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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks Authority July 28, 2025 PWKS KEGREPTI(N Parks Authority Board Meeting art Llno Aigir. L 07.28.2025 This meeting took place on Monday,July 28th at 5 PM at the Jeffersonville City Hall in the Mayors Conference Room on the 3rd floor. Board Members present were: Gus Luckert, Stacie Thompson, Pamela Clark, Carmen Croudep, Debbie Pait, Larry Jordan, and Evan Stoner via Zoom Parks Staff Present: Paul Northam, Amber Ridings, Amber Powell, Daniel Fluhr, and Olivia Mann. Meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM EST. Note:Since President Lisa Carter was out for this meeting,Vice President Gus Luckert led the meeting for this month. APPROVAL OF AGENDA-Member Jordan made a MOTION to approve the agenda. Member Luckert seconded.The motion passed 7-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:A consensus vote was done to approve the minutes for the meeting. All members approved.This passed 7-0. OLD BUSINESS: NONE NEW BUSINESS: On the agenda were four contracts for a Steamboat Nights. Member Thompson made a MOTION to approve all contracts, Member Pait seconded.The motion passed 7-0. MANAGER'S REPORT: Board members were given a sheet of updates from each manager throughout the department that tells what programs they are currently putting on,what's coming up, and any details about their venue they would like to update the board on if applicable.The floor was open for questions regarding this run down report. Member Luckert noted that the parking lot for the Aquatic Center was starting to look worn and will be an eventual project. Member Clark noted that Bill and Ms. Mary are at the Ken Ellis and asked if they were new. Manager, Olivia Mann answered that Ms. Mary is from the EnVision Center helping out at the Ken Ellis until a new hire is on boarded, and that Bill had been at the Ken Ellis for about two,going on three years.Assistant Director,Amber Ridings noted that Ms. Mary goes to the Ken Ellis during summer camp and she's now back at the EnVision Center. Director Northam stated that Ms. Mann had been interviewing but he wasn't sure if she was ready to announce a new employee. Ms. Mann stated we're still interviewing and still looking for more applicants. Member Clark stated she'd seen where a memorial is going in for former employee, Calvin, and thanked Mann and directors for that. Member Clark then noted on July 25th we hosted an in service for Station five and asked if there were recommendations, or any new policies or procedures that came out of that. Manager,Olivia Mann answered, no,this training was provided for the lifeguards to understand what happens when the fire department is called and who takes over at that point. Member Clark then pivoted to state she was disappointed to see we had to cancel the Blues, Brews, and Barbeque event. Manager, Amber Powell, Transcribed by Hillary Pacheco on 07.29.25 PAKks f� KEGREA�TI 'N Parks Authority Board Meeting ,utotitio � 07.28.2025 who organized that event stated that they'd waited out the rain for a few hours and by seven thirty there were only about ten people that had walked up, so even if they had pushed it forward despite the rain,the attendance would've been dismal. However,she would love to try it again next year. Louisville used to have a similar event and since they not longer do, Powell feels there's a void in the community for a program like this. Member Jordan asked if we had to pay the artist for that partial. Manager Powell stated we had to pay in full as it was too close to cancel and save. Assistant Manager Ridings stated that the artist, Cedric still had a pop-up at The Alcove downtown that evening. Member Luckert then pivoted to say he'd noticed some work being done up at Wathen Park and was curious what was taking place. Director Northam stated that in coordination with the tree removal,we are repairing and fixing up several items there. He continued that redevelopment has been nice enough to commit some money to the Little League and that we're working on the tree removal,the fireplace, the woodwork under the pavilion, putting on a new roof, and getting some new playground equipment. Additionally,there will be seven parking spaces added out front where the tree was. Member Luckert stated he figured we were in renovation mode but was worried about the tree coming down okay. Director Northam stated that we wanted to get the dangerous limbs out of the way before they start to put a new roof on and that we did not only that tree, but eight other around the building, cutting back the dead weight. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Director Northam started by discussing updates on the Little League project that's underway.The season has officially ended and construction has begun. The dugouts are being resurfaced and all old fencing is coming down starting with the interior first,then the exterior around the entire complex. There's also work being done on the little league lodge and safety town building as far as painting, siding, and new roofing. Additionally,the tower at the little league, which is the main building at the center there,will be getting some work done to it. Northam continued that once the fencing is taken down,they will start installing new, however,this has to go out for bid as it's over a certain dollar amount and advertisement went out for this job on this past Friday. Bids will be open for four weeks and then redevelopment will make a decision. Field work will also be bid out regarding the four main fields. We recently regraded the T-ball field last year, and then the junior field will just need to be touched up on.Then the t-ball field will need some work later in the year, and one of the last projects will be eight new batting cages. Next up, Northam noted that the dredging for Duffy's Landing was discussed some in last month's meeting and since then he's had a chance to meet with Andy Crouch,the city attorney, and the Mayor to discuss options there.They'd decided that in April or May of 2026 there will be dredging as it didn't make sense to do so this year when it's late in the season and would wash back in;that being said they will have the permits ready and a contractor hired to do the work. Director Northam continued, noting we've ordered a new gate for Vissing Park.We'd like to be able to shut the park down, as there's only one point of entry, and we'd like to be able to close it at a certain time each night and open it at a certain time each morning.While that wouldn't keep out walking pedestrians, it will limit people driving back there and doing damage. Lastly, Northam noted that Saturday, August 23`d is the Farm to Table dinner with tickets going on sale Transcribed by Hillary Pacheco on 07.29.25 PARKS d RH/KEKfl iN Parks Authority Board Meeting 07.28.2025 on Wednesday the 309th at noon. He stated that they usually sell out in that first hour so if the board members would like a seat,to be sure and snag one. Member Luckert asked if we were placing a security camera down at Duffys Landing. Director Northam stated this is part of the police departments Homeland Security Grant for Riverside Drive. Member Stoner thanked Director Northam for his leadership on the dredging situation as there had been several people show concern and he's happy to see a plan in place. Director Northam stated that part of the plan is that after we get permits and a contractor hired, is finding the money. Member Croudep asked what the hours will be for the gates installation at Vissing? Director Northam stated that we don't have set times yet, but we're thinking sometime around seven am for open and nine pm for close, but noted things such as daylight savings time, and softball leagues played there will affect the decision. He noted there will be a sort of panic button in case someone should happen to be locked in so they can let themselves out but they are still working out the details. Member Clark asked the estimate for when this would be installed? Director Northam answered that they were just doing some work at Vissing Park for underground utilities and whilst completing that they ran the conduit to run electric underneath the road for this, and that the parts had been ordered,so we were looking at the next four to six weeks. Member Pait asked if we'd had trouble at this park. Northam answered yes, there have been drug exchanges,vandalism, and fights there. Member Luckert asked if we had anyone that works after hours in the department to be in charge of that. Director Northam answered no,we don't have anyone specified but both myself and Amber Ridings are on-call and then our maintenance manager, Daniel is also on call for those types of issues as well. REPORTS AND COMMENTS Member Thompson noted that she'd heard really great things about our Summer camp and thanked everyone involved. Member Clark asked if there was further discussion regarding the Gazebo at Lansden and if that would be torn down. Director Northam answered that yes, he'd had a meeting with Andy Crouch and the mayor and decided not to do anything at the time and repair it as needed. He noted there were talks about a pergola or shelter,which would be nice as the gazebo is probably thirty to forty years old and likely needs replaced, but with the Senate Bill one cuts, it wasn't a good time for us to ask for money for something new that would've been anywhere from$20-40k when we can still just paint and clean up what's there. Member Clark stated it would be nice if we could put something on there so they couldn't tear the boards off. Northam noted that the nice thing about the shade sails option would be that they were high up so people were less likely to damage the sails. Member Clark also asked when the Parks Department decided not to offer picnic tables. Director Northam noted this was decided by the Special Events Committee and noted it is for all events.They'd decided this since the picnic tables and trash cans weren't coming back or would come back damaged, and stated we'd had about 16-18 tables a year and a half ago and this year we have about six left due to this. Parks Authority Attorney Report- None Public Comments: None Transcribed by Hillary Pacheco on 07.29.25 4 PAKKS REC EP11 N Parks Authority Board Meeting g all 07.28.2025 Member Pait made a MOTION to adjourn at 5:20 PM. https://vimeo.com/cityofleff APPROVED: gen. it OA/. 4W Hillary Pac efio Elizabet• arter-Parks Authority President Transcribed by Hillary Pacheco on 07.29.25