04-09-2008Minutes, Blair Park Board Meeting
April 9, 2008
Roll Call
Members of the Blair Park Board met at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 9, in the City Hall Council Chambers.
Members present: Neil Jensen, president; Ann George, secretary; Kathy Kuster, vice president; Roger
Petersen, Jim Peterson. Blair Parks Department: Pat Long. Not present: Ardee Pounds.
Reading and Approval of March 12, 2008, Minutes
Roger Petersen's motion to approve the March 12 minutes was seconded by Kathy Kuster and
carried.
Approval of Bills
There were no bills needing approval.
Purchase of benches for Black Elk Park. Members discussed whether two benches at Black
Elk - Neihardt Park, which will be installed near a map with a park overview, would be paid for through the
City Parks' budget or by the Black Elk- Neihardt Park Corporation. The cost is approximately $800 each.
Jim Peterson moved that the benches be purchased through the City Parks' budget. His motion was
seconded by Roger Petersen and carried.
Old Business
Final planning for Arbor Day celebration at Stever Park. The tree planting at Steyer Park is set for
Friday, April 25, at 1:30 p.m. Pat Long has ordered from the Siffring Company a Vanderwolf's limber
pine, a harlequin maple, and either a sunset maple or hedge maple. Students in a second grade class at
South School will help plant the trees. Pat Long showed Board members plans for the plaque that will be
prepared for each tree; each plaque will include the signatures of the students who helped plant the tree,
their teacher's name, the date, and the kind of tree. The plaques will be mounted on posts Ann George
will contact the Blair newspapers about having a photographer at the event.
Discussion of water fountain pricing for Lions Park. Pat Long circulated a brochure with information
on water fountains. Everyone agreed that the "historic" design with two fountains at different heights was
appropriate for the park but, at approximately $2,800 each, too expensive. Jim Peterson's motion to
table discussion to the next meeting so that Pat Long can, in the meantime, look for less expensive
options was seconded by Kathy Kuster and carried.
New Business
Parks Dept. - Acquisition of property by city. Pat Long told members that the city had recently acquired
three properties: (1) For part of the new walking trail along Cauble Creek that will extend from the
Deerfield subdivision to Dana College's baseball and soccer fields, the property on College Drive where
the former gas substation stood and a piece of property from Ron and Rachel Truhlsen. (2) For public
parking: the former Blair Florist shop, which is in disrepair (there are tentative private plans to purchase
and use the facade as an addition to a nearby building) and the adjoining empty lot to the west. (3) For
parking at Optimists' Park and the future California Bend walking trail by the Missouri River: ground
between Luxa Construction and the city sewage plant.
Next Friends of the Arboretum meeting This group will meet on Wednesday, April 16, to continue a
tree inventory and mapping for Black Elk- Neihardt Park.
Jim Peterson's motion to adjourn was seconded by Kathy Kuster and carried. The Board will next
meet on Wednesday, May 14, at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann George, Secretary