10-08-2008Roll Call
Members of the Blair Park Board met at 7 p.m., Wednesday, October 8, in the City Council Chambers.
Members present: Ann George, secretary; Roger Petersen, Jim Peterson, Ardee Pounds. Blair Parks
Department: Pat Long. Not present: Neil Jensen, Kathy Kuster
Reading and Approval of August 13, 2008, Minutes
Jim Peterson's motion to approve the August 13 minutes was seconded by Roger Petersen and
carried.
Approval of Bills
There were no bills needing approval.
Minutes, Blair Park Board Meeting
October 8, 2008
Old Business
Update on tree cataloging project Pat Long told members that he now has good aerial views for Steyer
and Black Elk - Neihardt Parks and that Neil Jensen plans to assign numbers to the trees and develop plot
points for them using GPS.
Update on Black ElkNeihardt Park Inc. project for 2008 - 09. Pat described plans for the Cottonwood
Plaza, showing members preliminary drawings by Blair architect Marty Rump for the Black Elk - Neihardt
Park board. Those present agreed that members of the Blair Park Board and the Black Elk - Neihardt
Park Board should meet jointly sometime within the next few months.
NSA tour of Stever Park and Black Elk - Neihardt Park on Oct. 23.3 -5:30 p.m. NSA participants will
first visit Steyer Park and then Black Elk - Neihardt Park, where members of the Blair Park Board and
Black Elk - Neihardt Park Board will serve refreshments.
Discussion o(nossible held from Master Gardener program. Steve Tonn of the County Extension Office
is working with Pat Long to identify projects for local Master Gardeners. Pat has suggested help with
plantings at the new Veterans Plaza and perhaps also the plantings along Washington Street. Jim Peterson
commented on having observed an employee of the contracted mowing crew hitting trees with a mower at
Veterans Plaza.
Update on Dana volunteer group work project. Pat reported that Phil Green, assistant city administrator,
is working with Dana on identifying projects for the volunteers. The difficulty, he said, is that the students
are only available to work one - and -a -half to two hours at a time.
New Business
service project volunteers from Dana College. This discussion was included in the
Possible learning s e
'
context of the preceding item, "Update on Dana volunteer group work project."
Additional Business
Replacement of trees on Washington Street Pat discussed plans to replace the locust trees on
Washington with trees that won't attract as many birds. In consultation with the Blair Garden Center and
Heritage Nurseries, he's attempting to identify three varieties as suitable replacements.
Safety audit of playground equipment. Pat described a visit by an insurance inspector who surveyed the
playground equipment in the city parks. The inspector listed changes needing to be made either by the
modification of some of the equipment or by removal/replacement. Pat described these actions as an
update in the code system to lower insurance costs. A brief discussion of ways to use next year's budget
item for new playground equipment followed.
Roger Petersen's motion to adjourn was seconded by Jim Peterson and carried. The Board will next
meet on Wednesday, November 12, at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann George, Secretary
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