12-07-2005 PRCEM
MINUTES
Parks, Recreation & Community Education Advisory Board
December 7,2005
Members present were: Bill Arndt, Lenore Flinn, Kirk Kosel, Beth Hepola, Mike Cannon,
Deane Dietel and Ralph Johnson. Also present were DolfMoon and Karen McKay.
The meeting was called to order at 5:20 pm.
A motion was made by Bill Arndt and seconded by Beth Hepola to approve the minutes dated
November 7,2005. The board unanimously agreed.
OLD BUSINESS
HarringtonlMerrill House - A $50,000 contribution was presented to Historic Hutchinson at the
Sesquicentennial Gala event held in November. It is hoped that the contribution will receive a
matching donation. An architect firm that specializes in historic preservation will be hired. To
date the basic foundation, flooring and roof have been addressed. Although the project has a ten
year plan, funding has made it possible to achieve goals sooner than planned.
Budget - Following the truth and taxation for the city December 6th, the budget will be
presented to the City Council for approval at the December 13th meeting. The Event Center will
try to raise an additional $15,000 while senior activities will generate another $5,000 in revenues
in 2006. The Senior Club is willing to dissolve and join in the Senior Center activities.
Arena Improvements - The former meeting room is now the new strength training room, and the
new meeting room has been completed by donated material and labor.
One of the four compressors in the arena is in disrepair. The city's insurance provides $18,000
with a $5,000 deductible to replace it. The compressors will continue to be run until they can no
longer operate before being replaced.
Fee Schedule for School Facilities - Dolf and Brian Mohr met with the finance committee. The
new fee schedule for use of classrooms, pools, cafeterias and gyms is projected to generate
$6,000 for the school. The new schedule will go into effect July 1,2006. The new fee rates
should be more affordable for some users. Community Education gets no part of these revenues
as it all goes into the school's general fund.
NEW BUSINESS
Public Arts Initiative - An ad hoc committee has been put together to look at arts such as the
fountains, statues and possibly landscape. Items will be inventoried for recognition. Dolf, Marc
Vaillancourt of the Chamber of Commerce, Linda Remucal, and Julie Wi schnack are working
with the Hutchinson Foundation to create a policy and fund a mechanism to look at arts more
comprehensively. They would also like to get private businesses involved.
MINUTES
PRCE Advisory Board
December 5, 2005
Page Two
Annual Reports/January Meeting - There will not be a meeting in January as the first Monday is
the holiday. The February meeting will be held at the Event Center to look at the annual PRCE
report.
Downtown Banners - Hopefully the last of the shorter light poles will be installed soon. There
are four changes of banners that will be hung on the new poles. Groups such as the Jaycees, and
the Chamber are gathering to discuss holiday decorations.
Library Square - Heavy equipment will not be going into the park for sidewalk snow removal.
Lee Wright, custodian at the City Center, will be taking care of the Library Square sidewalks as
time allows.
BOARD MEMBER ITEMS
There will be a Luce Line Trail meeting December 6th. Steve Dille and Scott Neumann will draft
bills to try to get funding to blacktop the trail from Hutchinson to Winsted. If completed, the
paved trail should improve tourism between the cities.
The board expressed concern that low income participants may not be getting involved in
programs. Dolf told the board that with a referral from county social services the city provides,
swim lessons and ball programs to families in need.
The warming house at Park Elementary will open when the weather cooperates for flooding the
outdoor ice rink.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 pm on a motion made by Bill Arndt, seconded by Lenore
Flinn, and agreed to unanimously by the board.
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