07-21-2010Minutes, Blair Park Board Meeting
July 21, 2010
Roll Call
Members of the Blair Park Board met at 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 21, in the City Hall
Council Chamber. Members present: Neil Jensen, president; Jeene Hobbs, vice president;
Ann George, secretary; Roger Petersen, Ardee Pounds, Steven Tonn. Blair Parks
Department: Pat Long.
Reading and Approval of April 14, 2010, Minutes
Roger Petersen's motion to approve the April 14 minutes was seconded by Ardee
Pounds and carried.
Approval of Bills
There were no bills needing approval.
Old Business
Discussion of new playground equipment. Pat Long explained that $28,000 from Keno
funds had been earmarked for playground equipment, but because of budget constraints,
plans had been pushed back. He said that once next year's budget is known, Board
members at their September meeting can discuss replacing and /or adding playground
equipment. He noted that new signage is also needed. (See discussion below.) Jeene
Hobbs asked about the city's timeline for work on the 1880 depot in Lions Park, because
the Board had earlier discussed buying railroad - themed playground equipment for the park.
Update on Black Elk Neihardt Park. Pat explained that several years ago the BEN Park
Board developed a five -stage plan for park improvement. Stages 1 -3, which included the
Interpretative Garden, the Overview Plaza, lighting of the Tower of the Four Winds, and a
new, wider sidewalk around the reservoir, had been completed. The Board is getting prices
for Stage 4, a new shelter. Stage 5 will be an extension of the city's trail system along the
east and north sides of the park.
Trails proiect update. The part of the trail system being worked on this summer (with
Stimulus Funds) begins at the Deerfield intersection and continues along Cauble Creek;
another section will extend the present trail from 16 and Park diagonally across Lions
Park, ending at 17 Street.
Review of park closing times. At present the parks close at midnight. In recognition of a
noise problem at some of the parks, members discussed a proposed 9 -12 p.m. "quiet time"
for all parks. Pat suggested inviting Rod Storm and Phil Green to the next Board meeting
to discuss this proposal.
New Business
Welcome of new member Steven Tonn. Board members welcomed Steven Tonn as a new
member; he replaces Jim Peterson.
Discussion of playground signage types and verbiage. Pat distributed printouts from
companies that sell playground signage. Members agreed that three of the city's largest
parks — Steyer, Lions, and Stemmerman — would need large, colorful signs with age
recommendations, rules, and warnings, and that the smaller parks would need only smaller
$35 generic signs that could be stacked on a pole with an "in case of an emergency call
these numbers" sign. Jeene Hobbs made a motion that two or three of the larger signs
be purchased and that the remainder of the budget be used for the smaller signs. Her
motion was seconded by Ardee Pounds and carried.
Roger Petersen's motion that the meeting be adjourned was seconded by Steven Tonn
and carried. The next meeting is set for August 11 at 7 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann George, Secretary