Park Board Minutes 2001 03-26-01 Yorkville Parks & Recreation
Park and Planning Meeting—Park Board Minutes
Mar. 26, 2001
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL.
Lisa Scherer, John Bradstreet, Bill Wedge, Dave Cathey; Paul James—Alderman.
Staff—Sue Swithin, J.T.Johnson. Absent—Chris Rollins.
GUESTS AND/OR CITY OFFICIALS:
Art Prochaska—Mayor, Rick Suttle—Comprehensive Plan.
Christmas Decorations:
Due to the question of cost and storage at the last meeting, Art brought information about a company,
(Temple Display, LTD)which does Christmas decorations for communities_ Sue is to call the company and
set a date to have them come to a meeting.
Recreation Board Ordinance Revision:
Art stated per State Statue that the Board shall serve without compensation. Art also questioned Section Six
—about acquiring additional land. That last sentence needs to be there for individual purchases. Each
purchase needs an individual ordinance for appropriating funds_ Sue will add that to the final.
Other than those two changes the Mayor said the revision is good.
2001-2002 Budget:
Art explained that due to the problem with collecting taxes within the city he and the council are thinking about
the idea of postponing the hiring of a Director of Parks and Recreation until November and hiring a Finance
Director in November. I his is the only way they can do both within the budget limits. Art stated that the
Superintendent of Parks would be hired for May 1, 2001.
Master Comprehensive Plan:
Rick Suttle brought an agenda listing areas that needed to be covered for the revision. See attached. He also
brought two layouts; one was trails and the other one was areas of current and future parks.
The Board spent a great deal of time discussing and planning areas that need park space and future trails.
The Board still agrees that a large community park needs to be constructed south of town (by Sunflower)and
in the future a community park at the north end of town by Rt. 47 and Galena Rd. Sue stated that she would
like to see some of the maps as overlays so they can get an idea of how the trails and parks will link each
other. It would also show areas that are not getting served by park and open space.
Dave Cathey mentioned to Sue that Northern Illinois University has been doing surveys for companies. Sue
will contact them to try and get assistance with a facility and program survey for the community.
Rick asked the Board to make changes to some of the current written information such as; inventory of
facilities, parks and other areas. The Board will have this ready for the next planning meeting on April 23°.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Lisa wanted the minutes amended to include that the $69,026 reserve in land cash that was not spent this
year be added to the next fiscal year, including projections in land cash. The, Board wants to see a
cumulative report of land cash. John made a motion to accept the minutes with the amendment, Bill
seconded. Motion passed.
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REVIEW OF BILLS:
Lisa motioned to approve the bills as presented, John seconded. Dave-yes, Lisa-yes, Bill-yes, John-Yes.
Motion passed.
BOARD ACTION:
The Board approved the changes for the revised Park Board Ordinance previously in the meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
Scoreboard and Batting Cage:
Sue brought the Beecher Plan with trails etc. and told the Board that J.T., Scott and herself thought that the
scoreboard would go behind field no. 1 and the cage would go between fields no. 1 and no. 2 or behind no. 1.
Sue stated that the Youth Baseball/Softball Assoc. would purchase the poles for the scoreboard and the
cage. Sue recommended that 10 in. timbers could be used for the scoreboard, but galvanized pipe be used
for the cage,"It would look nicer in this park". Sue stated that she and Scott had an issue with who would be
responsible for the maintenance. Scott told Sue that he could not mow inside the cage, he would go around it
but someone would need to mow inside.
J.T. stated that he was upset with how the school staff asked the city staff to do certain maintenance to the
ball fields and wanted the school do to more. He said communication wasn't very good between the summer
program and the school with the new ball mix and other supplies. He questioned the maintenance issue and
said it is a real concern.
John said at this point he doesn't want any more equipment on city property. He questions why the schuul
doesn't put these items on a new field on school property.
The issue about facility maintenance and the annual fee that the Recreation Department has to pay to the
school to use the facilities was discussed.
Sue stated that she spoke with Dr. Engler in November and he agreed to pay a maintenance fee to use the
ball diamonds, he asked for a maintenance proposal and a written agreement from the park department, and
then he would include it in his budget.
Sue stated that she mentioned this to the Board and J.T. last November, but nothing has been done by the
parks department.
After further discussion the Board unanimously agreed to not allow a scoreboard or batting cage to go up on
city property until further notice.
J.T. stated that he felt much more was recently done to the five ball diamonds than the city should have had
to do. Sue commented that they do look very good,and should solve some of the water problem.
John stated"we have a problem with maintenance with the school already.
The Board agreed, in June, to consider making revisions to the school agreement for use of them racilities.
NEW BUSINESS:
See Christmas Decorations above.
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ADJOURNMENT;
• Dates to note:April 161"PHN Architects-Pool Presentation Austin 7:00 p.m
May 4`" City Golf Outing
June 89' First Music Under The Stars
Respectfully submitted.
Sue Swithin
Next meeting April 9, 2001 in the Austin Room of the Beecher Community Building.
'Dave Cathey and John Bradstreet will not be able to attend!
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