Parks Commission Meeting — Minutes

Town of New Glarus Park Commission Meeting Minutes Location: Chalet Landhaus Conference Room, 801 Wisconsin Hwy 69, New Glarus, WI, Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 6:00 P.M. MINUTES Park Commission Members Attending: Harry Pulliam, Chris Narveson, Jason Neton, Kelly Ruschman, Mona Sue French, Rose Pertzborn, Deputy Clerk Kramer Also Attending: Lynn Paron, George Marotta, Dan Gartzke, Grace McLaughlin 1. The meeting was called to order by Harry Pulliam at 6:06 p.m. 2. Posting of the agenda was confirmed on 10/13/2025 by Deputy Clerk Kramer 3. Minutes from the meeting held on September 17, 2025, were presented. Chris made a motion to approve the minutes from September 17, 2025. Kelly Ruschman seconded the motion. There was no discussion. All were in favor. Motion carried. 4. Public Comments: Mark Pernitz explained a 50/50 State funding grant that would cover municipal public buildings such as community centers. Community Center/Town Hall may qualify. The application is due at the end of October. The Town has hired the fellow at Vierbicher that did the successful grant application for the Village Library. One of the things needed for the application are letters of support from community members and organizations. A letter from the Parks Commission would be helpful explaining the events/workshops that have been held in the past that had difficulty locating a place to meet along with different groups such as the Beekeepers that need a location to meet. A list of workshops that have been held in the past will be gathered. Both Hary Pulliam and Mark Pernitz have people they will be contacting for support for this application. These letters of support need to be submitted by the 27th or 28th of October. Mark Pernitz will see that they are submitted with the application. Local elected officials will be contacted also. Discussion continued. 5. The Tree Sale was next on the agenda. Harry presented the mailer from last year’s tree sale for review and the new price list. Harry Pulliam talked about adding a request for donations of trees for Legacy Prairie Park along with fruit trees for the orchard. This should be a “tree fund” rather than specific trees. Discussion of what kind of trees will be offered for sale. The number of trees ordered last were Burr oaks: 27, Hazel Nut: 76, Hybrid Poplar 6, Sugar Maple 71, White Birch 49, Tamarack 56. Discussion regarding what trees to offer continued. A motion was made by Mona Sue French to purchase Lilac, Shag Bark Hickory, White Spruce, White Oak, Red Maple, and Dawn Redwood for the upcoming tree sale. Jason Neton seconded the motion. All were in favor. The layout and items on the order form for the trees was discussed next. 125 tree tubes and 92 tree stakes were ordered last year. Mark Pernitz made a motion to change the price of the trees from $4.50 per tree to $6.00 per tree including delivery, $5.00 each for tubes, $3.00 each for root dip, and $3.00 each for stakes. Extra trees should also be ordered to cover errors. If there are left over trees they could be planted at the park. Kelly Ruschman seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried. Wording on the form was discussed. There will be no opportunity for customers to pick up their trees. 6. Prairie restoration at Legacy Prairie Park was discussed. Jason Neton began the discussion. Jason along with Steve Fabos, Frank Grenzow, Harry Pulliam, Kelly Ruschman and Chris Narveson walked around the park and talked about the different areas where we would continue the prairie development. This would need to be staked out and work with Quercus. There is still a balance with Quercus. There are two parts, the eastern prairie and the triangle south of the farmette for prairie. There are some nice oaks there. Possibly putting a pavilion in this area for people to sit under the oaks. East of the farmette is also an area to consider. Hopefully these ideas fit comfortably into the budget. Should more be added to the Quercus budget to do the full area and couple grand for additional expansion on the western part. Chris talked about the maintenance of the park and cost. Fertilization and overseeding trails were discussed. 7. Darla Kramer explained the budget and funds that can still be used. She also explained the grant expenses and what is needed and what is not part of the grant. Some invoices have not been received. All the bike trails have a half inch of screenings. The portable toilet was discussed that is currently in place at the park. Kelly Ruschman made a motion to remove the portable toilet on November 1st. Jason Neton seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried. The group continued to discuss the budget. There is a part of a prairie at the park that didn’t take off. This may need to be re-seeded. The tree sale flyer was brought up again to complete the decisions that need to be made. The flyer needs to get mailed soon. Jason Neton has an address list for the tree sale flyer. The cost in the previous year was about $650.00 for the flyer. Jason Neton made a motion to spend about $750 for the flyer for the tree sale. Mark Pernitz seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried. Mark Pernitz suggested that Jason Neton decide when the flyer gets mailed and when it needs to be returned. Jason Neton suggested the flyer get sent out the first part of November with the return date in about a month from the date of mailing. Jason will keep the group informed of his progress with the development of the flyer and when its ready to be mailed. 8. The group will get a quotation from Steve Fabos for the one acre with extra seed. The anticipated expenses were discussed in relationship to the current budget. 9. Cheryl Housely from the DNR will be coming Friday, October 24th to see Legacy Prairie Park at 9:30 a.m. She will meet the group at the Park. The meeting will have to posted if there is a quorum. 10. Harry Pulliam educated the group on the grants that are available. Recreational Trails Grants will probably be available. The announcements will be late this year in December. Adding benches along the trails and signage for the tails can possibly qualify for grant money. Grants from the Green Bay Packers Foundation. Harry asked if the funding might be available for municipalities. Grant applications from municipalities have been accepted in the past when the project for which the funding is being requested is readily available to the public. They decide each year what their focus will be. Harry Pulliam will keep up to date on the status of these grants. 11. Nothing to report. 12. Meeting of the Friends of New Glarus Parks. Rose Pertzborn met with Jason Neton about details of the group and creating a 501 C-3. New Glarus Cares may be consulted. Donations may be accepted. Jason will lead the group for the first year to get things started. A website would need to be created. Jason also has an email list of people that may want to get involved. A town newsletter hasn’t been sent for a while. It may help in getting people interested. New Glarus Cares was discussed and what their role is in the community along with other ideas for a 501-C3 or other groups that might be an option. Grace McLaughlin offered to assist. 13. Signage was discussed next. Trail names were presented. Each member will email to Darla Kramer for discussion at the next meeting. Harry Pulliam presented a few names he thought appropriate. Prairie Crest Trail, Highview Trail, Woodland Trail, Bike Trail, Loveland Trail, Creekside Trail, Cross Ridge Trail, and a main sign at the entrance. These will be sent to Darla Kramer. Many of the trails are laid out in the newsletter that was sent last fall. Vierbicher may create a GIS map for the trails. Darla will contact Vierbicher to get a quote on a GIS map of actual trails. 14. A field trip to Bluebird Ridge Conservancy was discussed. This will take place on October 27, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. 15. Jason Neton interjected that Steve got back to him with a quote of $3,400.00 for the $2,700 for the seed and $700 for the labor. This is for a short grass prairie mix. This will fall within the budget. Spraying was also discussed along with maintenance. 16. A community bonfire was discussed next. There doesn’t seem to be time to organize a bonfire right now. All agreed it would be a good idea for next year. 17. Mark Pernitz made amotion to adjourn. Chris Narveson seconded the motion. All were in favor. Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Clerk Treasurer, Margo A. McMicken