06-07-2004 PRCEM
MINUTES
Parks, Recreation & Community Education Advisory Board
June 7, 2004
Members Present: Mike Schiesl, Bill Arndt, Bernie Miner, Mike Cannon and Mary Inglis. Also
present were DolfMoon, and Karen McKay.
The meeting was called to order at 5: 15 pm
A motion made by Bill Arndt and seconded by Mike Cannon approved the minutes dated AprilS,
2004. The motion passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
Summer Projects:
*Roberts Park - The canopies are installed over spectator bleachers. Portable outfield fences will be
moved to Linden Park after the High School softball season is over.
*Second Avenue Bridge - The riverbank has been tapered from the bridge near the Salt Man's
building to downtown, it will now require less maintenance.
*Millers Woods - A grant has been received to eliminate invasive plants by brush cutting and
treating suckers. Trees not native to the area will be thinned out.
*School Campus - Trees are planted in front of the Middle School. Senior High students paired up
with kindergarten students to work on $15,000 software categorizing trees and charting their
growth.
*Library Square - 17 Pallets of grass were rolled out today. The concrete portion of the fountain is
complete and may be started as soon as Tuesday. An anonymous donor funded the water fountain.
Many trees will be planted and the flagpole will be replaced. There will be more open space in the
park and this should improve the set up for the Arts and Crafts show in September.
*Hwy. 15 South - Trees will be planted from McCormick's to Menards on both the east and west
side of the highway keeping the same pattern of the planting further north.
*Rotary Park - The shelter is here and Juul Contracting will dig in the water and sewer lines. Work
will begin after the Water Carnival. A $45,000 grant was received for flush toilets and landscaping.
*Harrington/Merrill House - The property has been mowed and the main structure will be painted.
Oak trees dating back 180 years are still standing today. A meeting was held to discuss a list of
items to do, a fund raising program, and a timetable for the renovation of this property.
*Rec Center - The new lighting will be installed in August with Conservation Incentative Program
money from public utilities. The City Council approved the purchase and installation of new
flooring. The flooring will be royal blue and charcoal and will be installed in August.
*Civic Arena - The arena will host six weeks of ice in the west rink this summer. That rink has a
sand floor and is equipped with a dehumidifier.
School Aged Childcare - Park Place the school aged childcare program sponsored for three years by
PRCE has been losing money. The Ridgewater College childcare program has expressed an interest
in using Park Elementary for 47 children Monday through Friday from 6am to 6pm.
MINUTES
PRCE Advisory Board
June 7, 2004
Page two
150th Celebration - In 2005 the city of Hutchinson will celebrate 150 years. A major kick off
ceremony will take place in January at the Event Center with a week of activities planned.
Activities will be planned throughout the year such as music and a golf tournament. A gala event
will be held in November again at the Event Center. A fund raising project benefiting the
Harrington/Merrill House is being considered. It would be selling banners for Main Street to local
businesses.
July/August Meeting - The first Monday in July is the 4th, the Board will not meet in July. The
August meeting may be a tour of the summer projects.
OLD BUSINESS
Mass Registration - The evening went well. To improve the planning process, one consideration
for next year would be to offer the camp fees at a lower rate for the evening to encourage
participants to sign up early.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 pm by a motion made by Mike Cannon and seconded by Bill
Arndt. The Board unanimously agreed.
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