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HARTFORD PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES Wednesday, May 6, 2026 5:30 PM – City Hall Council Chambers Present: Todd Rusniak, Scott Helms, Joe Kohler, Dan Hummel, Ken Mikulec Excused: Kate Carroll, Chris Becker 1. President Rusniak called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM; "This is an open meeting under 19.81 to 19.98 of the Wisconsin State Statutes". 2. Approval of Minutes –Approval of the February minutes was tabled due to lack of quorum that was at the February meeting. Motion by Hummel, seconded by Mikulec to approve the March minutes. MOTION CARRIED 3. Informational Monthly Staff Reports – Reviewed 4. Communication and Correspondence – None 5. Appearances / Public Comments – None 6. Old Business – None 7. New Business ADMINISTRATION Mayor Appointment to the Commission- The Mayor re-appointed Alderperson Kohler as the aldermanic representative for another year. Election of Officers – President Rusniak opened the floor for nominations for President of the Parks and Recreation Commission. MOTION BY Hummel, seconded by Mikulec to nominate Todd Rusniak as President. No other nominations. The floor was closed. MOTION CARRIED President Rusniak opened the floor for nominations for Vice President of the Parks and Recreation Commission. MOTION BY Mikulec seconded by Hummel to nominate Scott Helms as Vice-President. No other nominations. The floor was closed. MOTION CARRIED Rocket Lighting Presentation for Centennial Park Bridge– Rocket Lighting presented concepts for illuminating the walking bridge/dam in Centennial Park. Lighting adds safety and beauty. This is being sponsored by Volunteers for a Beautiful Hartford (VBH). The lighting will be year-round as opposed to the seasonal/holiday lighting that has been a tradition for a number of years. VBH is looking for any guidance, feedback, thoughts and concerns. Matt from Rocket Lighting gave many options including flood lighting, landscape lighting, side lighting, bridge lighting, down lighting, changing color lighting and more. Costs range from $3000 to $8000. Staff and Commission love the project. The Director expressed some concerns regarding vandalism with the landscape lighting. President Rusniak likes the lighting coming off of the bridge and matching the Libary lighting. Alderperson Kohler likes the bridge lighting and downlighting on the waterfall. This system is around $8,000. When asked about life expectancy, Matt said it should last 15-20 years if not longer. Recommendation to Approve Construction Contractor for West Side Park Seating Area - The 2026 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget includes $50,000 for the construction of a sheltered seating area by the pickleball courts and playgrounds at West Side Park. The area will be a 2,340 square foot concrete pad and 20’ x 30’ open shelter. Zuern Building Products is donating the shelter materials. Bids were requested for the concrete and shelter construction. Three bids were received, however two of them were for concrete work only. Prospective Construction, LLC of Hartford WI was the only bid for both concrete and construction of the shelter. Staff recommends the approval of Prospective Construction of Hartford. Prospective Construction, LLC was also recommended by the City Building Inspector. MOTION BY Rusniak, seconded by Kohler, to approve Prospective Construction LLC of Hartford for the concrete work and construction of the shelter donated by Zuern Building Products for the West Side Park seating area at a cost not to exceed $49,798. MOTION CARRIED Recommendation to Approve Installation Contractor for Willowbrook Court Lights - The 2026 CIP budget includes $80,000 to replace the lights at Willowbrook Park courts. The project includes removal of the out-of-date existing fixtures that were installed in 1991 and replacing them with a new SportsCluster system with total light control and LED technology. The new system will include player activated push button control on a timer and retrofitting the existing poles. Musco Lighting is a Sourcewell awarded contract holder, which is a pre-competitively bid contract that government, education, and nonprofit organizations can use to purchase products and services. Sourcewell handles the competitive solicitation process. Staff recommends the approval of Musco Lighting for the purchase and installation of a new SportsCluster system. Musco Lighting includes product assurance and warranty program for materials and onsite labor, eliminating 100% of our maintenance costs for 10 years. MOTION BY Mikulec, seconded by Hummel to approve the purchase and installation of a new SportsCluster lighting system at the Willowbrook Basketball/Tennis Courts with a total light control with LED technology from Musco Lighting for a cost not to exceed $76,200. MOTION CARRIED Recommendation to Approve Contractor for Willowbrook Courts Re-Surfacing - The 2026 CIP includes $65,000 for the resurfacing of the Willowbrook Park Tennis and Basketball Courts. Every 5-7 years the courts should be surface cleaned, cracks repaired, binder coating applied, color coating completed and lines re-painted. This work is overdue. The bid additionally requested an alternate project to clean and fill the engineered expansion joints between the courts with a compatible core patch binder. Three bids were submitted with staff recommending K&S Driveway Guys, Eagle River, WI. for a cost not to exceed $65,000. While their base bid is $55,640 and the alternate bid for cleaning and filling the expansion joints is $4,485 for a total bid of $60,125, staff anticipates over 50’ of linear crack repair needed at a cost of $20/LF. Staff finds it prudent to ask for the total budgeted amount. Presdient Rusniak commented that the last time this was done, it was around $45,000. The Director said that was the cost in 2018. Commissioner Mikulec asked if the large crack in the tennis courts will be addressed and the Director said it would. Commissioner Helms wondered if Park staff is able to maintain the care of cracks as they appear. The Director said that with the help of DPW, the minor cracks can be addressed with staff. MOTION BY Mikulec, seconded by Rusniak to approve K & S Driveway Guys, Eagle River, WI for the Willowbrook Park Tennis and Basketball Court resurface project at a total cost not to exceed $65,000. MOTION CARRIED Recommendation to Approve Purchase of Park Truck - The 2026 CIP budget includes $56,250 for the purchase of a replacement truck for the Parks and Cemeteries. The current 2009 GMC Pick Up Truck has increased maintenance costs and breakdowns. Ewald Automotive Group provides staff with manufacturer options and pricing for a base vehicle requested and available under the approved State bid pricing. Staff recommends approval of the purchase of a 2026 Ford F-150 XL Truck from Ewald Automotive Group for the Parks Department. MOTION BY Kohler, seconded by Hummel to approve the purchase of the 2026 F-150 XL truck from Ewald Automotive Groups for the Parks and Cemeteries Department for a cost not to exceed $34,672. MOTION CARRIED Recommendation to Approve Purchase of Building Maintenance Vehicle - The 2026 CIP budget includes $60,000 for the purchase of a replacement for the Building Maintenance Department’s 2010 Ford Transit Cargo Van that has frame issues and was suggested for replacement by the City mechanic. Ewald Automotive Group provides staff with manufacturer options and pricing for a base vehicle requested and available under the approved State bid pricing. Staff recommends approval of the purchase of a 2026 Ford Transit Cargo Van from Ewald Automotive Group for the Buildings Department operations. MOTION BY Rusniak, seconded by Mikulec to approve the purchase of the 2026 Ford Transit Cargo Van from Ewald Automotive Groups for the Buildings Department for a cost not to exceed $43,990. MOTION CARRIED Recommendation to Approve Installation Contractor for Recreation Center Boilers - The 2026 CIP budget includes $300,000 to replace the Recreation Center boilers that heat the building and indoor pools. The current boiler is at its life expectancy and was pushed out an additional year for other projects. Staff proposes a new high efficiency unit which is eligible for rebates and will lower the building’s energy costs. Three bids were received. Staff recommends the bid from J & H Heating. The bid from Basset Mechanical, while lower, does not include several items from the 20 items scope list. Basset Mechanical was given the same timeline as the other bidders and as of today, still were not able to provide an updated quote. Staff is not comfortable moving forward with an incomplete quote. Building Maintenance Supervisor explained that Basset Mechanical Materials Specialist missed the other items on the quote and hoped to resubmit on Thursday, tomorrow. Staff believes that the new quote will be significantly higher. The Director mentioned the timing of approval is of essence as the project is best scheduled during the pool maintenance shut down at the end of August and thus it is important to sign a contract soon. The Director and Maintenance Supervisor reiterated their satisfaction with the work J & H Heating has done for the City MOTION BY Kohler, seconded by Hummel to accept the quote from J & H Heating for Recreation Center boiler at a cost not to exceed $201,500. MOTION CARRIED Operational Budget Expense Reductions and Revenue Increases for 2027 - The City is facing a budget deficit of over $900,000 for the 2027 operational budget. This deficit affects years beyond 2027 as well. All City Departments are being asked to identify areas for cost savings and enhanced revenue. A vast list was presented to the City Council on April 14. Departments were able to close that gap to an estimated $200,000+. Concepts presented by the Parks and Recreation Departments are: • Increase shelter reservation fees • Increase most programs by $5 including but not limited to: Youth Sports, Pee Wee Sports, Swim Lessons, Pre School Classes, Tots, Fitness • Increase non-resident fee by $2 • Decrease labor budget for Flag Football • Decrease funding for fitness equipment & program staffing gym supers • Increase drop-in program fees by $1 for gym, pickleball, fitness room, basketball, soccer • Increase volleyball team fees by $25 • Decrease funding for building furniture updates • Eliminate financial support for community-based programs: City Band $5,000, Senior Center $14,000 and Community Chorus $5,000 • Charge athletic clubs a $1,250 per season for field use • Charge athletic clubs a $25/night fee for light use at West Side Park These changes will contribute over $100,000 to the city’s budget deficit. Commissioner Mikulec asked what happens to CIP money when a project is under budget. The Director said that the City Administrator likely could give more details, but in summary, it stays in the general CIP fund to be used should other projects go over budget. However, Commission and Council approval would be needed to fund CIP’s that are higher than budgeted. Summer Activity Guide –This guide was released on April 17 and can be found on the City’s website as well as copies at the Recreation Center. Gymnasium Maintenance Closure – The gym will be closed May 11 – 22 for painting. RECREATION PROGRAMS / ACTIVITIES Summer Staffing Report – Hiring for summer programs is going well. Summer Playground staff, often a difficult program to hire for, currently has enough staff for anticipated registrations with two new playground staff and three returning. The Youthball Coordinator is returning for a third summer. Umpires are still needed. Fitness Classes – The first session of summer fitness classes will begin the week of June 1. Sips, Snacks and Sounds – The first of the three-part summer series sponsored by Hartford Community Service Inc is Friday, May 8, 5:30-8:30PM. The food truck is Cousins Lobster, beverages from Brewed Omen and music by Jon Rouse. ADULT / YOUTH SPORT Youthball Report – The first game is scheduled for Monday 18th. Most games will start after Memorial Day. Coaches meetings have been held for most leagues with T-ball meetings to be held next week. There are thirty- one teams total, which is on par. President Rusniak asked what the highest level of ball is offered. The Program Supervisor explained there is a 12- 14 year old Fastpitch Softball team and 13-14 year old Koufax hardball team. There will be 12 games scheduled for each of those teams this summer. Both will play Slinger and Richfield. Village of Leroy reached out to schedule games which is new this year. Koufax also plays games with Pabst Farm YMCA. AQUATICS VMAC Summer Schedule – Opening day is May 30th. Pre-season schedule will be May 30-June 10 as schools wrap up for the year. Pre-season weekday hours are 4:00 - 7:00 PM. Lap swim and water walking will begin on June 8th. Toddler swim begins on June 11th as do the night swims. Swim Pass Sales – Season passes are n sale during office hours. There is a $10 discount off of family passes and $5 off individual passes if purchased by May 28. Swim Lessons – There are 105 classes, each with 6-8 spots. The first session starts on June 15th. Maintenance Update Report – The Building Maintenance Supervisor summarized the work done which included masonry work on the Lazy River step, to the flag pole sleeve, and the zero depth break wall. Also, the 26 main bottom pool grates were replaced which is required by VGBA law every 10 years. HARTFORD FAMILY AQUATIC CENTER SPONOSRED BY THE LUTZ FAMILY FOUNDATION Summer Schedule – With the transition to the VMAC pool, the Indoor Pool’s schedule will change for the summer. Open Swims, Toddler Swims and Water Walking will move to VMAC. Morning, senior, noon and two evening lap swims will still be held at the indoor pool during the summer. Swim Lessons – There are 48 classes at the indoor pool this summer. The first session starts on May 27th. PARKS OPERATIONS Parks Project Report – March and April projects included: Tree Trimming / Removal Equipment Maintenance Burials – 3 Snow Removal Stained New Storage at Woodlawn Installed Rotary Pier West Side Park Netting Along First Base Replaced Improved Floor Joint in Willowbrook Park Stone Shelter Opened West Side Pickleball and Willowbrook Courts Willowbrook and Woodlawn Tree Planting Ridge Cap Repair at Independence Park Shelter Installed Homestead Park Shade Preparing Shelters and Bathrooms for the Summer Park Season Installing Pickleball Court Nets, Tennis Nets, Volleyball Nets, etc. Skate Park Expansion Grading Brown NuTone Earth Day - Broan hosted their annual earth day clean up with 60 employees at Woodlawn Park, West Side Park, and St. Killian’s Cemetery (New). Over 25 bags of garbage were collected. Arbor Day – Forte Bank Planting Forte Bank donated 5 Willow Trees and helped plant them in Willowbrook Park the week of Arbor Day. Staff thanks them for their generosity. In addition, the City planted three trees at Woodlawn Park with a presentation by volunteer City Forester Cory Gritzmacher to our local Scout Troop 3794. OTHER REPORTS /COMMISSION REQUESTS None ADJOURNMENT MOTION BY Mikulec, seconded by Hummel adjourn at 6:43 PM. MOTION CARRIED Submitted by, Randy Wojtasiak and Sara Cummings "Persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations for attendance at the meeting should contact the City Clerk at least one (1) business day prior to the meeting." Members of the Common Council may attend the above meeting. Pursuant to State ex rel. Badke v. Greendale Village Board, 173 Wis. 2d 553, 494 N.W. 2d 408 (1993) such attendance may be considered a meeting of the Common Council may attend the meeting without violating the open meeting law."