Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale Park District Board met May 8.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

Roll Call: Upon Roll Call, the following commissioners were Present: Coleman, Erickson, Flowers and, Hollister. Commissioner Absent: Welch. Staff present: Childers, Day, Green, Keller, Lewis, Renfro, Robinson and Legal Counsel, Mike Twomey. Staff Absent: Burns.

General Announcements: Commissioner Flowers requested that the agenda be amended and Oath of Office and Board Election be tabled until the next meeting and that Agenda Item IX. Presentation of 2016 Audit Report be moved after Agenda Item IV. Approval of Agenda.

Approval of Agenda: It was moved by Commissioner Hollister and seconded by Commissioner Flowers to approve the agenda as amended. Upon roll call, vote the following Commissioners voting aye: Coleman, Erickson, Flowers, and Hollister. Commissioner Absent: Welch. Vice-President Erickson ordered the motion passed.

Action Taken: The Agenda was approved as amended.

Discussion/Approval of 2016 Audit Report: The 2016 Audit reported was presented by a representative of Gray Hunter Stenn CPA. She reviewed the comparison charts that were distributed. After a brief discussion and with all questions asked and answered it was then moved by Commissioner Flowers and seconded by Commissioner Coleman to approve and file the 2016 Audit report. Upon roll call, vote the following Commissioners voting aye: Coleman, Erickson, Flowers, and Hollister. Commissioner Absent: Welch. Vice-President Erickson ordered the motion passed.

Citizens Comments and Questions: Stephanie Brown, Director of the Autism Society of Southern Illinois addressed the board regarding playground equipment and the need for it to be updated. Ms. Brown also said she could help find funding for the project. The Board suggested to Ms. Brown that she work the Grounds, Facilities and Recreation Committee on this project.

Reports of Park District Citizen Advisory Committees and Department Reports:

Administration and Finance Advisory Committee - - Commissioner Flowers reported that the committee had met and discussed the opening of the Splash Park, the proposed pay plan and the 2016 audit report.

Aquatic Center Advisory Committee - - Commissioner Erickson reported that the committee had met with six members in attendance. The committee discussed the letters that went out to the school inviting them to use the SSP for end of year parties. Fundraising ideas during the Eclipse, the Lions Club Art Sale and the 24-hour Swim-a-thon were discussed. New Signage is being prepared to guide the public to the SSP and the fish-theme bottle cap mural is being made.

Child Care Advisory Committee - - Commissioner Coleman reported that the committee had meet with two parents in attendance. Kids Korner staff reported that they had received a $1000 Power Play! Beyond School Grant for the garden at Kids Korner. There will be weekend workdays to help maintain the garden. Kids Korner has a few spots still open for the summer program. Debbie Keller will report on AWECC Center during the Superintendent’s reports.

Golf Advisory Committee - - No meeting scheduled.

Grounds, Facilities & Recreation Advisory Committee - - Commissioner Hollister reported that the committee had met in April and discussed some of the programs and activities going on in the Rec Dept. i.e., Egg Hunt Extravaganza, Parrish Swim Lesson and summer brochure. They also discussed the digital sign request for the 2018 budget and the community fun and fitness relays to be held September 23.

Treasurer’s Report: No report until the June meeting.

Directors Report: Director Renfro reported that her report is included in packet and asked if there was any questions. She also reported that staff has been meeting with the Dog Park Committee and are looking at three locations, the old BMX property at Evergreen Park, Parrish Park and the property east of Hickory Lodge.

Superintendent’s Reports:

Superintendent of Golf Operations: Mike Day reported that golf operations generated in April 2017 1289 rounds of golf and $38,500 in revenue compared to April 2016 when they generated 1876 rounds of golf and $48,500 in revenue. Season passes sales are going well and league play continues to do well. Hook a Kid on Golf has 25 participants register.

Superintendent of Golf Maintenance: Mike Green reported that during the month of April staff focused on getting the course back to regular season playability. Staff mowed edge and pumped bunkers out, sprayed fairways for zoyia patch with fungicide. Staff also started spring aerification.

Superintendent of Park Operations: Ed Robinson reported that the mowing crew was trying to keep up with the weather, along with picking up limbs, trash and litter. Staff continues to make repairs at the Life Center, Kids Korner and SSP. Staff also laid out, painted soccer fields at Parrish Park, repainted soccer fields and worked up all ball fields at Superblock. Woodwork is still being repaired at Hickory Lodge for painting and other weekly maintenance at various locations.

Director of Alice Wright Day Care Center: Debbie Keller reported that in April AWECC had 12 full time and 19 part-time enrolled. The Center had picture day on April 6, a Mother’s Day Party on May 11. Graduation will be held at Hickory Ridge Golf Course on May 24 and they are now enrolling for the summer.

Kids Korner: Katy Burns was absent but her reported was included in packet.

Superintendent of Recreation: Jane Childers reported on the March Rec and Learn to swim programs. She reported that in April 2017 there were 219 people enrolled in a program compared to April 2016 when there was 152 enrolled. The pool attendance in April 2017 was 2159 with 1390 enrolled in a program compared to April 2016 it was 2861 with 1797 enrolled in a program.

After all reports were given and all questions and asked and answered it was moved by Commissioner Hollister and seconded by Commissioner Flowers to accept and place the reports on file. Upon roll call vote, the following Commissioner voted aye: Coleman, Erickson, Flowers, and Hollister. Commissioners Absent: Welch. Vice-President Erickson ordered the motion passed.

Action Taken: The reports were accepted by the board and placed on file.

Consent Agenda: It was then moved by Commissioner Flowers and seconded by Commissioner Coleman to approve the consent agenda as presented. Upon roll call vote, the following Commissioner voted aye: Coleman, Erickson, Flowers, and Hollister. Commissioners Absent: Welch. Vice-President Erickson ordered the motion passed.

Action Taken: The consent agenda was approved as presented.

Unfinished Business:

None

New Business:

Discussion/Approval of Pay Plan - - Director Renfro presented the Pay Plan. She explained that as the District move towards a transition plan there is a need for plan to have somewhere to start. She also explained that when someone reach the final step they are only eligible for a 1% increase. Commissioner Flowers asked that staff talk to some other agencies in the area with about the same population size as Carbondale to compare the wages. After a brief discussion, this item was tabled and will be brought back to the board.

Action Taken: None.

Presentation/Discussion of the Recreaiton/Aquatics Department: Jane Childers presented to the Board the new and improved Carbondale Park District website. She review the different tabs on the web page and how easy it was to navigate through it. After her presentation, all questions were asked and answered.

Action Taken: None Needed.

Items for Future Agendas: Pay Plan, Board Election and Oath of Office

Board Comments: Vice-President recognize a citizen that arrived late Ms. Connie Gibson. Ms. Gibson addressed the Board about the camping and asked if a decision had been made. Director Renfro said it is not the District’s intention to provide camping during the Eclipse. Commissioner Coleman thanked the staff for all their hard work.

Adjournment: There being no further business it was then moved by Commissioner Flowers and seconded by Commissioner Coleman to adjourn the meeting. Upon roll call, the following commissioners voted aye: Coleman, Erickson, Flowers, and Hollister. Commissioners Absent: Welch. Vice-President Erickson ordered the motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.

http://www.cpkd.org/wp-content/uploads/minutes-agendas-newsletters/Minutes_2017-05-08.pdf