April 3, 2007 Park Board Minutes

     The meeting of the Ward County Park Board was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Vice-Chairman Lee with the following members present: John Fjeldahl, Darlene Watne, Carroll Erickson, Jim Muzzy and Ken Kitzman. Also present were Park Superintendent Roger Kluck; Park Manager Steve Fuegmann; Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad and Secretary Barbara Curren.

 

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Kitzman to approve the minutes of the February 20, 2007 meeting. Motion carried with all present voted yes.

 

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the bills totaling $1,002.32. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Kluck then gave an update on the mitigation of a wetland at Nelson Carlson Lake.

 

      Kluck then questioned if, while doing other work in the area, the Park Board wanted the parking lot at Nelson Carlson Lake to be re-graveled. After discussion it was moved by Comm. Kitzman, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to do a light graveling of the Nelson-Carlson Lake parking lot. Roll call: all present voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

      Discussion was then held on the emergency siren at Rice Lake. A letter from the Emergency Manager stating that the Emergency Management budget would not allow the payment of the siren was reviewed and discussed. Comm. Lee stated that he was requesting research into Homeland Security funds to pay for the siren, not the Emergency Management budget. Kluck informed the Board that he would make another request of the Emergency Manager specifying Homeland Security funds be utilized to pay for the siren, not Emergency Management budgeted funds.

 

      Kluck informed the Board that he was meeting with the Rice Lake Service District contractor about road restoration and asked if any other board members would like to accompany him. Comms. Lee and Muzzy volunteered. Comm. Lee suggested that the contractor place money into an escrow account and in a year or two, once the settling was complete, resurface the road. Comm. Kitzman informed the Board that the Rice Lake Service District was planning to do chip sealing on the road, but were also waiting until after the construction was complete.

 

      Comm. Fjeldahl questioned a plat application from Bill and Elaine Burke for Rice Lake and was informed that it had been withdrawn. Kluck informed the Board that he had contacted the Rice Lake Service District Secretary, Steve Zahn, to contact Smestad to set a meeting between the Commissioners and the Rice Lake Service District Board. Comm. Lee requested that once the road was restored that no more cuts in the road be allowed, and anything further would have to be bored under the road.

Kluck reminded the Board of the parks meeting tonight and asked if there was anything special they wanted presented or brought up.

 

      At 4:30 p.m. State's Attorney John Van Grinsven joined the meeting. He informed the Board that all paperwork between the County and the Rice Lake Service District for the transfer of the lagoon land had been completed.

 

      Fuegmann then gave the Board an update on spring maintenance. Discussion was held on providing more electricity at Old Settlers Park and installing electric services at Rice Lake and Nelson Carlson Lake. Discussion was also held on planting of trees at the three parks. Comm. Kitzman requested that a part of the budget each year be dedicated to the buying and planting of trees at the three parks. Kluck informed the Board that he would conduct more research into the purchasing and planting of trees.

Comm. Kitzman informed the board that he had spoken with Rice Lake Service District Secretary Kim Cady about the garbage service pickup schedule.

 

      Comm. Erickson requested to know the amount of taxes the County collects at Rice Lake. Kluck informed the Board that information could be found in the Park annual report.

 

      Brief discussion was held on extra help for Fuegmann this summer and Comm. Erickson suggested that he might be able to utilize participants in the Experience Works program, which uses a non-profit or governmental agency, as a host training site for people 55+ years of age. Smestad also appeared briefly for comment.

 

      Comm. Watne informed Kluck that someone had asked her about placing signs at Rice Lake warning swimmers of concrete blocks in the water. Kluck and Fuegmann informed the Board that they weren’t aware of any blocks in the water other than the buoy anchors, which are six or seven feet in the water. Comm. Kitzman will ask the members of the Rice Lake Service District if they knew where the blocks are.

 

      At 4:56 p.m. the meeting was recessed until the 7:00 p.m. vision meeting.

 

      At 7:00 p.m. Chairman Gruenberg reconvened the meeting with Comms. Fjeldahl, Muzzy, Erickson and Lee present. Also present were Kluck, Fuegmann, Smestad and Curren. Also present was one resident of Burlington.

 

      Chairman Gruenberg explained that the purpose of the meeting was to get public input on the park system. Ideas discussed included a pamphlet about the Ward County Parks and museums to be left at the Tourist Information center; updates to the website, make it easier to find; having the GPS coordinates of the parks available; RV dump at Old Settler’s Park and/or Rice Lake; planting of trees for shade; picnic shelter at Nelson Carlson Lake; and portable charcoal grills.

 

      Fuegmann also informed the Board that a new time capsule would be buried under the Old Settler’s monument on July 7 when Burlington celebrates the 4^th of July and school reunion.

 

      At 7:31 p.m. with no further business, Comm. Lee moved to adjourn the meeting.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 6th DAY OF JUNE, 2007.

 

s/ Jerome Gruenberg, Chairman

 

ATTEST:

s/ Barbara A. Curren, Secretary