January 12, 2007 Park Board minutes

The organizational meeting of the Ward County Park Board was called to order at 9:03 a.m. by Park Superintendent Roger Kluck. Members present were Commissioners John Fjeldahl, Jerome Gruenberg, Carroll Erickson, Jim Lee and Jim Muzzy. Also present were Park Manager Steve Fuegmann; State's Attorney John Van Grinsven and Secretary Barbara Curren.

 

The floor was then opened for nominations for Chairman.  Comm. Lee nominated Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson.  It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl, that nominations cease and a unanimous ballot be cast for Comm. Gruenberg as Chairman; motion carried with all present voting yes.

 

Comm. Gruenberg then assumed the Chairmanship.

 

Chairman Gruenberg then opened the floor for nominations for Vice-Chairman. Comm. Fjeldahl nominated Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Muzzy; motion carried with all present voting yes.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the minutes of the October 17, 2006 regular Park Board meeting. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Kluck then presented the bills for 2006. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the bills totaling $628.03.  Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Discussion was then held on the budget for 2007 and the leased farm land payment.

 

Kluck informed the Board that the Semmen tree at Nelson Carlson Lake had been cut down and the rope was in the possession of the Highway Department.

 

Fuegmann presented a year-end report of the Parks. Following discussion on the tractor used for mowing the parks, it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the Park Superintendent to obtain the parts to fix the tractor. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Kluck then presented the Board with a special assessment for garbage at Rice Lake. Van Grinsven and Fuegmann also appeared for comment. Board consensus was to meet with the Rice Lake Recreation District about the possibility of eliminating the special because the County gets no use out of the dumpsters.  After much discussion Chairman Gruenberg directed Kluck to 1) research if there is a contract in place for the County’s share of the garbage service at Rice Lake; 2) obtain estimates for the County to furnish garbage dumpsters at Rice Lake and 3) research the minutes to see if an agreement was reached prior to the special assessment being placed against the county.

 

Discussion was then held on the Rice Lake Recreation District Special Assessment for sewer against three parcels of County owned land. Chairman Gruenberg gave a brief history of the meetings he has attended with the Rice Lake sewer project Special Assessment Committee, and the Rice Lake Recreation District Board of Directors.  Van Grinsven also appeared for comment.  After much discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Muzzy to not pay the bill. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Kluck then presented a request for holding visioning meetings for the parks. Kluck explained that Commissioner Kitzman had requested that several vision meetings be held in various areas of the County, but the joint Park and Water Resource Board committee meeting, felt that a public meeting, similar to the Highway Department’s Farm to Market meeting, would be more favorable. Board consensus was to have a Park Board meeting in the late afternoon and then hold a public forum for visioning purposes in early April.

 

At 10:10 a.m. Comm. Lee left the meeting.

 

Fuegmann then presented the Board with a list of grants that he has currently applied for and what was planned for the monies once obtained.

 

At 10:13 a.m. Comm. Lee returned to the meeting.

 

Kluck informed the Board that most of the grants were obtained through the Water Resource Board because they could, and would, provide the needed matching funds.  Some of the ideas that had been discussed were additional trees and the possibility of installing playground equipment at Nelson Carlson Lake.  Kluck informed the Board that a plan was in the design stages for the mitigation of a wetland at Nelson Carlson Lake.  Kluck also informed the Board that no improvements through the use of grants and through the use of Water Resource Board money would be done without the Park Board approval.

 

At 10:18 a.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Lee to adjourn the meeting.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 20^th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2007. 

 

s/Jerome Gruenberg, Chairman

 

ATTEST:

s/Barbara A Curren, Secretary