08-09-2006Blair Park Board Meeting
August 9, 2006
Roll Call
The Blair Park Board met at 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 9, in the City Hall Conference Room. Members
present: Neil Jensen, president; Ann George, secretary; Roger Petersen, Jim Peterson, Ardee Pounds.
Blair Parks Department: Pat Long. Not present: Kathy Kuster
Reading and Approval of July 12, 2006, Minutes
Roger Petersen's motion to approve the minutes of the July 12 meeting was seconded by Ardee
Pounds and carried.
Approval of Bills
Pat Long presented three bills for approval: (1) For $11,750 from Al Track for resurfacing the four tennis
courts at Stemmerman Park on August 18 and 19. Roger Petersen's motion to approve the bill was
seconded by Ardee Pounds and carried. (2) For $3,053 from Bennington Equipment for a John Deere
attachment blade. Jim Peterson's motion to approve the bill was seconded by Ardee Pounds and
carried. (3) For $909.99 from Little Engines to purchase a 5.5 horsepower Billy Goat mower vac to clean
under the benches on Washington Street. Jim Peterson's motion to approve the bill was seconded by
Roger Petersen and carried.
Old Business
Directional sirnape for narks. If the signs aren't up already, Pat Long said, they'll be up soon. He'll
report on their status at the September meeting.
New Business
Discussion of Trail Rest Stop. Pat Long showed members the plan for a trail rest stop on city -owned
property on the east side of Cauble Creek on College Drive. (This addition to the trail will begin at
Deerfield.) The rest stop will include a bench, picnic table, water fountain, and planter. Jim Peterson's
motion to approve this plan was seconded by Ardee Pounds and carried.
Discussion of trail to Optimists Park and letter of support. Pat Long said that next year construction of
the trail will continue from 3 and Jackson to Optimists Park. He said that Al Schoemaker would like to
know if the Park Board would be willing to write a letter of support for this trail extension; the letter
would be helpful in supporting a request for fundin g assistance. Jim Petersen's motion that the Park
Board write a letter in favor of the trail from 3 and Jackson to Optimists Park was seconded by
Roger Petersen and carried. Secretary Ann George will write the letter (Draft: "To: The City of Blair,
From: The Blair Park Board, Subject: Extension of Trail System from Third and Jackson to
Optimists Park: We, the members of the Blair Park Board, are in favor of extending the Blair
bicycle /walking trail system from Third and Jackson to Optimists Park at the end of East Fairview.
This is a necessary and important segment of the Blair system."), and e-mail it to Pat Long, who will
circulate it among Board members to sign.
Discussion of California Bend project. Pat Long told members that the City would like to have the Park
Board involved in spearheading where the trail goes, the drop -off points, lookouts, and drainage. After
discussion, members developed the following statement: The Park Board would like to be involved in
planning, developing, and implementing the California Bend trail once the right -of -way issues have
been resolved in a legal manner. The Board does not wish to be involved in the legal issues. The
Board recommends that, other than ADA- approved scooters, vehicular traffic not be allowed on the
trail. (The Board will tour California Bend at the September meeting.)
Final discussion of park descriptions for the website., Pat Long distributed copies of the draft prepared
by Secretary Ann George, and members made suggestions, additions, and corrections.
Other Business
lrpproyp at Lions Park. Pat Long reported on the completion of the new sidewalk and parking lot at
Lions 1 ar .
Vandalism at Stever Park. Pat also reported that he'd received a copy of a vandalism report from the
Blair Police Department concerning damage in early June to the women's restroom at Steyer Park. Two
have been caught, one of them a minor. They're going to court.
Report from Arboretum Curator
Several items were discussed: (1) Curator Neil Jensen said he'd received an inquiry about Friends of the
Blair Arboretum from someone who is interested in joining. (2) Neil circulated the fall newsletter from the
Northeast (Nebr.) Arboretum. (3) The Iowa Research Station has inquired about a rare Chinese maackia in
the Blair Arboretum; it's not known where this tree is located or whether it even still exists. (4) After a
discussion about holding regular meetings of Friends of the Blair Arboretum, members agreed to
meet on the first Wednesday of each month. (Pat Long will check to see if there are conflicts for the
first Wednesday). The first project will be to clean up records.
The Board will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 13, at City Hall before driving to Optimists Park
for a tour of California Bend .
Jim Peterson's motion to adjourn was seconded by Ardee Pounds and carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann George, Secretary