10-12-2016BLAIR PARK BOARD MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 12, 2016
The Blair Park Board met October 12, 2016 with the following members present: Neil
Jensen, Joe Burns, Todd Wick, Jeene Hobbs, Roger Petersen, Steve Tonn and Parks
Superintendent Pat Long.
Neil Jensen called the meeting to order. Roger Petersen moved that the minutes for
August 10, 2016 be approved with a second by Joe Burns. Motion carried.
Bills presented: Pat Long said the total amount for the Lions Park playground is around
$142,000 with concrete and seating which is about $8,000 under budget.
Old Business:
1. Pat Long reported that the Lions Park Playground opening event worked out
well. "The kids had a good time and ate a lot of cookies." Pat also reported a potential
safety issue with the Cozy Cocoon apparatus during the event. A cable has been removed
and Pat said the new part is in. He is working with the contractors to modify and repair
the apparatus. Pat said the new playground equipment is being used quite a bit.
2. Pat said that the old playground equipment at the park, except for the spiral slide, has
been removed. The slide will be removed when the Dick's electric crane truck is
available. The area is seeded, strawed and barricaded. The old equipment is now in
Herman, Nebraska, and the City of Herman has signed a release of liability over safety
issues on the equipment
3. Pat said he will be meeting with architects to revise and redraw some specifications to
the plans for the Lions Park restroom. He said the city will install plastic doors and
dividers, and pour the concrete sidewalk. He said the city plans to wrap up the bid
documents on or around January 1. 2017. The bids will consist of 6 packages:
Package 1 Carpentry, roof and siding wood siding block foundation trusses
Package 2 Plumbing
Package 3 Concrete
Package 4 Electrical
Package 5 Painting
Package 6 Heating
Pat also said the Lions Club is planning to pay for a new flag pole and plantings at the
park. The plan is to install the flagpole yet this fall.
New Business
1. Pat said he hopes to have the new budget in the next few weeks so he knows what we
will have to work with for next year. If the budget permits, the plan is to complete a
small playground next year at Stier Park or somewhere one else in the range of $30, -
35,000. Other projects include a six foot sidewalk at Optimist Park from the parking lot
to the fishing pier, and continued removal of storm damaged trees in the parks.
Discussion
Blair resident Kyle Johnson who works as grounds keeper at Joslyn Museum in
Omaha talked with the board about his concern about the potential loss of Ash Trees in
the city parks due to Emerald Ash Borer.
Johnson would like to promote a preemptive planting program to prepare for loss of Ash
trees due to Emerald Ashborer. Johnson is interested in helping with the effort to solicit
grants and head up a group of volunteers to assist in planting and care of the new trees. A
lengthy discussion ensued. Board member Jeene Hobbs asked Pat what he wanted
from board members at this time. Pat said he wanted to know if the board is interested in
exploring some of these proposals and to get together and see what the plans are for trees
at the new library. Pat said he wants to make sure his staff is not over extended in taking
care of trees at new library.
Submitted by Co -secretary Joe Burns