HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark Board Minutes 01.03.2013 MINUTES
City of Laurel
Park Board
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Members Present: Chairman Mark Mace
Gretchen Paulson
Amy Pollock
LuAnne Engh
Staff Present: Kurt Markegard, Public Works Director
No public comments.
Board Member, LuAnne Engh, had sent an e -mail to all Park Board Members with
concerns regarding park conditions. She had toured the parks and asked that we address
the following issues: (LuAnne's concerns are in blue.)
Old Swing set in Thomson Park needs to be removed. The Park Board voted unanimously to
recommend the swing set be removed. It is broken beyond repair and is unsafe.
There is a horse shoe pit right in the middle of Thomson Park. Why is that there when we have
pits at Kiwanis Park? The Park Board voted unanimously to recommend the horseshoe pit in
Thomson Park be removed as it is a liability to the city to have horseshoes flying with others
around.
The tennis courts have weeds 3 feet high. It looks horrible and the net on the court should be
removed. It is unsafe as it is. The Park Board voted unanimously to recommend the Tennis
Court be removed and grass planted instead. They are in such poor repair, they are a liability to
the city. The board has discussed alternative locations, but funding would be required.
Kiwanis Park — what to do about the sad state of the grass or lack of. Could this be plugged or
scrapped in order to loosen the soil so it could be seeded and blocked off even this winter? Kurt
Markegard said currently they are working on other projects like cleaning the storm ditches out
and they don't have the man power in the winter to do this. He will have to see what happens in
the Spring.
In general the weeds everywhere need to be knocked down. Matt says Exxon has donated lots
of weed eaters, hedge trimmers and toppers, etc. They have not been added to inventory yet
but these should be used even this winter to clean up the sad areas of parks and abandon
Tots. Is this something that volunteers could help do? Again, Kurt said currently they are
working on other projects and hope to have this ready for Spring. Volunteers might be able to
assist depending on liability.
What happened about the park hours...did new signs go up? The parks are open from Dusk to
Dawn. They are in the process of making the signs.
Kurt also reported that Larry Peterman, asked for a recommendation on how to improve
Laurel Parks, specifically those affected by the Exxon spill July 2011. Many of the ideas
suggested, ie removal of landfill, walking path, dock, etc., were dismissed due to the
changing of the flood map. According to Kurt, we cannot change the flood map. Other
suggestions that might work include a floating dock at South Pond.
Mark talked to Bret Rutherford about putting the Park Maintenance District on the
November ballot. New legislation might make it more difficult.
The Park Board Meeting adjourned at 6:43 pm.
Submitted by,
Amy Pollock, Park Board Member.