Park
Board Minutes
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2007
KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER,
111 S. GEYER ROAD, ROOM 202
MEETING MINUTES
7:05 P.M.
In
attendance: Gerry Biedenstein, Rich Etzkorn, Bob Sears, Linda
Fenton, Boyd Wietecter,
Jerry
Grunzinger, Nick Ohlman, Katie Burckhalter, Murray Pounds, Curt
Carron
Excused:
Betsy Wendell
I.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Carola
Gloyd , 1058 Huthmaker
Robinson
PTO Playground Committee
Discussed
the Partnership Project Proposal from Robinson Elementary School
Parent Teacher Organization and plans to renovate the school
playground.
Susan Masi,
24 Ponca Trail
Chair-Robinson PTO Playground Committee Chair
Discussed
the Partnership Project Proposal and gave the project overview,
defined as Phase II.
The PTO is
requesting a grant for $25,000-$30,000 from the Kirkwood Parks &
Recreation to be used for the renovation of the school
playground. Susan said Terri Johnson, the Executive Director of
Municipal Partners for Inclusive Recreation had reviewed the
plans to make sure the playground proposal is ADA accessible.
Susan handed out letters supporting the Partnership Project
Proposal.
Charlotte
Thomas
Inquired
about the possibility of a park on property on Earl Ave. Gerry
Biedenstein said this would be discussed later at the meeting
1I. APPROVAL OF
OCTOBER 15, 2007 BOARD MINUTES
A motion
made by Rich Etzkorn to approve the October 15, 2007 minutes,
seconded by Bob Sears. All approved. Motion passed.
Jerry
Grunzinger abstained
III.
OLD BUSINESS
A SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
1.
Implementation Committee
Murray
reported Phase 2 has been started and the finish date is
projected for the latter part of April 2008 barring any
problems. Phase 3, the Lions Pavilion, and the Walker Lake
Project was discussed with the possibility of combining
projects. The budget is higher than expected due to expansion
of the project scope. Gerry Biedenstein asked the Board if they
considered the Lions Pavilion the priority over improvements to
Walker Lake. Linda Fenton said both projects were important.
Katie Burckhalter said the committee could look into more grants
for the Lake. Linda said we need to have a plan for the Lake
and determine what is needed to solve the problems.
2.
Quinette Cemetery.
Murray
Pounds reported the plaque dedication ceremony went very well
and was well attended. The site looked very good. Nick Ohlman
said the Quinette Committee met November 12th and the committee
is in the process of trying to address a number of items
concerning the cemetery.
3.
Trail Committee
Murray
reported the Trail Committee meeting scheduled for November 26
will be canceled. More research is needed before the next
meeting can be held.
Partnership Committee
The
committee was recently presented with a proposal by Robinson
School PTO requesting financial assistance in placing new
playground equipment at the school. The committee will set a
meeting date to conduct a more in depth review of the proposal
and will make a report. Katie Burckhalter said to remind
everyone the Partnership Meeting is open to the public.
Dog Park
Bob, Gerry
and Murray went over the motion with the City Council. The Dog
Park proposal and designating the water plant property as park
land will be taken up at the next Council meeting on December 6,
2007. The priority in acquiring the land will be to allow for
the development of the Meramec River Greenway Trail.
IV. NEW
BUSINESS
A.
APPROVAL OF SH CONCESSIONS AGREEMENT
Boyd
Wietecter made a motion to approve SH Concessions for operation
of the park stand. Katie Burckhalter seconded the motion. All
approved. Motion passed.
Rich
Etzkorn abstained since he knows Steve Horn.
Nick Ohlman-abstention
Left early.
B
KIRKWOOD ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION FIELD PROPOSAL
KAA is
asking for permission to trim back some underbrush at the
western boundary of Field #14. Murray showed pictures of the
proposed area to the Park Board. Curt explained the work
proposed and felt that some removal of brush would be
acceptable. Linda Fenton said she had some concerns about the
softball parking lot and is opposed to any grading of the site.
Rich Etzkorn said he felt some sports would be affected by the
proposed work.
Rich
Etzkorn made a motion to table the request from the KAA until we
have further information,
Linda
Fenton seconded the motion. All approved. Motion passed.
Murray said
he would do some more research and try and get some aerial
photos of the field proposal by Kirkwood Athletic Association.
C.
EMMENEGGER PARK BOUNDARY ISSUES
Murray said
he had been approached by the immediate neighbors of Emmenegger
Park, Deb and Jim Matush. They have some concerns about park
users straying on their property and would like to see some
restrictions. Murray distributed some aerial photos to the park
board to look at and Curt explained the boundaries and the
mowing process. The Matush’s are planning on attending the next
Park Board meeting to discuss their concerns.
D.
MAINTENANCE UPDATE
The
November maintenance report was included in the Park Board
Packet.
Curt
reported on the following in his November updates.
Fall
Hayrides-Parks and
Recreation Dept. hosted reserved hayrides and a bonfire program
for approximately 200 persons. The rides were driven by a crew
member and the fireside experience was managed by a Recreation
division employee.
Quinette
Cemetery-Park crews
performed approximately 70 man hours of work at the cemetery,
both in preparation for the Veterans Day ceremony and as a
matter of general maintenance.
Construction Phases 1A/2-Completetion
is expected in a matter of days. Phase 2 construction has
begun.
CDL
License-Dan Lindquist
has completed the licensing requirements for his Class B
Commercial Driver’s License.
Aerial
Truck-Aerial Forestry
Truck was delivered Nov. 9th. Manufacturer
in-service training will be held on-site in early December.
Tree
Work in Parks-The
process of annual dead wooding, removal, and stump grinding
began in late October. Work will continue throughout the park
system over the next couple of months.
Winterizing-The crew
Completed the winterization of some restrooms, backflow
preventers, drinking fountains and irrigation systems. Crews
also began the process of evaluating tables and stacking them
for the off-season. Repair activities should be reduced due to
the incorporation of some 60 tables with steel frames purchased
this spring.
Seeding,
Restoration and Leaf Collection-Crews
have been grading and seeding areas as part of restoration from
summer activities and construction. Any leaves collected must
be hauled off as yard waste, so we try to mulch as long as
possible to reduce tipping fees at St. Louis Composting.
Other
Items of Interest
Benches and
a plaque were installed in time for the dedication of the Scout
Shelter.
Fall
softball and soccer leagues have completed their seasons.
The set for
the Youth Theater production of the “Suessical The Musical” is
in construction now and will be completed by the 16th.
Jim Wilkerson is almost completely responsible for the set
construction.
Assistance
and equipment were provided to the SBD for their annual
Halloween Walk in the business district. The Park Department
provided logistical support and delivery of equipment and
materials for the event.
E.
OTHER MATTERS
Charlotte
Williams inquired about the property on Earl Avenue earlier in
the meeting when Citizen Comments was open.
Gerry
Biedenstein said he did not feel the Park Board could discuss
the property on Earl Ave until the current zoning process being
presented to the City of Kirkwood is resolved.
The
Kirkwood Urban Forestry Commission Agenda for their November 27th
meeting was included in the packet along with the letter Gerry
Biedenstein wrote to Bill Ruppert, Chair of Kirkwood Urban
Commission on September 27, 2007. After reviewing the “Tree
Code” and associated “Tree Manual and Standards of Practice.’
draft, the September letter to Bill Ruppert was drafted in
which Gerry expressed concerns the Park Board had with the
language within the posted draft as it relates to the board’s
management of forest ecosystem within the park system. Gerry
stated the current language would limit removal of some
honeysuckle based on current definitions, and we would not be
able to remove it without approval.
Murray is
going to prepare a letter for the November 27 Kirkwood Urban
Forestry Commission meeting which will suggest again the need to
change the language as written.
V.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Murray
Pounds reported the Parks Department assisted Michael Whitson in
removing a park tree that had fallen on his property.
The fitness
course in the Kirkwood Park was discussed and Murray said we
need to replace the fitness course equipment .The cost to
replace the equipment would be about $12,000.00. We do have
users for the course. We currently have about ˝ of the stations
remaining in use. The remaining stations consist of wooden post
construction and are about 25 years old. Most are in bad shape
and need replacing. Murray said he would like some feedback on
the fitness course and equipment.
VI.
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS REAL ESTATE
Rich
Etzkorn made the motion to closed session at 8:30 p.m., seconded
by Bob Sears.
Roll call
as follows:
Gerry
Biedenstein – yea
Rich Etzkorn-yea
Bob Sears – yea
Linda Fenton – yea
Boyd Wietecter – yea
Jerry Grunzinger-yea
Katie Burckhalter – yea
Motion
passed 7-0
Bob Sears
made the motion to return to an open meeting, seconded by Katie
Burckhalter at 9:10 p.m.
Roll call
as follows:
Gerry
Biedenstein – yea
Rich Etzkorn-yea
Bob Sears – yea
Linda Fenton – yea
Boyd Wietecter – yea
Jerry Grunzinger-yea
Katie Burckhalter – yea
Motion
passed 7-0
The closed
session adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
VII
ADJOURNMENT
Rich
Etzkorn made the motion to adjourn at 9:12p.m., seconded by
Jerry Grunzinger.
All
approved. Motion passed.
|
