PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES

 

APRIL 18, 2006

 

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jones at 7:00 p.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Russ Jones, Rowland Seymour, Cathy Dwertman, Mary Katherine Rodenberger, John Howard    Excused:  John Marshall, Debbie Groat

 

OTHERS PRESENT:  Clerk Patterson, Carmen Seymour, Cheryl Welty

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  There being no additions or corrections, the minutes for the meeting on February 21, 2006 were approved as distributed.

 

REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION:

 

REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PARKS & RECREATION:

 

COMMISSIONER’S REPORT ON INDIVIDUAL PARKS:

 

Mr. Seymour reported that Schwartzkopf and Mill Creek Parks look great.  He commented that there is never enough parking at Mill Creek Park. Need to expand the parking lot.  He also noted that the roof of the shelter house at Schwartzkopf needs a coat of paint.

 

Mr. Howard reported that Legion Park is fine.

 

Ms. Rodenberger reported that Trinity and Butterfly both look fine.

 

Ms. Dwertman reported that the drainage is still a problem at Lewis Park.  It needs attention, especially with summer coming.  It will attract mosquitoes.  The mulch under the play area is moldy.  It needs to be totally replaced.   She said the glass covered bulletin board still has notices in it from several years ago.  She would like to see it painted and used for up-to-date information.

 

Ms. Dwertman reported that the Garden Club is taking care of the flowers.  They are beautiful. There needs to be more gravel under the swings and monkey bars.  The benches need sanded and painted.  She noticed three broken limbs on the crabapple tree.  Those should be taken care of.  There is a locust tree in the park.  She heard that Emerald Bore insects are killing those kinds of trees.  The Forestry Service in Ohio would like those cut down if at all possible.  

 

CITIZENS’ COMMENTS NON-AGENDA ITEMS:  There were four residents of South Park at the meeting.  They had questions on what is happening with South Park.  Residents are hearing that the pond and fountain that Adena Pointe developer said they would put in, and which was approved by the Parks & Recreation Commission, are not going to happen.  They want answers.  Mr. Conley was not at the meeting to answer questions, so South Park will be put on the May agenda.

 

OLD BUSINESS:  None

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

          Park Project Plan

 

Mr. Seymour – Schwartzkopf Park – Paint roof of shelter house.

                       Mill Creek Park – Add more parking

 

Mr. Howard suggested changing the name of South Park.  It was decided to wait until it really becomes a park.

 

Mr. Howard – Jim Simmons Trail – With the new housing development coming on Rt. 42, suggested stretching Jim Simmons Trail to meet up with new development on Rt. 42.  City could go to City limits then County could pick it up from there. 

 

The Park Project Plan was tabled until the May meeting.

 

Ms. Dwertman – Jim Simmons Trail goes through south Mill Valley.  Part of it is gravel, part is pavement.  There is a real big problem with lack of courtesy between people.  Dogs are running crazy all over peoples’ yards and scaring the children.  She reported that an 89 year-old man was walking with his friend on the trail.  He had just had hip replacement so he was walking for exercise.  Two young ladies on bicycles knocked him down over the embankment and he landed near the creek.  The bikers went right on and just left him there.   Ms. Dwertman’s husband happened to see it happen and ran down there.  Ms. Dwertman’s neighbor is a paramedic.  By the time they got down there, the man’s face was all bloody and bruised.   Something needs to be done.  Suggestion was made to have the police ride their bikes down through there every now and then. 

 

Mr. Seymour made some comments about the skate park.  He read from the Parks & Recreation Commission minutes of November 15^th.  “The Commission questioned putting a skate park at Eljer Park.  We’re not in favor of it being located anywhere else in the City after the last park was shut down.  Mr. Seymour is opposed to putting the park in Eljer Park.  Feels it should be in a location by itself.  Based on the history of skate parks in Marysville, will probably regret.  75% of the cost of this skateboard park is grant money.  There is $85,000 in current budget to pay for the entire project.  Once paid, checks are submitted to ODNR and the City is reimbursed at 75%.  Mrs. Groat stated we’re paying $21,250 for something that we, as a Committee, don’t want.”  Mr. Seymour has received four telephone calls and two personal contacts about the profanity in the skate park and the trash pile that’s created over there from the skate park, and the skaters are not respecting the park or the people.  One lady who works at the hospital told Mr. Seymour she will not go to Eljer Park again.  She and others used to go over there every lunch period and walk the track, but not any more.  Feels it is not safe.  Another lady called who used to walk during the lunch period, but refuses to go again. 

 

Mr. Jones commented that he also has received calls and has referred them to Mr. Conley.  He stopped and talked to the kids one time because the skate park area was trashed.  They are throwing trash onto the tennis courts.  Mr. Jones also referred some calls to Mr. Burke on City Council.

 

The Commission feels if there is going to be a skate park; it should be only a skate park, nothing else.  Then if they want to destroy it, they are destroying their own facility.

 

Mr. Seymour said that one individual told him the kids are smoking marijuana at the park.

 

COMMENTS OF CITIZENS – AGENDA ITEMS:  None

 

COMMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS:  None

 

Mr. Howard said there are a bunch of picnic tables at Legion Park.  He thinks they are removing them on an as-needed basis.  They need to be replaced because they are looking pretty bad.  Same way with the grills.  They need to be repaired or replaced.  He noted there was $3,000 in the budget for Legion Park, but didn’t know if that money was for that purpose or not. 

 

ADJOURNMENT:  There being no further business to come before Parks & Recreation Commission, the meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.