1977-04-27 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
PARK and RECREATION COMMISSION
MINUTES, April 27, 1977
Members Present: Witt, Mills, Lundeen, Gustafson, Franzmeier, Selander
Members Absent: Murphy, Howe, Finn
Guests:
Greg
Quehl, President
of Mendota Heights Jaycees
1. Minutes
of the March
30 meeting were
approved.
2. Playground Equipment: A presentation was made by Franzmeier of some designs for
playground equipment done by the City Planning Department. Harvey also pre-
sented pictures of the equipment built by the Mendota Heights Jaycees in Somerset
Park as well as pictures of some equipment in parks in neighboring cities. Greg
Quehl had not had much time to review costs with the engineers in the Jaycees who
had done the Somerset equipment, but did give us their estimate of what certain items
would cost for materials. The motion was made and seconded to recommend to the
City Council that the following items of playground equipment be constructed at
Friendly Hi Its and Wentworth Parks this summer. Landscape structure kit, swing,
tire tramp and balance beam.
Note: Mendota Heights Jaycees have agreed to erect this equipment and all purchases
will be made through the city. The climbing tower will be a kit while the other items
will be constructed per city design from materials available locally. Estimated cost
including concrete is $3,500 to $4,000 per park.
3. Softball Field: Franzmeier presented a cost estimate to construct a backstop and spread
crushed lime rock on the entire ball diamond area on the property owned by Sheehy
Construction, Mendota Plaza. It would appear to make the diamond playable, nearly
$4,000 would have to be spent, but that Sheehy would only give us a one year lease on
the property and it was felt that that was too much exposure and the Commission agreed
that it would not recommend spending any money on this property.
4. Recreation Program: Dewey Selander reported that the brochures were at the printer for
the summer program and would definitely be out by May 10. No insurmountable problems
were anticipated for the summer program, but Selander indicated that he does need people
to work the T-ball program. There was some discussion of the entire program, both winter
and summer. The Commission concurred that we have probably exceeded the limits of
one part-time recreation director as far as programming and that we should begin looking
at what the next step might be in expansion of the program. One suggestion was that
we might hire a quarter time person to handle some of the administrative and telephone
work for Dewey. Dewey felt this would be most beneficial as he has to spend an awful
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Page two
lot of time answering calls from parents and participants. It was suggested that
perhaps if the City were to add another secretary that part of her time could be
allocated to this function.
5. Toro Parkmaster: A meeting had been held with several Commission members along
with Harvey and Rudy regarding the merits of keeping the Parkmaster or trading it in
on rotary type equipment. The sub -committee reported that after considerable dis-
cussion, it was agreed that rotary equipment would be more practical for the City's
present requirements than the reel type equipment we now have. Harvey reported
that the Parkmaster mower has been offered to the State of Minnesota for $9,000 and
that he is also working on a trade-in possibility for two 72" Groundmaster Toro mowers
with a regular list price of $5,626 each. Minnesota Toro has agreed to trade even
for these two mowers. In addition, one of these units will be winterized with a cab
and snowblower at an additional cost of $2,000 and a trailer will have to be secured
to transport them at a cost of approximately $800. Harvey was not sure they wanted
two 72" mowers until they had tried out the 72" which is expected to be delivered on
a trial basis this week. It is possible they will secure one smaller mower unit for the
Groundmaster. The motion was made and seconded and passed that Murphy and
Harvey would confer and make a final decision as to which way to go since new
equipment must be secured very shortly. (There are adequate funds in the budget to
purchase the cab for the unit and the trailer and there will be no cash outlay at this
point for the two mowers.
Being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
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