Minutes: Special Mtg February 27, 2008
Special Village Board Meeting of February 27, 2008
A special meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Plain was held at the Municipal Building on February 27, 2008. The following members were present: Raymond Ellenbolt, President; David Buchanan; Kevin Kraemer; Gary Leeck; James Liegel; Duane Meise; and, Robert Neuheisel, Trustees.
Others present: Josh Straka of Strand Associates, Inc.; Dan Bauer; Steve Frank; Joe Prem; Ed Prem; Mary Prem; Robert Jewell; Lori Edwards; and, Nick Ruhland, Public Works Director.
Notice of this meeting, along with the agenda, was posted at the following locations in the Village of Plain: the Municipal Building; the Plain Post Office; and, The Peoples Community Bank on Thursday, February 14, 2008.
The meeting was called to order by President Ellenbolt at 7:01 p.m.
This meeting is the kick-off of the planning process of the Park Master Plan. Josh Straka of Strand Associates, Inc. was in attendance to gather ideas from the board and the public.
The purpose of the Park Master Plan is to have a strategy for renovating the park over the course of several years. Boards change and ideas are lost. It is advantageous to include all these ideas in a plan. So when project is ready to commence, the ideas can still be incorporated and the design makes sense.
In prior years, projects were done individually and elevations were not considered. The Park Master Plan will ensure that projects are done accordingly. Drainage is the major issue with the park.
The survey results were reviewed. The park is only used in the summer. A few surveys commented on having winter activities. Maintenance is a concern for year round usage. An ice skating rink was tried approximately 10 years ago and it would continuously melt. Water has to be sprayed on it regularly in order to keep it up. It takes a lot of time.
The pool needs to be improved or rebuilt. Trustee Buchanan’s idea for a newly constructed pool is a competitive size pool with a zero edge along with cascading umbrellas. It would also need to be raised because the existing pool is below groundwater level so there is constant water pressure pushing against the bottom of the pool. A 6-8 foot boulder wall is proposed around the pool. The current pool is longer than competitive size, but it doesn’t have enough lanes. The depth of the current pool is grandfathered in for diving codes but is not compliant with current codes. There is a concern for raising the pool and keeping it handicap assessable at the same time. Enclosing the pool is not practicable. Interest in the pool may be lost in the summer if the pool was enclosed. A concession and eating area was included on Buchanan’s preliminary pool layout. Josh Straka suggested a party area for extra revenue.
The tennis court and basketball area was discussed next. The new proposed pool at the same site would take up a third of the existing tennis court. The tennis court/basketball court could be relocated to the northeast corner. The pool could also be moved to the northeast corner and leave the tennis/basketball courts where they are now. A new tennis/basketball court should remain as one unit, double tennis court with basketball hoops.
The consensus is that the ball diamond will stay where it is now. It is ideal to keep everything together, no relocation. The ball diamond requires major netting. The drainage on the field is a little soggy, but adequate. Perhaps simply add a few amenities like a backstop and bleacher covers.
The parking lot should be relocated. The existing parking lot should be turned into green space with a walk-way entrance and an archway. Vehicle access to the pavilion would still be needed.
The existing restroom/concession stand is not in a convenient location for the new ideas. There is only a women’s restroom in the pavilion, so the only men’s restroom is in the concession stand building. Eliminating the bathroom/concession stand without rebuilding is not an option. It would be costly to move it. A plan to move it in the distant future could be in the plan.
Other ideas discussed were the playground being relocated next to the pool and the desire for a fitness trail.
Strand Engineering will survey the park when the snow melts. They will take all the suggestions and the topographical findings and create a few different options. These options will be presented at a Village Board meeting, one design or a combination of design ideas will be selected for a final plan. Strand will subsequently establish phases for the plan and prepare the financial strategy.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:42 p.m.
Sheila Tafs
Clerk/Treasurer