May 7, 2024 - Parks & Rec Meeting Minutes

Walford Park and Recreation Minutes

Regular Meeting                                                                                                Tuesday May 7th, 2024

Meeting called to order at 7:01pm.  Herbert, Heber, Miner present. Davis and Werner absent.

Motion by Miner to approve April 2nd, 2024 minutes.  Seconded by Heber.  Approved unanimous.  

Motion to approve up to $7000 to Iowa Pyrotechnics for June fireworks display per quote.  Seconded by Hebert.  Approved unanimous.

Discussion/possible action regarding baseball/softball

Field marking supplies finalized this week.  Practices are ongoing and scrimmages are next week, games begin the week after.

General equipment/grounds/maintenance

Reminder that there has typically been weed spray to control poison hemlock under the evergreen tree at the back of the Knapp Creek park, and that this appears to be needed again this year if city staff are able.

Security light at the ball diamond pavilion appears to not be working and hasn't been for some time.  Unsure as to cause of lack of function, request breaker/power to light be checked.

Several citizens present expressed concern over the height of the grass at City Park.  A citizen apparently used their own mower to mow a path from the parking lot to the pickle ball court to avoid walking through the tall grass.  Also, the wind shields are not up around the pickle ball court and were requested to be installed as soon as feasible as the court is being used heavily.  Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are regular pickle ball league dates and the league has begun.  In addition, the handle to tighten the net is no longer available to the public users of the court and the citizen request is that the net be checked for tightness once per week by city staff who have access to the net tightener handle.  It has also been noted that the general grass height of many of the city parks and properties has been very long this season, and that mowing of the heavy-use park areas rarely occurs immediately before a weekend when the parks are likely to have heavy use.  Further citizen comments included wishing to see capital improvement plans and possible facility additions.

Motion to adjourn by Miner, seconded by Hebert.  Motion adjourned at 7:42 pm.

__________________________________ Melissa Werner, Chairperson

__________________________________ Pat Miner,  Secretary