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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-23-1976 Park Board Minutes SPECIAL PARK BOARD June 1976 Minutes but no agenda or packet n June 23, 1976 A special meeting of the Park, Recreation and Environmental Commission was called to order at 6: 15 P.M. June 23, 1976 by Chairman Resch. Mem- bers present; Hanson, Ringaman and Gredvig. Council liaison Schneider and Councilman Karth were present. Jerry Johnson was also present. The meeting was called for the purpose of duscussing the number of hours spent maintaining the City parks. Mr. Volk had prepared a schedule for the Commission breaking down work area in each park. Mr. Schneider asked Mr. Volk who is now painting and etc. Mr. Volk said the kids from the County work program. Mr. Resch said he questioned the time spent on park maintenance early in the season. Mr. Resch asked if1r. Volk about the amount of time used in moving snow fence at Lino Park. f1r. Volk explained he thought it was a Little League field and after the fence was up found out it was a Babe Ruth field and had to move the fence. Mr. Schneider felt that parents could have been recruit- ed to help with this. Mr. n.,,)asked who moved the fence and i1r. Volk said Mr. Rector and Mr. elped him. Mr. Ringaman asked if someone cheaper could not have done it. 14r. Volk said he would gladly hire someone to do the work cheap- er if someone responsible could be found. Mr. Ringaman asked where Mr. Volk gets his parttime help. Mr. Volk ex- plained that all the parttime employees were employed before he was and he just continued using them. Mr. Volk said he felt cheaper help would not necessarily save money since they are usually harder on the equipment and did not know how to do the repairs. He stated again if cheaper reliable help could be found he would gladly hire them. Mr. Schneider asked Mr. Volk how the mower is transported. Mr. Volk said it is usually driven from one park to another. tor. Johnson explained there isn't usually anything to transport the tractor with. Also he felt it did not take much more time to drive than to load the tractor. Mr. Ringaman felt the tractor should be moved only three times a month. Mr. Volk explained the parks had to be mowed more than three times a month. Mr. Gredvig asked how big the mower is. P,tr. Volk said it is a 15 horse 1969 Cub International with a three blade 5' rotary mower. 111r. Gredvig asked if a bigger mower could save time. Mr. Volk said, Yes. Mr. Schneider asked when is equipment prepared for the season. Mr. Volk said the mower was prepared early this spring. Mr. Ringaman asked why so many hours were spend flushing the tractor rad- iator. Mr. Johnson explained that time was spent replacing hoses and other parts as well as flushing. Mr. Volk said more detailed information about those hours could be obtained in his office. Page -2- June 23, 1976 1,4r. Schneider said part of the problem seems to be in communication. A more detailed schedule of man hours would be helpful and Mr. Volk has start- ed such a schedule. Mr. Ringaman asked Mr. Volk to explain what is meant by 'grading' the ballfields. Mr. Ringaman felt this was destroying the purpose of putting down Ag. lime. Mr. Volk further explained how Ag. lime should be used. Mr. Ringaman suggested using portable drags on the ballfields. The ball players could do the dragging themselves and save this expense. Mr. Resch asked i4r. Volk to t ubmit to the Commission all the equipment requests he felt necessary for the 1977 budget. It will be needed when the Commission meets to plan their 1977 budget requests. Mr. Ringaman suggested that possibly an incentive program could be start- ed for the parks. Maybe even do away with some of the park maintenance. He feels more time saving ideas could come from the employees. Mr. Karth stated that the City could contract for some of these services but felt in the long run the City would lose money. Mr. Johnson explained that he not only mows but when the machinery brakes ^, down he makes the repairs and saves expensive mechanics labor. He also uses his own vehicle for transportation. Mr. Hanson said they should find out what it would cost to contract mow- ing services or snow removal from ice rinks. At least the Commission would know what figures they were talking about. . NIr. Karth said anyone on the Commission could call and get these figures. Mr. Resch asked Mr. Volk to breadkown the man hours spent in the parks to determine where possible cut-backs could be made. Mr. Schneider said again he feels there has been poor communication betw- een 1.4r. Volk and the Commission. Mr. Resch said he has heard only goc.d Comments on our City Parks. Mr. Gredvig moved to adjourn at 7:20 P.M. Seconded by Mr. Hanson. Aye.