02-06-2006 PRCEM
MINUTES
Parks, Recreation & Community Education Advisory Board
February 6, 2006
Members present were: Bill Arndt, Lora Muilenburg, Kirk Kosel, Julie Ashbaugh, Kathy
Kalenberg and Ralph Johnson. Also present were Lawrence Winter, Sara Witte, Marv Haugen,
Dolf Moon and Karen McKay.
The meeting was called to order at 5: 15 pm.
A motion was made by Lora Muilenburg and seconded by Kathy Kalenberg to approve the
minutes dated December 7,2005. The board unanimously agreed.
OLD BUSINESS
Budget - The 2006 budget has been adopted. Dolf distributed a comparison of the budget for the
past four years.
Banner Sales - The Chamber of Commerce is promoting the sponsorship of banners for
downtown Hutchinson. There will be three changes of banners for a three-year $1,000
sponsorship. Dolftold the board that there would likely be a small fee charged to the Chamber
to have city staff put up and take down the banners. The city has $28,000 budgeted for
decorations in 2006.
Luce Line Trail - There was a meeting at the Capitol to discuss state bonding issues. The
Hutchinson City Council and the cities of Silver Lake and Winsted had resolutions of support to
pave the Luce Line Trail between Hutchinson and Winsted. The 1.5 million dollar project had
user groups present including three for and two against paving this portion of the Luce Line
Trail. There will be additional meetings in the coming months.
NEW BUSINESS
Annual Reports:
Parks - Lawrence Winter, Park Supervisor, and Sara Witte, Natural Resource Specialist,
presented the parks year-end report. The parks were very involved in Hutchinson's 150th
Celebration last year. Donated funds were used in Library Square for landscaping and earthwork
to accommodate the Hutchinson Brother's Statues that were dedicated in September. The
Harrington/Merrill house renovation is underway. A new foundation was installed, the house
was painted and the grounds were cleaned up. Looking ahead, the fire damaged west wing will
be redesigned and replaced and the porch will also be restored with donated funds. The Rotary
Park shelter is complete; other improvements include a paved walkway, rest rooms and a
perennial garden area. Kiwanis Park will gain some acreage as homes are removed due to the
Highway 7 proj ect.
MINUTES
PRCE Advisory Board
February 6, 2006
Page Two
Facilities - Marv Haugen, Facilities Manager, is responsible for the Recreation Center/Outdoor
Pool and Burich Arena. Marv presented a slide show to the board with attendance, rental
statistics and capital improvements in the facilities.
The Rec Center front entry doors were replaced in the fall of 2005 as a capital improvement.
The number of participants in swim lessons remains steady, as the figure for open swimming has
declined over the years. The summer of 2005 was warmer and there was an increase in
attendance at open swim. A pool upgrade is needed to remain competitive with outdoor pools in
the surrounding communities.
Burich Arena's east rink was built in 1977 and the west rink was added in 1999. The Burich
family received naming rights after a $100,000 loan was forgiven at Citizens Bank. Citizens
Bank is committed to purchase the ice resurfacers. The current one is scheduled for replacement
in 2010 with a cost in the range of $70,000. There are typically 200 hours of summer ice rented
out at $120 per hour. It would not be cost effective to go below that. A Culver's logo was
installed in the ice sheet of the east rink. The corporate sponsor donated $3,600 to the city. The
new weight training room renovation was completed in 2005 and a new meeting room was built.
Dolf will meet with the City Council regarding the half penny sales tax proposition. It has been
popular in many communities to raises funds for special projects. Senator Dille and
Representative Newman will meet with city staff to discuss the process. A proposed bill would
have to go to the legislature and City Council before residents of Hutchinson would vote on the
issue.
Next Meeting - Sharon Armstrong, Community Education Programmer, John McRaith,
Recreation Programmer and September Jacobsen Senior/Event Center will be at the March
meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:34 pm on a motion made by Bill Arndt and seconded by Ralph
Johnson, and agreed to unanimously by the board.
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