minutes 09 23 25 Park Board DRAFT

Town of Troy Park Board Minutes, September 23, 2025 DRAFT Page 1 of 4 PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES September 23, 2025 7:00 pm, Town Hall, Town of Troy Members Present: Jill Berke, Mark Swanson, Caleb Johnson, Michele McElmeel, Gary Sumner, Alicia Schneider (as alternate for Dan Pearson) Members Absent: Adrian Missy, Dan Pearson (both excused) Others present: Jodie Duntley, Pam Ellingson 1. Call to Order Chair Berke called the meeting of the Town of Troy Park Board to order at 7:01 p.m. 2. Public Comment Jodie Duntley, 424 North Glover Road, spoke about the buckthorn overgrowth on the south side of the old railroad bed that runs behind her house and accesses Glover Park. She and her husband have mowed the public pathway for the past few years but are no longer able to; the Town’s contractor for lawn care at the park formerly mowed the pathway. She noted another section of buckthorn by the garden shed next to the park entrance needs to be cleared. Question raised about whether buckthorn along pathway is on private or Town property. The Park Board will discuss this during the invasives agenda topic at the October meeting. 3. Approval of minutes, including review and discussion The August 26th, 2025 Park Board meeting minutes were reviewed. Member Swanson moved to accept the minutes of the August 26th, 2025 meeting; second by member Berke. Motion unanimously carried. 4. Park Ranger Summary and Report, including discussion & review of monthly summary report There was no report to review; will review August report at October meeting. 5. Discussion with Alicia Schneider (Town Board Supervisor, District 1); Town Facebook page and upcoming Town newsletter Supr. Schneider updated the Park Board on the Town’s Facebook page and social media goals. She encouraged members to send her any photos/parks- related news. She’s working on reviving the Town newsletter and has a draft almost ready to go out. First version to be electronic only through “news & notices” on the Town website; next spring Town will look at publishing paper format. The goal is to do two newsletters a year. The Park Board thanked her for bringing back the Town newsletter. Town of Troy Park Board Minutes, September 23, 2025 DRAFT Page 2 of 4 6. Park Reports a. Cove Boat Ramp • Discuss and consider activity at ramp Chair Berke noted that with continued nice weather the ramp use remains busy. b. Glover Park • Discuss and consider, update report on security system Chair Berke spoke with Joe Sahnow, who installed the security system in the community building, and he confirmed it’s technology is outdated, and no updates can improve it. Admin. Carlson noted the Town is looking at security for all Town properties, and he will be meeting with equipment company Verkada to look at options. The Town Board will be interested in a system that’s compatible across all Town properties. He asked Park Board members to review the Glover Park map to help determine needs/goals for security. The Town would also want some type of remote viewing system. This security system update may not be part of the 2026 budget process. A lot of unknowns at this point. Subcommittee of members Missy, Berke, and Ranger Gunderson to continue work. • Discuss and consider, develop plans for “Friends of Glover Park” Chair Berke asked that the current “Friends of Glover Park” be more formalized and expressed a need to establish a plan with goals and potential park amenities and projects for legacy giving program. She appointed members McElmeel, Sumner, and Chair Berke to the subcommittee. Admin. Carlson will share information from his work experience with these types of groups and he expressed enthusiasm about the potential. c. Pemble’s Access • Discuss and consider activity and preparation for end of season closing Chair Berke worked with Admin. Carlson to develop opening and closing procedures for Pemble’s Access. Park closes Oct. 1. Chair Berke will contact Clerk’s office to have the closing announced on the Town’s website and to member Schneider to have it posted on Facebook. 7. Administrator’s Update Admin. Carlson reviewed the rural living guide the Town is preparing, based on the UW Extension guide. Members asked to review and provide any edits to him. 8. Discuss and consider recommendations to Town Board on 2026 operational and capital expenses for parks Preliminary budget numbers were reviewed. Discussed having handicapped accessible satellites at both Pemble’s and Glover Park and the need for baby changing tables. The Town can look at other vendors if Five Star Rentals doesn’t have them. Discussed having just one line item for all park maintenance instead of each park having its own maintenance category. Discussed if Public Works can do some of the work that Windmill Marina has traditionally done. Discussed just having a line item for tools across all parks, can have a miscellaneous category to cover those types of small expenses. Discussed purchase of a battery powered Town of Troy Park Board Minutes, September 23, 2025 DRAFT Page 3 of 4 hand pruner and charger for use in Glover Park, estimated cost of $250. Quotes for 6’ accessible picnic table to be placed between the bike repair station and native garden were reviewed; $1718 (includes shipping) from Pilot Rock (vendor used for community building tables). Older table was moved to pickleball court area. The Public Works crew is replacing boards on a few older picnic tables. Admin. Carlson suggested looking at overall accessible picnic tables and other amenities next year for 2027 budget discussion. Discussed anchoring the tables so they can’t be moved. Discussed benches in Glover Park and material standards, also discussed bench donation programs and locations for benches. Buckthorn eradication discussed; will use budget category, “invasives” so funds can be used to include eradication of all invasive types; budgeted $5000 for 2026. “Trail edge clearing” to be removed as we have Rangers and tools to work on this under maintenance. Park Board to put together a list of what qualifies as “maintenance” and a budget number for this category. Timber removal of currently marked trees and to-be-marked red pines was also discussed. We need an inventory of trees including species and diameter to try to get prices on this. Carlson noted that it could realistically cost the Town $100,000 to cut and haul the trees out; cut & drop would be less and could probably get volunteers to do this. Chair Berke and member Sumner will work on an inventory of tree types and diameters for Admin. Carlson to use data if logger is retained for the project. Removal of ash trees and dead pines to move forward; JCE Tree Service provided an estimate earlier this summer. Brief discussion on impact fees. a. Roof repairs to Storage Building and E. Hein Pavilion- rough estimate of $10,000 for steel roof for E. Hein and $4000 for storage building. This is for total roof replacement. Discussed previous roof repairs on E Hein Pavilion roof by G&K Handyman in 2024. Admin. Carlson will talk to Public Works lead Rick to better understand the needs for the pavilion roof. b. Glover Park monument sign-$10,000 estimate. c. Other items as identified by the Park Board Pemble’s stump grinding to be a $400 maintenance item. Satellite cost should be $1250 for 5 months at Glover Park based on rental of accessible unit. Bike routes: Chair Berke commented on possible TAP grant and other grant opportunities to connect with Hudson near YMCA camp property along County Road F. It would be good to continue conversations with the County and the Y Camp St. Croix. Admin. Carlson will figure out where we are right now with the 2025 budget. If funds are available the Town will go ahead with the ash tree removal and stump grinding. Member Johnson moved that the Park Board recommend to the Town Board the discussed and noticed items in the budget to be included in the Town’s next budget for the 2026 budget year; second by member McElmeel. Motion unanimously carried. 9. Discuss and consider renewal of contract with Hudson Boosters and River Falls Youth Ball organizations Town of Troy Park Board Minutes, September 23, 2025 DRAFT Page 4 of 4 The Park Board discussed the ball organizations’ contract renewal and the issue of storage of concessions by teams between tournaments. Member Schneider noted the Hudson Boosters are trying to build a facility in the Town of Hudson and this potential impact on the Glover Park field use; River Falls hasn’t hosted many tournaments due to lack of volunteers. Admin. Carlson will find out what other communities are charging for facility rental. Work to continue on updating and renewing the contract. 10. Discuss and consider Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP), including public participation process Members McElmeel, Chair Berke and Admin. Carlson are working on questionnaire survey to be included in the Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. Questionnaire review and progress on 2026-2031 CORP to be on October agenda. Please provide any feedback to Administrator on the directional signage map. 11. Correspondence None to report. 12. Announcements and request for future agenda items: Should hopefully have bike ordinance recommendation for October meeting. Will also present an appreciation plaque to Harvey Becker to honor his long service as Park Ranger. Invasives project, CORP plan to be on October agenda. Sign standards to be discussed soon. Member Schneider noted the Elector’s Meeting on September 29th at 6:30 p.m. regarding the fire substation. She reported that he snowplow naming contest is open on Facebook – the winner gets a ride in the plow and a piece of winter apparel from the Town. 13. Adjournment Member Johnson moved to adjourn the meeting; second by member Sumner. Motion unanimously carried. The Sept. 23rd, 2025 meeting of the Town of Troy Park Board adjourned at 9:41 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Amanda Randall Secretary, Town of Troy Park Board