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11-09-94 PRCITY OF OTSEGO PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 9, 1994 MEETING Members Present: Tom Baillargeon (Chairman) Floyd Roden (Council Member) Debbie Carron Darlene Solberg Darl,yn Kofoed Tom Constant Guest: Merlin Otto Jeff Ashfal Tom Baillargeon called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. 1. The board members present reviewed the minutes of the October 11, 1994 meeting. Darlene Solberg moved to approved the minutes without changes. Debbie Carron seconded the motion. All approved. 2. Open Forum - no issues were addressed. 3. City Council - no directives from the City Council were addressed. The phone for the skating rink was up and running. 4. Historical Society - nothing new to report. 5. Merlin Otto - a. First thin; discussed was the sign at the entrance of the new park. A generic package generally costs between $1,400. and $3,100 depending upon the size of the timbers. Someone from the commission may want to contact the county because they may have a company they use to purchase signs more cost effective that a one time shot by a separate entity. Debbie Carron.volunteered to check with someone she knows in Otsego who makes signs for an estimate on cost. b. Secondly, the ISTEA Grant was discussed. Bypass lanes will be put in with additional lanes for the elementary school link. Again, the commission was made aware that the purchase of land would soon need to be addressed with the City Council members. The more the federal government is involved the longer time was are looking at to implement the plan. Basically, more rules and regulations are created with more input by the government. Everything takes time. Step 5 is the Environmental needs of the project. This will be divided into three classes (I) Statement, impacts and project descriptions; (II) Exclusions and construction; and, (III) Assessment and impact up the construction. Step 6 requires the construction plans. They must be ready and approved by tiINDOT. There may be a one year delay in plans - but the commissions is still to keeping working towards its goal to get things in order even when delays arise. If other cities are not ready, our city could get push ahead if we continue to be prepared and ready to proceed. On the county level there could be a few delays and questions. They will have their own and separate requirements aside from the City, State and Federal governments. County may also be willing to help fund parts of the project which cross county roads. We will need to check into possible cost sharing. Merlin will work with the county on our behalf. We will need the City Council and its engineers to approach land owners for purchase of land for the trail. We are not ready to make and request the council to draw plans yet. 7. Winter Activities - The "Skating Rink" - gas lines are ready and finished for the warming house. Darlene will proceed to draw up the rules and regulations sheets for posting at or around the rink. Biffy has been ordered - believe it is from Affordable Sanitation. The sliding hill is looking great. after the Halloween Hayride, the straw bales were placed in the warming house shed and will be placed in appropriate places along the hill after the ground freezes. The cross-country skiing trial will be the hayride trail. Snowmobiles will be used to pack down the dirt and snow. w-eeeuld � �4T8�s Pao�er- r^ ter^ss �e t rpt- -1. r0M 63 �f The Park Commission will have an open house for the skating rink and the sliding hill. The date for this will be January N, 1995 at 10:00 a.m. Darlyn Kofoed moved that the Park & Rec Commission begin planning for the Skating Rink Open House to include a golfing activity in the snow along with a bon fire later that day to burn the Christmas trees that are dropped off by the public. Tom Constant seconded the motion and all others approved. Another activity discussed that would be a combined effort with the Park Commission and the new Otsego Lions club is a Breakfast with Santa to be held at City Hall on December 17, 1994, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 12:00. It was recommended that a CAER Donation be provided that morning by each family, someone would be there with a Polaroid Camera to take pictures. Debbie Carron moved to get started with this activity; seconded by Tom Constant and all approved. It was suggested by the Lions club that they would provide the Santa (Wayne). Another suggestion for activities was the Annual Otsego Festival to be held in August. It was moved that a committee be started. Tom Baillargeon will chair this committee and Debbie Carron will co-chair. We will need to get going on this immediately to contact vendors, crafters, etc. Tom Constant moved that this years fall activities become annual events at the City Hall. Darlyn Kofoed seconded and all approved. The scavenger hunt and the hayride appeared to be a great success by,the public participation. Potential Spring activities are (1) Easter egg hunt; (2) gun safety training; (3) Classic car show; (4) Bike rodeo in May; and, (5) Arbor day - hand out seedlings to children for planting in the community or have a resident donate a tree to the city and have it named after a child. S. Park Construction - (a) tables and other picnic equipment has arrived and it is being stored in the shed until spring; (b) The possibility of working with the Sauk school kids again in the spring when we will need help again clearing brush and possible moving of dirt is very good. The students had a good time and their efforts were well appreciated. Jeff Ashfal will also send the group a thank you, along with thank you notes going to Jim Struthers of Otsego (donated pumpkins) Jackie Rognli's boy scout group (for carving pumpkins), and to Jim Goodrich of Champlin (donating pumpkins). 9. Articles for Star News and Otsego View - Darlene will make sure that the Skating Rink hours are printed and that there will be a Christmas tree drop off at City Hall. It was suggested that maybe information needs to get to the View sooner because lately there have been many inaccuracies i.e. wrong dates of our meetings. 10. MNDOT Landscape Project - Floyd will check with Elaine Beatty and/or Judy Hudson to see if a letter was sent to MNDOT regarding the landscape project. 11. Capital Improvement Program - the Park Commission will have a special meeting on November 29th at 7:30 to begin the overview and need to generate money in planning for the future. 12. Other Items - it was suggested that in the new ,year that the Park Commission get together with the City Council to find out exactly what the Park Commission's role is and what we should be doing for the future. The Commission then discussed the Golf Event in January. Darlyn Kofoed moved to incorporate the Winter Golf Tournament into the Skating Rink Open House. Jeff Ashfal will assist the Commission in organizing and staffing this event. Darlene Solberg moved to offer skating lessons this first year at the Skating Rink. The lessons will be fee oriented and self funding and to be coordinated through 728 Area Rec. Tom Constant seconded and all approved. 13. Darlyn Kofoed moved to adjourn and Debbie Carron seconded the motion. All approved. Dated: November 12, 1994 (::� cl--��-' �� Darlyn WofoU, Secr tart' Park & Recreation Commission