08-22-2023-minutes-APPROVED

Town of Troy Park Board Minutes, August 22, 2023 APPROVED Page 1 of 4 PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES August 22, 2023 7:00 pm, Town Hall, Town of Troy Members Present: Jill Berke, Mark Swanson, Chris Gruber, Shanna Rowekamp, Joe Wusterbarth, Alicia Schneider, Gary Sumner Members Absent: Others Present: Jan Cuccia 1. Call to Order Chair Berke called the meeting of the Town of Troy Park Board to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Public Comment Request by Chair for any comments. Jan Cuccia of 132 Skyline Drive, River Falls distributed prepared comments regarding proposed ordinance changes to Chapter 109. She is opposed to prohibiting fishing at Pemble’s Access as it’s one of the few accesses to the Wild & Scenic St. Croix Riverway, and she feels that fishing and beach users’ activities do not overlap; public has had this right for 109 years. There are many days/hours were there are no beach users, Access should accommodate multiple uses. She would like the Park Board to reconsider their recommendation to the Town Board. 3. Approval of minutes, including review and discussion The July 25th, 2023 Park Board meeting minutes were reviewed. Member Swanson moved to approve the July 25th, 2023 Park Board minutes; second by member Rowekamp. Motion unanimously carried. 4. Park Ranger Summary and Report, including discussion & review of monthly summary report The Park Ranger report was reviewed. Ranger Minnich put up an additional “no parking” sign at Glover across from the South Field parking area. Pickleball parking sign to go up soon. Rangers Becker and Minnich removed fallen branches on Bluff and Oak Trails and Summit Loop. Chair Berke mentioned there was a car break-in at Glover, investigation is ongoing. Member Schneider moved to approve the July 2023 Park Ranger report; second by member Swanson. Motion unanimously carried. Ranger Enforcement Action Summary: July 2023 Pemble’s Access Cove Boat Ramp Glover Park Animal Other Totals Citations Issued: 2 9 0 0 11 Warnings Issued: 1 2 1 0 4 Town of Troy Park Board Minutes, August 22, 2023 APPROVED Page 2 of 4 5. Budget Review of Park Revenue/Expenditures; Expenditures & Funds, year-to-date 2021; Approval of Invoices The 2023 park revenue and expenditures from January 1, 2023 – August 22, 2023 as prepared by the Town Clerk, were reviewed. Member Wusterbarth moved to accept the revenue and expenditures as tabulated by the Town Clerk for January 1, 2023 through August 22, 2023; second by member Schneider. Motion unanimously carried. Income year-to-date: $13,128.65; expenses: $36,205.97. Impact fees available: $52,739.87 and county park fund balance: $63,747.83. 6. Park & Recreation Reports Cove Boat Ramp: a. Activity Continued high level of use. b. Discuss and consider, ramp cement slab condition Member Wusterbarth reported that he has not had any issues launching but he stays on the cement slab. Discussed potentially painting lines on the road to help guide trailers. Plan to continue to monitor the potential issue, and observe if other area boat ramps are marked. Glover Park: a. Update report, Town Board action, Bike Repair Station Shelter building project- Supr. Gruber Supr. Gruber reported that the Town Board is concerned about going over the $5000 budget for this project. Town Board Chair asked Supervisors Gruber and Enerson to work toward a lower the cost for the bike repair shelter. Options included the overhaul of an existing older 8 x 16’ metal building from the recycling center; and, to get a second estimate from the contractor who built the new structure for the recycling center project. Supervisors Gruber and Enerson will meet again after getting bids. Discussed possibility that location is visible on the security cameras. He will report back at Sept. meeting after the Town Board considers options. b. Update report, Town Board action, Premium Tree Protection Service bid – Supr. Gruber Supr. Gruber reported that bid was approved for up to $2000, covers the quote of $1915. Premium should have trees marked by end of this fall and will then begin marketing to different loggers with the collected volume data. Not certain, but hopefully in 6 mos.-1 year to have the marked areas/trees logged and timber sold. Josh Weyrens with Premium Tree Protection is working with Chair Berke to coordinate project. c. Discuss and consider, ball organization contract related to ongoing requests from Hudson and River Falls organizations to reserve ball fields – Alicia Schneider Member Schneider reported that the teams are using the fields for 4 Mondays (Hudson) and 5 Tuesdays (River Falls) for practices on North Field. River Falls has asked to host 5 weeks of games on Sundays starting September 10th with MBL. Contract states that fields can’t be reserved more than 1 week in advance for additional games/practices beyond what’s agreed to in the contract. But teams can’t host games if only allowed to reserve fields 1 week in advance with no guarantee of the fields being available. It’s a unique request & contract has been amended in the past. Town of Troy Park Board Minutes, August 22, 2023 APPROVED Page 3 of 4 Chair Berke asked members Schneider and Rowekamp to meet and make a recommendation for next month to amend that clause(s) to the contract and to look at reservation form used for the pavilions/fields. Clerk’s office has the practices penciled in. Discussion on how often others reserve the fields. To be on Sept. agenda. d. Discuss and consider, schedule date for South Field fencing project Member Schneider suggested date of Sat., Sept. 23 at 9:00 a.m. to reinstall fencing at South Field. Only River Falls ball organization has responded that they are willing to help. Dennis Berke can bring his tractor with auger to dig post holes. Volunteers need to sign release form. Chair Berke to send out reminder on the release form and she will share date with Ranger Becker, who will help. Member Schneider, her dad, and a friend can also volunteer. Discussed amount/method of concrete for posts; will have Rick from road crew pick up from Menards because they will need roughly 1 bag of Quick Crete per post hole. Plan is to use unused community building shelving funds for cement. Pemble’s Access: a. Activity level Remains busy, especially on higher temp days. b. Update report, change in location of buoy near beach Ranger Gunderson reported that the buoy marking the channel is gone, presenting a safety concern. Chair Berke called the Sheriff’s Dept. and river Chief explained that the Coast Guard removed most of the river buoys on the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers because they were in the wrong locations as river bottoms resettle over time, and they have no funds to reinstall them. The Sheriff’s river Chief indicated that the Town could place a buoy out there. He also suggested that repeated complaints from the public to the Coast Guard would help to get the buoy re-installed. Consensus is to bring this to the attention of the Town Board and have Town Attorney provide guidance. 8. Discuss and consider, update report, Town Board action ordinance Chapter 109, related to parks Supr. Gruber reported that the Town Board didn’t approve the Chapter 109 ordinance changes at their August meeting; they wanted more time for public input. To be on Sept. Town Board agenda. Administrator’s office was going to clean it up and then put it out again for comment. Discussed reasoning behind suggestion of prohibiting fishing at Pemble’s. Members Wusterbarth and Swanson don’t see fishing as a problem, have not seen any conflicts in their years of living on the river. Member Schneider pointed out you would never want to fish near swimmers or fish in the middle of the day. Supr. Gruber noted there’s been fishing there for 109 years with no problem. Berke noted safety as a concern and that Park Rangers offered amendment for “no fishing.” Chair Berke encouraged Park Board members to provide feedback to town supervisors before their Sept. Board meeting and/or submit public comments. 9. Discuss and consider, preliminary review of 2024 budget Former member Jim Freund met with member Wusterbarth and Chair Berke on Aug. 21 to transition the budget preparation from Freund to Wusterbarth. Preliminary budget was reviewed. Increased every line item 5%. Discussed 2024 widening/trail restoration of $10,000, needs to be done every few years due to extensive vegetative overgrowth. Increased buckthorn 5% to $6,300. Additional $2,000 for bike route signs to mark designated bike trails. Town of Troy Park Board Minutes, August 22, 2023 APPROVED Page 4 of 4 Additional $200 for brochure/advertising/signs. Reclassified bike repair station to capital expenditures. Added $600 for swim buoys for now. Discussed playground surface material under footnote #7, with possible goal is to eliminate sand burr problem. Chair Berke contacted a sales rep for rubberized material and he suggested engineered wood chips as the playground equipment is already installed; initial estimate is $12-$15/square foot. Would consider installing commercial grade landscape material underneath. Chair Berke to take measurements and will be on Sept. agenda. Will leave cost at $12,000 for now. Chair Berke will ask Rick with public works to look at water pump to see if he can adjust the timer on water fountain. Discussed adding more security cameras. Budget to be on Sept. agenda, and members to email member Wusterbarth with any suggestions or additions to the preliminary budget. 10. Correspondence Chair Berke received correspondence from potential volunteer who lives near Glover Park, and would like to help with clearing overgrown vegetation and removing some overhanging branches. He filled out the waiver form, and did some trimming on Omaha Access. He may volunteer more in the future. 11. Announcements and request for future agenda items Chair Berke has been working with Harriet Enloe, who would like to donate a bench in memory of her late husband, Bob Enloe who served as the first Park Board Chair when Glover Park was developed, Research at both Hudson and River Falls parks completed and Lee Recreation has the most suitable product for quality, endurance and comfort. Cost is approx. $1300 plus shipping. Member Swanson and Berke to check out the bench in Glen Park, River Falls, and she will meet with Harriet before the Sept. meeting. Supr. Gruber suggested digitizing the photos from Harriet of the early days of Glover Park; Chair Berke will ask for Deputy Kelly’s assistance. Supr. Gruber has begun construction of the replacement Little Free Library for the town hall entrance, and will bring it in next month. To be on Sept. agenda. Bike shelter project to be on Sept. agenda. 12. Adjournment Member Swanson moved to adjourn the meeting; second by member Schneider. Motion unanimously carried. The August 22nd, 2023 meeting of the Town of Troy Park Board adjourned at 8:53 p.m. Next Meeting: Sept. 26, 2023 Respectfully submitted, Amanda Randall Secretary, Town of Troy Park Board