MAINTAINING THE PARK Park Supervisor Nick Ramos pictured discussed maintenance of the Montpelier parks including the repair of the waterslide
By: Daniel Cooley
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
The Montpelier Park Board meeting, held on July 5, began with the call to order. Board members in attendance were Angela Hillard, Matt Reid, and Brett Saneholtz.
In the first order of business, the board approved the meeting minutes from the previous June 7 meeting.
Next, the board approved the June financial statement. The net revenue through June 30 was $290, 387.62 and the bet expenses were $223,338.97. That put them in the black for $67,048.65.
Park Supervisor Nick Ramos then gave the park and pool maintenance report. Ramos reported that there was a major leak in the sand filter.
The water department came out and with their help, there is now just a small leak, and it is operational. The gasket doesn’t quite seal and Ramos is ordering another seal, in hopes that that will remedy the situation.
Ramos stated that the parks department sprayed for weeds in the cracks and sidewalks around the park and also weed whacked.
Next, Ramos discovered a problem with the water slide, that the pump was just sucking in air. Ramos found a crack in the phalange that held the intake pipe to the slide. Johnson’s Supply delivered the needed part and the problem was fixed.
Ramos said that the parks department continues to do regular upkeep and maintenance of the pool: testing changing catch baskets, refilling chlorinator, checking water lines and getting the slide started for the day.
In the park itself, the battery was replaced on the ABI Force machine and power washed the Storrer Park Pavilion. Also, they are currently power washing the concession stand walls and benches.
Next, Ramos installed a new security light at Storrer Park and put a cage around it to protect it. In addition, a new motion/light sensitive switch has been installed in the women’s restroom.
Ramos then fixed a swing chain that had come down and tightened bolts and screws on the rest of the playground equipment.
Next, the parks department trimmed low hanging branches in the parks and filled in low areas and bare spots in the park with topsoil and then planted. This was also done to the football practice field and to corners of baseball and softball diamonds.
The parks department is still mowing once a week and weed whacking every other week.
Found pegs for the baseball and softball commissions to move in bases, in order to hold little league games on the pony league diamond.
In addition, at the beginning of the month, did some extra mowing around the track, for two invitationals and two league wide track meets.
Recreation Director Sandy Gordon then gave a recreation update report. First, Gordon stated that she updated the park webpage and Facebook pages, which have been extremely busy this time of year.
Thus far, 265 have signed up for soccer, which is on track for 300. Also, collected registration forms, collected concussion forms and sudden cardiac arrest forms for each child participating in park programs.
Gordon reported that 18 signed up for the junior gardeners’ program, which is twice as many as last year.
A total of 104 kids signed up to tie dye shirts and 77 registered for Free Space and 58 kids attended the Create a Candy Bar event.
For Tot Ball, 86 kids participated, creating eight teams. In order to do this, registration forms were assembled, teams were set up, rosters were created, and coaches’ manuals were created.
The manuals included copies of emergency medical forms, rules, and code of conduct. Concussion paperwork was given to new coaches, to ensure that they were trained on concussions.
Next, held a coaches meeting, handed out picture packets, ordered uniforms, distruibuted equipment and assembled first aid kits for coaches.
Gordon thanked the recreation staff for helping with the equipment and setting up the coaches’ folders.
Next, Gordon said that the rec staff assembled 200 goody bags for Bean Days at Founders Park. Gordon coordinated with three of the bands for the Bean Days and made sure to give COI for events to the insurance companies.
On June 9, only 28 attended an outdoor movie. Gordon said that they will evaluate after the next movie night, whether to continue with it, or to only hold one or two movie nights per year.
In June, served 333 free lunches, which was down from 463 free lunches, one year ago. Supplies were gathered each week from Millers New Market and Two Brothers Market.
Gordon monitored and oversaw concession stand and staff and recreation staff. Took deposits to the bank and ordered product for the concession stand.
While the main concession stand closed at the end of June, it will reopen for the girls’ softball tournament and tot ball in July. Fifteen games were added for the 8U boys’ tournament week.
Gordon continued weeding, watering containers, planting gardens and mulching and ordered two replacement tot seats for the playground.
The rec staff sprayed cans, mixed concrete to pour in them and inserted T-posts for handicapped and no parking signs near Founders Park for Bean Days. Gordon thanked Chris Hinkle for cutting the posts and the Senior Center for donating the cans.
Next, took pavilion and pool reservations and are now almost out of reservations.
Gordon attended Supervisors’ meetings and attended a virtual meeting with the administration and Feller Finch, in order to discuss a park masterplan for the sidewalks.
It was decided that the administration would figure out exactly where to put in the sidewalks, the first step in a master plan.
Gordon also met with Police Chief Dan McGee to discuss logistics for the National Night Out and the Bean Days, which will take place from July 14 through July 16.
For Bean Days, Gordon stated that there are 19 game vendors and four bands. If there is rain, Attaboy, which is slated to perform on Saturday night, would move to the House of Prayer.
Also, Ohio Wheelmen has been moved to Empire Street, so that they will have more room. They will perform there, right after the Bean Days Parade, which is slated to begin at 1 p.m. on July 15.
Next, a motion was made and then approved by the board, to ask the Friends of the Park to fund a multiuse tennis and pickleball court, for $3,500.
With no other business, the board voted to adjourn the meeting.
Dan can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
