Kewanee Park District Board met December 14.
Here is the minutes provided by the Board:
The Monthly Board meeting of the Kewanee Park District Board of Commissioners was held at the Baker Park Office, Thursday, December 14, 2017 30 PM.at 5:
Present: Commissioners Andrew Verstraete, Mike Nichols, Jacque Verscha, Jim Powell and Jim Heberer. Also present were Brian Johnson, Director and Michelle Anderson, Secretary
Absent: None
President Jim Heberer called the regular Board meeting to order. The November 2017 Regular Board meeting were reviewed and discussed. Jim Powell moved to accept the minutes as written. Andrew Verstraete seconded the motion. All in favor.
The November 2017 Financial Statement was reviewed and discussed. Mike Nichols moved to accept the November 2017 Financial Statement. Jacque Verscha seconded the motion. All in Favor. The November/December 2017 Bills for Approval were also reviewed and discussed. Jim Powell moved to approve the bills for December 2017. Mike Nichols seconded the motion. All in favor.
Tax Levy Ordinance 338: President Jim Heberer then presented and called for a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 338, the Annual Tax Levy Ordinance for the tax year 2017 payable in 2018. Jim Powell moved to adopt Ordinance No. 338 as written. Jacque Verscha seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion Passes.
Open Business: With no open business to discuss, President Jim Heberer turned the meeting over to Director Johnson for the Director's Report.
Director Johnson's Report: Director Johnson began his report by discussing an investment policy developed by himself and Secretary Michelle Anderson. Director Johnson reported that the Kewanee Park District Attorney, Justin Ravor, gave his approval of the policy as written to be a blanket policy. Director Johnson had also asked the Kewanee Park District Financial Advisor, Clark Blair, to look the policy over and give his feedback. Mr. Blair's recommendations were not available at the time of the meeting but he had contacted Director Johnson to request time to address the Board to present his information. No action was taken to adopt the Investment Policy and will be addressed at a later date.
The next item in Director Johnson's report was to present the Board with a Sexual Harassment Policy now mandated by the State of Illinois and a Social Media Policy for employees. Both policies will be given to new employees who will be required to sign a form acknowledging receipt of these policies. Both acknowledgement forms will be placed in the employee's folder. The Board approved of both policies as written and Andrew Verstraete moved to accept both the Sexual Harassment Policy and the Social Media Policy. Jim Powell seconded the motion. All in Favor. Motion passed.
Director Johnson’s next report item was to inform the Board that their request to obtain Park Property Event Use Agreements and Accident Waiver and Release of Liability forms were drawn up by Kewanee Park District Attorney Justin Ravor and have been signed by both the Northeast Lighting Crew and the Windmont Lighting Crew, Brock Tumbleson and Bob Nierynck respectively. These forms would allow the crews and the Park District peace of mind in the event someone should get injured at either of the displays because the lighting displays would be covered under the Kewanee Park District Premise and Liability insurance. Mike Nichols moved to add both the Northeast Lighting Crew and the Windmont Lighting Crew as covered entities under the Kewanee Park District Premise and Liability insurance. Andrew Verstraete seconded the motion. All in Favor. Motion passed.
Next in Director Johnson's report was to ask the Board if they had any objections to a rezoning of properties adjoining Northeast Park. St. Francis church has new ownership and the house located next door to the church was purchased by a different owner and both are requesting zoning variances from the City of Kewanee to allow additional construction. Since both properties border Northeast Park, the Board has the right to object to any changes. The Board discussed the new purchases and agreed they have no objections to any improvements either owner would like to make.
Director Johnson next presented the Board with the 2018 Board Meeting Calendar and noted that both January and December will both deviate from the 3rd Thursday of the month rule due to the IAPD convention and the closeness to Christmas. The Board had no objections to the dates presented. Jim Powell moved to accept the 2018 Board Meeting Calendar. Mike Nichols seconded the motion. All in Favor. Motion passed.
Director Johnson next presented the Board with a packet including all of the Commissioners 5year plan suggestions. Director Johnson added in 5-year plan ideas from golf course superintendent Dan Erickson and parks superintendent JR Salisbury. This packet gives the Commissioners an idea of which projects have the most support and the order of importance. No action needed to be taken at this time as these items are a wishlist to be discussed later.
Next in Director Johnson's report was to discuss the 2018 Summer Theater program. Coming off the success if the inaugural year, preparations for the 2018 production are already underway.
With the money raised by the production last year, the theater program should be self-sustaining in 2018. The Board praised the program and enjoy knowing that the Kewanee Park District is always striving to offer more for the citizens of Kewanee.
Director Johnson received a request from golf course superintendent Dan Erickson to build two lean-tos at the maintenance shed to offer more protection for equipment that needs to be stored outside. Each lean to would be built in a different location and would be constructed specifically for what will be stored in them. The larger of the lean to would cost approximately $2,800.00 and the smaller would cost approximately $1800.00. The Board agreed the lean tos would be beneficial to the maintenance department and to preserving park district equipment. Mike Nichols moved to approve the construction of both lean tos at a cost up to $5,000.00. Andrew Verstraete seconded the motion. All in Favor. Motion passed.
The next item in Director Johnson's report was to address the Board's request to get pricing to replace the backstops at the entrance of Northeast Park. Director Johnson received a quote from T Hall Fencing for $975 each to replace the backstops with the same format and new materials. Andrew Verstraete moved to accept the quote and proceed with the project to be done in the Spring. Jacque Verscha seconded the motion. All in Favor. Motion passed.
Director Johnson next spoke of a meeting he attended given by Ameren Illinois regarding program incentives the company is offering. Director Johnson believes that Ameren offers a program that may be beneficial to the Kewanee Park District when discussing a previous concern regarding the lights on the Pool Diamonds at Northeast Park. Director Johnson also informed the Board that the Steiner they purchased in November has been delivered and is already in use.
Director Johnson's final item to discuss involved a request from Rob Oldeen. Mr. Oldeen donates money each year to stock Windmont Pond for the Fishing Rodeo and he would like to see the 16 and under only time extended to allow more kids to take advantage of the stocked pond. Director Johnson suggested to the Board that if they were to make the entire month of June 16 and under only, then he would be able to install better, more appealing signs stating such. The Board liked Director Johnson's suggestion and Andrew Verstraete moved to make the month of June available for fishing to only 16 and under youth. Mike Nichols seconded the motion. All in Favor. Motion passed.
With nothing further in his report to discuss, Director Johnson turned the meeting back over to President Heberer who asked for any additional items to discuss from the Commissioners. Mike Nichols and Jacque Verscha had no further items to discuss. Jim Powell thanked Secretary Michelle Anderson for getting the mandated policies ready for approval and suggested the Board discuss any rate changes they might want to implement for 2018. Commissioner Powell believes that all rates except soccer should remain the same. Commissioner Powell believes that the fee for soccer should be increased because unlike baseball there are no sponsors for soccer teams and all the uniform costs falls to the Kewanee Park District. President Heberer inquired as to whether the Park District should consider seeking team sponsors for soccer. The Board is hesitant to ask local businesses to sponsor yet another program when they are so generous already. The Board agreed to discuss this change at a later date. The Board did agree to increase the daily admission to the Oasis Family Aquatic Center back up to $5.00 per person for an all day pass in hopes that the Friends of the Pool would once again offer to help so the Board can once again lower the rate. Commissioner Verstraete commented that he has received both positive and negative feedback regarding the new lighting displays at Northeast Park. Andrew's main concern is that the public believes these lighting displays are put up by Kewanee Park District and their employees. Secretary Michelle Anderson informed Commissioner Verstraete that comments stating that had been said on the Kewanee Park District's Facebook page and that those concerns were addressed. President Heberer inquired as to the dates for the summer programs such as baseball/softball/t-ball and soccer. Secretary Michelle Anderson informed the Board that the baseball/softball/t-ball program dates would start in May with the All Star Game being played on Saturday July 7, 2018 and the soccer program would start in July and run in to August.
With nothing further to discuss, President Heberer entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting. Andrew Verstraete moved to adjourn the meeting. Jacque Verscha seconded the motion. All in Favor. Motion passed.
http://kewaneeparkdistrict.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/December-2017-Minutes.pdf
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