04-27-2021-minutes-FINAL

Town of Troy Park Board Minutes, April 27, 2021 APPROVED Page 1 of 6 PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES Tues. April 27, 2021 7:00 pm, Town Hall, Town of Troy Members Present: Jill Berke, Jan Cuccia, Jim Freund, Mark Swanson, Alicia Schneider, Peter Reese, Katie Huttemier Members Absent: Others Present: Andrew Ciurro, DNR Forester, Pamela Ellingson, Doug Rowen, Michael Kretz 1. Call to Order Chair Berke called the meeting of the Town of Troy Park Board to order at 7:00 p.m. Meeting was held via Zoom Teleconference/Video Teleconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2. Public Comment Request by Chair for any comments. Doug Rowen introduced himself as the new Town Board liaison to the Park Board starting in May. 3. Approval of Minutes, including review & discussion The March 23, 2021 Park Board meeting minutes were reviewed. Member Cuccia moved the Park Board approve the minutes of the March 23, 2021 Park Board as amended on page 2, item #6 Budget Process, to read “Member Freund feels the current process is working;” second by member Freund. Motion unanimously carried. Member Freund noted an error in the year in agenda item #5. Supr. Cuccia made a friendly amendment to include correcting that error; second by member Freund. Motion carried. 4. Park Ranger Summary and Report, including discussion & review of monthly summary report The Park Ranger report was reviewed. It was noted that dogs must be leashed at Glover Park, and dogs are not allowed at the Cove Boat Ramp or Pemble’s Access. Supr. Cuccia moved to approve the March 2021 Park Ranger report; second by member Reese. Motion unanimously carried. Ranger Enforcement Action Summary: March 2021 Pemble’s Access Cove Boat Ramp Glover Park Totals Citations Issued: 0 0 0 0 Warnings Issued: 0 0 1 1 Town of Troy Park Board Minutes, April 27, 2021 APPROVED Page 2 of 6 5. Update report, appointment of Park Ranger to fill vacancy Supr. Cuccia reported that Scott Gunderson has accepted the job of Park Ranger, and has started training. Further, there are other good candidates to consider if there are vacancies in the future. 6. Budget Review of Park Revenue/Expenditures; Expenditures & Funds, year-to-date 2021; Approval of Invoices The 2021 park revenue and expenditures through March 31, 2021, as prepared by the Town Clerk, were reviewed. Member Swanson moved to accept the income and expenditures for March 2021 as tabulated by the Town clerk; second by member Freund. Motion unanimously carried. Income year-to-date through Feb.: $1,335.75; expenses: $7,010.11. Impact fees available: $63,313.00; county park fund balance: $60,599.54. 7. Park & Recreation Reports Cove Boat Ramp: a. Discuss and consider, activity Member Freund reported very little activity lately. b. Report, ramp and gangway installation at Windmill Marina-Jim Freund Member Freund reported that the dock and gangway are back to temporary high water mark position. Handicap platform has been replaced. Roller at bottom was re-welded. Glover Park: a. Discuss and consider, forestry management options, Andrew Ciurro, DNR Service Forester – 7:10 p.m. Agenda item discussed after agenda item #5. Andrew Ciurro explained his role at the DNR helping private landowners manage their wooded lots. Does a lot of work with invasive plants. He hiked the trails at Glover Park today and commended the job on buckthorn treatment that is being done. If the town enrolls the forest as a “community forest” he could do a full management plan with technical assistance, tree planting plans, free seedlings from state nursery for reforestation, and also assistance from other state resources. Application needs to be made to the DNR. Town Board would have to pass resolution to apply and become community forest for the wooded section of the property. There is no application fee, no tax implication. He thinks the woods are healthy and mature, but there’s concern with lack of natural regeneration (small trees); that’s common for a mature forest with a lot of buckthorn. Deer also eat the regeneration. Not much evidence of oak wilt, which is rampant along the St. Croix River area. Make sure to not prune or injure an oak tree during summer months with heavy equipment. He would recommend a non-aggressive and selective tree harvest at some point, details on that would come out in a plan, including the harvest of less desirable trees. He noted that Red Pine trees are looking Town of Troy Park Board Minutes, April 27, 2021 APPROVED Page 3 of 6 like there are at end of life, not very structurally stable. Could be thinned once more now, then have a regeneration plan in mind after that. He said that leaving fallen trees to decay is the correct practice, as this is crucial part of soil nutrient cycling process and for wildlife habitat, and also good for erosion control. Discussed chemical buckthorn treatment and using diesel versus bark oil (more expensive) to mix with herbicide Garlon that is generally used. Question about using goats to treat buckthorn, which he’s only seen used successfully done once or twice. They graze and eat all plant species, and advise not using goats in Glover Park since native plants will be trying to grow. It hasn’t really been studied. He will email Chair Berke the community forest application; board will discuss further at future meeting. b. Discuss and consider, status of pickleball court installation project- Pete Reese Member Reese reported that the pickleball fence has been installed. Entrances do not have a fencing overlap, and instead there are two openings on opposite sides, which should be wheelchair accessible. Could add gates in future. Holes were drilled for 2 net post sets. Project stayed within approved amount. Waiting for temps to get above 50 degrees consistently to have surfacing done, hopefully in May. Berke suggested that adding signage with rules similar to the Glen Park courts in River Falls should be considered. Everyone thanked member Reese for his work on the project. c. Discuss and consider, sub committee’s recommendation for community kitchen cabinetry and countertops project-Alicia Schneider and Mark Swanson Member Schneider reported that teams will use community kitchen in two different ways: 1) during weeknight single games in the evening, selling concessions limited to bottled drinks and chips, candy; and 2) during tournaments, serving precooked and delivered pizzas due to COVID (normally they would grill). She found shelving online to match the current counter, that comes in a 12’ section so it would need to be cut down to 10’. Cost is $700 for the shelf plus shipping. She tried to get several bids but wasn’t able to find this countertop. Member Swanson noted this is a very durable surface. Unsure of installation cost. Discussed adding cabinets. Could add 4 lower cabinets under sink and 4 uppers; to the right of the sink is the space where a refrigerator could be placed. Cabinets could be reduced to 3 uppers and lowers to allow more space for the refrigerator. Cabinets would be locked for cleaning supplies and paper products stored by the Town custodian, so teams and others using the kitchen would not have access. There were Town Board concerns at their April meeting about the cabinets and refrigerator use, including securing cabinets used by the two ball organizations. It was noted that the Town does receive a portion of the concessions sold per the contract with the ball organizations. Members will view the kitchen space at the upcoming Park Site Tour, with plans to make a Town of Troy Park Board Minutes, April 27, 2021 APPROVED Page 4 of 6 recommendation to the Town Board regarding counters, shelving and cabinets to the kitchen space, and their use. d. Discuss and consider, recommendation for refrigerator or cooler use in the kitchen There was extensive discussion about refrigeration use in kitchen, and if ball clubs would purchase a refrigerator for their own use or if the Town would purchase for use by all parties that reserve the kitchen. If the ball clubs purchased a refrigerator, it would be need to be locked with their inventory inside. If the Town purchased it, teams could keep excess inventory in cabinets or in their sheds out by the fields. River Falls is willing to store their concession goods (candy, chips, etc.) in their shed. Member Schneider talked with Supr. Enerson who indicated there was discussion before the building was constructed that the teams would provide the refrigerator as a donation. The Town Board brought matter up at the April Town Board meeting with comments by some that any refrigerator needs to be accessible by all, not just by ball teams. Member Schneider reported that if teams can’t keep their items in the refrigerator throughout the ball season, they probably wouldn’t utilize the space except for tournaments. It was discussed if the Town Board might allow them to keep a locked Action Packer cooler for beverages in the kitchen. The available space for either a refrigerator or cooler will need to be measured. Chair Berke moved that the Park Board recommend to the Town Board to allow the two ball teams to place their own cooler that can be secured during their season, including the tournament season per the dates within their contracts with the Town from April 1st-July 31st for season 2021; second by member Schneider. Discussion. Supr. Cuccia feels it’s premature and the Town should look at getting a refrigerator for everybody to use as priority first. Member Swanson suggested looking at the available space, get measurements and check if both would fit in the kitchen before taking action. Motion carried 4-2 with members Berke, Huttemeier, Schneider, and Freund in favors; member Reese and Supr. Cuccia not in favor, and Member Swanson abstained. e. Discuss and consider, update report of ball teams’ schedule and reservation status Member Schneider reported we have the schedule. Park Board consensus is to extend the bathroom closing time to 8:30 p.m. Chair will contact clerk’s office to have close time extended. f. Discuss and consider, review of electric use-Jim Freund Member Freund reviewed electric use history. Cost of electric use from Jan.- April 2020 was $1717. Jan.- April 2021 was $845. Satellite costs $125 per month, total net savings of $300. Numbers to be looked at again during 2022 budget discussions. Supr. Cuccia indicated that during the first winter after construction the multipurpose building needed to be heated for the curing process. Ron Roen felt that it does not have to be heated going forward since it is winterized. Town of Troy Park Board Minutes, April 27, 2021 APPROVED Page 5 of 6 g. Update report, projects in process or completed, including new grills, trail signage, and other general maintenance-Jill Berke Chair Berke reported that a rotted trail marker was replaced at Glover Park by Ron Roen and Park Ranger. Two interpretive markers to be replaced by Mr. Schultz whose son added the markers as an Eagle Scout project. Two large aspen trees that were potential danger, leaning over Oak Trail were removed by volunteer, Dennis Berke. Large oak on Oak Trail is a potential safety hazard, needs to be removed by two experienced people, maybe tree company. Will have Ranger Becker look at it or ask JCE tree service. Cement bases need to be installed by Town for two bike racks, donated by St. Croix Bike and Pedestrian Coalition and Hudson Rotary; she will reach out to Ron Roen or Town road crew. Handicap sign and section of guard rail at South Field was taken out by snow plow. Town road crew member Al will replace guardrail. Sign was reinstalled. Ron Roen staked overflow parking area and will install a new overflow parking sign to replace the one that was stolen. Pemble’s Access - new sign installed this week by Ron Roen with updated season changes. Member Swanson saved a “No Trespassing” sign from high water on north end of beach, that needs to be reinstalled. “No Trespassing” sign on south side is gone, and not sure if it is under the water, stolen or floated away. Pemble’s Access: a. Discuss and consider, status of May 1 season opening preparation – Pete Supr. Cuccia contacted 5 Star Rentals to have satellite installed. Garbage containers are in place. Member Reese dragged some burlap bags filled with cement that Magellan left behind to trash cans for pick up. Water level is at 678 and trending down. Unless we get major rainfall it should be ok to open as scheduled. New rules sign is being delivered tomorrow. b. Discuss and consider, status of parking area restoration by Town road crew The lot is half done. They will come back with more gravel for all the parking spots to reduce potential for vehicles getting stuck. Member Swanson will be taking over gate opener duty, with member Reese as secondary gate opener. Clerk’s office is aware of change. 8. Discuss and consider, “blue dot” bike route signs on designated roads- Jill The Highway Dept. put the signs up on the bike route previously designated and approved by the Town and St. Croix County. The bike subcommittee is going to meet soon to discuss other “bike route” signs, including route into River Falls and other issues. There are other routes that can be marked in the Town that aren’t part of the County-wide approved trail system. Chair noted that one of the signs was attached by the County to the Cracked Barrel Winery directional sign at Coulee Trail and N. Glover Rd. Hopefully this isn’t a problem with the business. Town of Troy Park Board Minutes, April 27, 2021 APPROVED Page 6 of 6 9. Discuss and consider, renewal of Park Board members #5 and #6 Supr. Cuccia reported that Chair Berke and member Schneider were reappointed for 3-year terms. 10. Status report, request for St. Croix Electric Cooperative community grant- Jill Chair Berke completed the application and SCEC Board will review requests in June. Requested specifically for amenities in community kitchen with emphasis on use by ball teams and other public use. Will keep us updated. 11. Correspondence Chair Berke received complaint from neighbors to Glover Park regarding target shooting close to Glover Park. She contacted Town Chair Pearson, Supr. Cuccia, and the Clerk’s office. Another neighbor contacted parents of the boy who was doing the shooting; he apologized to the other neighbors and has stopped the shooting. 12. Announcements including confirming date for Park Site Tour, and request for future agenda items Park site tour to be May 11th at 5:00 p.m. Add to future agenda, fee for the key card replacements. Town has new drop box in front of town hall. Election of officers to also be on May regular meeting agenda. 13. Adjournment Member Swanson moved to adjourn the meeting; second by member Reese. Motion unanimously carried. The April 27, 2021 meeting of the Town of Troy Park Board adjourned at 9:09 p.m. Next Meeting: Park Site Tour is May 11, 2021 at 5pm; May 25, 2021 (regular meeting). Respectfully submitted, Amanda Randall Secretary, Town of Troy Park Board