05-13-2015Blair Park Board Meeting Minutes
May 13, 2015
Present were Board members Jeene Hobbs, Ardee Pounds, Roger Petersen, Todd Wick, Steve
Tonn, Neil Jensen, and Pat Long, Parks Supt., Others present were Randy Smith and City
Council Member Kevin Willis.
Jeene Hobbs, Board Vice Chair, called the meeting to order. Ardee Pounds moved that the
minutes be accepted as mailed. The motion was seconded by Todd Wick. Motion carried. No
bills were presented. Neil Jensen joined the meeting and took over leading the meeting.
Old Business
Pat Long reported that the Arbor Day planting went well. There was very good coverage by the
newspaper. Each student received a Serviceberry plant. Students planted three trees at Black
Elk- Neihardt Park.
Cargill donated 10 trees for planting for Earth Day. The trees were planted by Cargill employees
at Black Elk- Neihardt Park. Pat Long reported that the Parks staff has only six more trees to
plant this spring for a total of 41 trees planted this spring.
New Business
Pat Long presented a bid for $27,812.70 plus concrete cost for Rhoades Park playground
relocation. He also shared a bid of $124,906.14 for playground base and installation of
playground equipment at Lions' Park. There was also a bid of $114,139.56 with the customer
providing the concrete. These bids do include a piece of play equipment shaped like a train. The
Blair City Council decided against transferring $40,000 from their budget to help fund the Lions'
Park playground project. Jeene Hobbs suggested that the Rhoades family be contacted about the
Rhoades Park playground relocation and the family's interest in a chess board at the park. Pat
Long will contact the Rhoades family. Pat Long stated the work at Rhoades Park could be
completed by October for this year's budget. Jeene Hobbs moved that the Rhoades Park project
be completed. Roger Petersen seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Pat Long will present a 2016 budget request of $150,000 to $175,000 to include the Lions' Park
project. Pat Long will visit with the Lions' Club, Depot Restoration Committee about the Lions'
Park project. Consensus of the Board was to proceed with the proposed 2016 budget to include
the Lion's Park project.
Memorial Community Hospital Foundation will purchase benches for placement along the
Cauble Creek trail.
The City Parks Dept. will move the Lions' Park horseshoe pits to Steyer Park this fall.
Randy Smith asked about plans to establish a concrete walkway from the parking lot to the
fishing dock at Optimist Park. Future Park plans include building a concrete walkway to the
fishing dock. Mr. Smith asked if the fishing dock would be lower closer to the water level in the
river. Pat Long replied that there are no plans to lower the fishing dock in 2015. Plans call for
pilings to be put in to tie the fishing dock to the pilings. Pat Long encouraged park users to voice
their comments about improvements for Optimist Park.
Roger Petersen moved the meeting be adjourned. Ardee Pounds seconded the motion. Motion
carried. Meeting adjourned.
Submitted by Steve Tonn, secretary