03-12-2014Minutes
Blair Park Board Meeting
March 12, 2014
Roll Call
Members of the Blair Park Board met at 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 12, in the City Council
Chambers. Members present: Neil Jensen, president; Jeene Hobbs, vice president; Ann George,
Ardee Pounds, Steve Tonn.
Blair Park Department: Pat Long. Not present: Roger Petersen.
Jeene Hobbs's motion to approve the minutes of the February 12 meeting was seconded by Ardee
Pounds and carried.
Approval of Bills
There were no bills needing approval.
Old Business
Election of Officers, 2014. By a motion made by Ardee Pounds, seconded by Ann George, and
carried, Neil Jensen and Jeene Hobbs were re-elected president and vice-president, respectively,
and Steve Tonn was elected secretary.
New Business
Discussion of Arbor Day celebration at Vets Field, April 25, 1:30 p.m.
Pat Long reported that he had ordered four trees for this planting - two English Oaks, a Red
Maple, and a Crimson Sentry Maple. He plans to call Black Hills Energy to see if that company
wishes to participate again in the tree purchase and planting. Neil Jensen will call South School
to make arrangements for participation by second grade students.
NRD grant. An NRD grant for $4,948.87 will help pay for a variety of trees that will be planted
at Optimists, Rhoades, Steyer, and Stemmermann parks.
Discussion of playground equipment purchase for Steyer Park. Pat told Board members that he
would like to take advantage of the Playworld Systems' 30% off sale (with a mid-April deadline)
by purchasing smaller items of playground equipment. With this in mind, Board members
discussed equipment offered in the company's catalog.
Update on Master Plan progress. Steve Tonn reported that the Master Park Plan Committee had
interviewed representatives from four companies and had selected an Omaha firm, Big Money
Workshop, to develop a Master Plan for the city parks. A meeting asking for public input will be
held within a few months. Pat Long told Board members that, in the meantime, he'd like to focus
on improving the parks by taking care of necessities, such as adding new tables, benches, grills,
and playground equipment, and by improving the electrical system at Lions Park. Other pending
parks improvements include replacing restroom doors at Black Elk-Neihardt, Steyer, and Lions
parks, restroom and shower doors at the RD park, and improving the lighting at Black Elk
Neihardt Park. In addition, the lock system at all of the parks will be updated, with one universal
key controlled by need to use.
The next Friends of Arboretum meeting will be on February 26, 2014.
The meeting was adjourned. The Park Board will ne xt meet on Wednesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in
City Council Chambers.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann George, Acting Secretary