Rock Island Today

City of Rock Island Park Board met Sept. 15.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

1. Call to Order

President Fred Dasso called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm.

2. Attendance

Members Present: Fred Dasso, Bill Anderson, Moses Robinson, Don Deleu, Kate

Hotle, John McEvoy

Members Absent: none

Staff Present: John Gripp, Parks Director; Todd Winter, Assistant Director; Kimberly

Kruse, Parks Administrative Office Manager

Staff Absent: none

Audience: none

3. August Park Board Minutes

Mr. Robinson motion to approve the minutes as written; Mr. McEvoy seconded.

4. Thank you note from Sue Swords was acknowledged.

5. Monthly Report from Finance Department as of July

John reviewed the Financial Report. Parks has received 1/3 of property tax funds. The rec team are doing amazing despite challenges of the pandemic. Whitewater Junction opened later this year and got one extra weekend out of the season to be open later. Golf is doing well and RIFAC is starting to come around as the seasons start to change and kids go back to school.

Financials were reported to the board with a summary explanation of changes and discrepancies. There is a two month lag that will ensure that all revenues and expenditures are reported to give a more accurate look at the department financially.

6. Approval of the Bills for the Month of August for $125,390.89

Mr. Dasso: Aye Mr. Deleu: Aye Mr. McEvoy: Aye Mr. Robinson: Aye Ms. Hotle: Aye Mr. Anderson: Aye

7. Director’s Report and other reports

MLK Park shelter repair is done with grant funds from the Realtor’s Association. Thursday Groove is going well. People are social distancing and having a great time. Whitewater Junction is now closed for the season. RIFAC and golf courses are going well heading into fall. Sports are going well and being head up by local coaches and spread out over all the parks for social distancing. Kiwanis path is underway. Staff is working on several grant applications. The Department received funds for scholarships from the Rock Island Parks Foundation. Bush Turf is back at Douglas Park and the seed is taking this time. The back part of Douglas Park is overgrown but is actually helping to keep the sidewall from falling into the street. Multi-use lighting will be done in stages due to high cost. The Weber Park sign will be up this year.

The Assistant Director met with managers individually to go over the Strategic Plan and how they fit into that plan. This will be reviewed every couple of months to ensure that all work is done in line with this vision. Staff had a cleanup day at Haymaker Park pulling weeds and cleaning the playground equipment. Golf is doing well. July and August went really well and hit record sales since before 2017. Season passes are for sale and will provide golf the rest of this season for free. Renderings of plans for the exterior of Highland Springs was received and will be receiving the interior plans soon to start fundraising for a new clubhouse. First Tee will be apart of that vision and will be meeting to discuss partnership.

Whitewater Junction was open one extra weekend this year. Fit and Faster will be putting on a clinic at the RIFAC pool. This group consists of former Olympians and athletes.

Golf Maintenance will not be aerifying greens this year. Only the tees will be done. Bids are being done for getting funds for walnut trees. October 5th the driving range will switch to mats.

The Drive In on August 22nd went well. There were $220 in donations. Thursday Groove is going well and well attended. There are three more weeks. The activity guide was online only this year. Physical copies were printed though and made available at the office. There are already over 2,000 views so going virtual is making an impact. There was an onsite survey done at Whitewater Junction. Fall sports are started and Pete has done an excellent job holding them within the state guidelines. The high school is renting Longview Park for their cross country practice. The Big 6 will be at Saukie in October.

There are a lot of rentals going on and field prep. Landscaping is underway and downtown plants will be taken down. Springs plants are already in the greenhouse and growing. Prep is underway for the prescribed burns for naturalized areas. A new bench was put in at Longview Park. Tree clean up is still in process from the derecho and other storms.

8. New Business

Special Event Application: Hap’s Cruisin Into the Sunset

Staff recommends approval for a socially distanced, blocked off entrances for crowd control event. Mr. McEvoy motioned for approval, Mrs. Hotle seconded. All said yes.

Special Event Application: Bar Mitzvah: Isaac Shepherd

Staff recommends the approval of this event in November.

Ms. Hotle motioned. Mr. Robinsons seconded. All voted yes. October 26th will be update in study session for the Strategic Plan

9. Old Business

Schwiebert Dock Plan – Public Works is working on a smaller dock and finding ways to fix it up working with the state.

Smaller Picnic Shelters at Sunset Park have been refurnished by an Eagle Scout. Fright Night will be held in Sunset Park as a drive thru for community safety.

Mr. McEvoy motioned to adjourn. Mr. Robinson seconded. All voted yes.

The meeting adjourned at 5:56 pm.

https://www.rigov.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09152020-627