10-11-2017
Blair Park Board Meeting Minutes
October 11, 2017
The Blair Park Board met on October 11, 2017 with the following members present Todd Wick,
Jeene Hobbs, Neil Jensen, Steve Tonn, Joe Burns and Pat Long. No bills were presented.
Old Business
Parks superintendent Pat Long reviewed end of the summer projects including mulching at
Deerfield traffic islands and shutting down irrigation systems.
New Business
Pat Long Reviewed the of 2018 Park Budget which includes the following:
$90,00 for a playground
$180,00 for the Lions Park Bathroom.
$10,00 for a shelter at Optimist Park which includes a $2400 donation
Pat said that the city could apply for a Game Time grant for new playground equipment. He
thinks the deadline for applying is around November 1. Pat requested guidance from the board
on which projects should receive emphasis and the bulk of the budgeted funds. A lengthy
discussion followed.
Board members considered the merits of using the funds to replace and purchase some new
equipment for Steyer Park and reserving a portion of the money for an engineering study of the
south shelter.
Jeene Hobbs asked if the board could offer a plan A and plan B depending on the availability of
the Game Time grant?
Jeene also asked if data on reservable shelters was available to gain a better idea of which
shelters received the most use. Pat said he was not sure if that information was available,
although we could sit down and go through the calendars.
Steve Tonn would like to see money go toward a new playground equipment at Stemmermann
Park and improvements to the bathrooms, because the park gets so much use in the summertime.
He said the rationale should be to improve the areas that get the most use.
Another park project receiving consideration was a small destination playground along the
Couble Creek trail south of College Drive. This would include moving equipment from Black
Elk and removing that playground.
Jeene Hobbs made a motion that we designate the $90,000 for work at Steyer Park playground
keeping enough in reserve to do an engineering study on the South Harry Ohrt) shelter. Neil
Jensen seconded the motion with all members present voting in favor of the motion.
Steve Tonn suggested the board consider the possibility of preparing a proposal for putting
together a pursuing grant money to fund improvements to Stemmermann Park.
Pat continued his review of the budget including the budgeted funds for the shelter at Optimist
Park, a rundown of the budget for Youth sports including replacement/purchase of a new mower
for Youth Sports, and budget for small motorized equipment.
Pat also said Jon Hutchson at the Garden Center made an offer to sell 43 trees in his inventory
for under $2,800. Jeene Hobbs made a motion that Pat long take advantage of the Garden Center
offer for tree purchases. Neil Jensen seconded the motion, and members present voted in favor of
the motion.
Joe Burns asked if there were any plans to dedicate the Black Elk Neihardt sculptures installed
on the Blair Library Campus last spring. A dedication was not included in the library grand
opening. The Friends of Neihardt Park has since been dissolved.
Jeene Hobbs and Joe Burns commented on the possibility of planning a dedication in the spring.
Jeene Hobbs adjourned the meeting.
Submitted by Joe Burns