall. He has been
approached by four retirees within the last two months looking to do some part-time work. They would be
needed to do snow removal. DPW may be asked to do some maintenance work on some of the parks
equipment. Other city staff may be asked to do some hand work snow removal at city hall. Mr. Hulbert asked
how it affected the Muskego Recreation Trail snow removal. Director Anderson didn’t foresee an impact on
those, it just may take a little longer to get to the trails. With not having to do the prepping of the baseball
fields, staff will be able to address other park facilities and park areas. The recent park tour revealed a lot of
clean up that needed to be done.
Ald. Pavelko stated that at a recent budget meeting, he was questioned why he had questioned something in
the parks budget after voting on the issue at the Board level. If he sees something he has missed, he will bring
it up again.
Park Dedication Payback
The aldermen at their last budget meeting, moved to approve the payback to the Park Dedication account. Ald.
Pavelko explained that the funds will now be paid from the landfill fund, not the operating budget, over the next
six years at $26,000+ per year.
Idle Isle Beach Water Quality Testing
Board members were in receipt of the test results for the past season. Director Anderson pointed out the July 9
count at 517 ml and the beach was posted as an inherent risk for swimming. He noted that the department
hasn’t had to close the beach since using the geese police. Board President Whipple inquired what may cause
the spikes. Director Anderson said they see spikes after a lot of rain and also, when the Waterbugs clean their
pier off.
OTHER BUSINESS
Subdivision Plans— None
COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW:
At the November meeting, Director Anderson would like to have the weed tipping agreement and the annual
review with the Muskego Historical Society on the agenda.
ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business, Mr. Hulbert moved for adjournment at 8:01 p.m.
Seconded by Mr. Hetzel. 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,