City Improvement Committee — Minutes

JOINT CITY IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE & RECREATION MEETING-WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2024 5:30 P.M. Chairperson Jason TePaske called the Joint City Improvement Committee & Recreation Committee Meeting of the City of Augusta to order at 5:30 p.m. Present were members Brian Leslin, Scott Williamson, Barb Balliet, Stacey Leslin, Sue Troxel, Tugger Francel, Jake Smith, Max Tepaske and Robert Chaffee. Also present: Wendy Kirchoff, Kasandra Thompson, Patricia Wessel, Corey Bauch, Katie Warner, and Bruce Stabenow. UPDATE ON GRANT APPLICATIONS AND FUNDRAISING FOR PARK IMPROVEMENTS Stacey Leslin updated the group on the progress they have made applying for grants. The grants that the group ha ve been researching are currently not open to apply for. Stacey informed the group these grants will be opening during the summer an d fall months. They will continue to research available grants and keep the group updated when grants become available. Jake Smith is currently working on a City Parks Facebook page. It should be completed within the next week. Several different fundraising options were discussed. The group talked about a walk/run from park to park, setting up a Go Fund Me account and offering benches, picnic tables and grills people could purchase in memory of a loved one. The group also talked about the funds they will need to get some of the projects started and which projects to complete first. The groups talked about the f unds that have been donated to complete the basketball court project at Millstone Park. It was suggested that the Millstone basketball court and the Main Street Gym Playground basketball court be completed at the same time to save money. Motioned by Tugger Francel and seconded by Max Tepaske to recommend to the city council a pledge of $6,000 for a supplies budget to maintenance and repair all city parks and $8,000 to resurface the Senior Center basketball court. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER PARK IMPROVEMENT PLANS Corey Bauch offered to donate his time and materials to create new city park signs. Each park will have its own sign and two different size signs will be used. Corey is planning to have the new city park signs completed by the beginning of April. Katie Warner informed the group that she had talked to a local company about donating the posts that would be needed to install new park signs. She had approached this company two years ago when the sign project began and at that time, they were willing to donate the posts. Katie will contact them and see if they are still willing to donate posts. The group discussed several different ways to organize volunteers on work and clean up days. They have also approached the Augusta Scho ol District and the Wildlands School about students participating on these workdays. The Wildlands School has committed to at least two days of volunteer work. The group discussed what goals they had for these workdays. They agreed power washing of grills, benches, pavilions, and picnic tables would be the first project. Scott Williamson stated the city has a portable steam/power washer that could be used for this. They would then move onto painting, staining and/or repairing these items. The Beautify Augusta Committee has agreed to maintain the flower bed in Remembrance Park. NEW BUSINESS Dane Zook presented a band shell plan that other communities are looking at in the area. The band shell he presented would b e mobile. The cost of materials for this band shell would be around $2,800. He also recommends the group check with the Rural Partners Network to see if they could offer any help. The next meeting is set for Wednesday, March 27th at 5:30 pm. The City Recreation Committee and Senior & Community Center will be invited to attend. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Tugger Francel seconded by Barb Balliet to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Wendy A Kirchoff, Deputy Clerk