COLOMA TOWNSHIP PARK DISTRICT
MONTHLY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
March 8, 2011
The Regular Monthly Meeting of the Coloma Township Park District Board of Commissioners was called to order on Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. in the Park District Office located at 508 East 11th Street in Rock Falls, Illinois.
Present: Commissioners Sigel, Nardini, Stindt, Walker and Bubbers
Absent: None
Also Present: Michael P. Sterba, Director of Parks & Recreation
Commissioner Bubbers motioned to approve the minutes of the Regular Monthly Park Board Meeting of February 8th, 2011 as presented. Commissioner Stindt seconded the motion. Roll call vote. All ayes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Walker motioned to approve the February bills in the following amounts:
Corporate Fund $
/14,375.15
/Liability Fund /
1,816.94
/Recreation Fund /
4,183.29
/Retirement Fund
/4,036.06
/Bond Construction #28 Fund
/4,553.40
/Museum Fund
/355.52
/Bowman Park Development Fund
/129.17
/Police Fund
/539.00
/Total $
/29,988.53
/Commissioner Bubbers seconded the motion. Roll call vote. All ayes. Motion carried.
The following is a listing of the Work Fare People from Coloma Township, Whiteside County Probation Office, Project Chance, Department of Human Services, Experience Works and Partnership for Employment that have worked for us the past month. Also included are total days worked in February and in 2011.
ColomaTWP / Happy
Temps / Probation
Dept. / Whiteside
County
Housing / Dept.
Human Services / Experience
Works / Partners/
Employment
Days in Feb. / 1.5 / 0.00 / 0.00 / 0.00 / 12.5 / 10 / 0
Days in 2011 / 75.5 / 0.00 / 160.75 / 0.00 / 30.5 / 157 / 342.00
Dept. Human Services: Brandi McNinch
Experience Works: Ron Keleman
Coloma Township: Brian Vinson
Director Michael P. Sterba reported there was nothing new since the last Park Board Meeting in regards to the Joshua Park Development Project. As of now the project is on hold until the Spring weather breaks. We anticipate that to be somewhere near the end of the month. It’s time to alert all of the remaining contractors that still have work to be done at Joshua Park especially Scheaster Excavating who needs to be the first contractor out of the box. Once he completes his final grading work the other contractors can get started on their part of the project. If things go well we plan to have the whole project done sometime in June.
Director Michael P. Sterba reported that the Park District consolidated election will be held on Tuesday, April 5, 2011. Commissioners Nardini and Walker are up for reelection. Commissioner Nardini will be running for a full 6 year term and Commissioner Walker will be running for a two year unexpired term. Both Commissioners Nardini and Walker are running unopposed at the April 5, 2011 election. Sterba will keep the Park Board informed of any new developments in regards to the Park Districts consolidated election.
Director Michael P. Sterba presented documents in regards to the Rock Falls Recreation Trail Committee for the Park Boards review.
Director Michael P. Sterba reported that The Whiteside County Board of Review met on Thursday, February 10 to consider the Rock Falls Walmart Assessment Appeal. After a long discussion back and forth between the board and Walmart representatives the final negotiated settlement is as follows.
a. Walmart’s old assessment is $32.52 per square foot.
b. Walmart’s new assessment will be $30.00 per square foot for the next three years.
c. Rock Falls Walmart paid $63,000 in real estate taxes last year .
d. Rock Falls Walmart will pay $57,230 in real estate taxes this year.
This is the final story on the Rock Falls Walmart tax assessment appeal.
Director Michael P. Sterba presented copies of the Rock Falls Branding Committee Agenda and Minutes for Thursday, February 17, 2011 for the Park Boards review.
Director Michael P. Sterba reported that The Quad City Mallards will sponsor a Sterling-Rock Falls night on Saturday, March 12th in the Quad Cities. The tickets are $10.00 and are available at the Shell Gas Station for anyone who is interested.
Director Michael P. Sterba reported that The Park District has been contacted by the Sheryl Wagner Family who has expressed an interest in donating a bench and plaque to Wallingford Park, approximate cost $1500. She stated that they wanted to make a donation to Wallingford Park because their family lived on East 8th Street for many years and enjoyed many occasions at the Park site. Sheryl will report back to the Park District on what and when they decide to make the final donation to the Park.
Director Michael P. Sterba reported that the Park District has received documents from the city of Rock Falls in regards to the downtown TIF District Amendment and also information from the Joint Review Board that was held on Tuesday, February 15, 2011.
Director Michael P. Sterba presented copies of a check for $4,000 from Mrs. Ellsworth Logan which represents her annual gift to Logan Park. Also enclosed is a letter provided by the Park District to Mrs. Logan so she’s able to receive a tax deduction for generous contribution to the Park District as required by law.
Director Michael P. Sterba presented the proposed Metro Enforcement contract for the Park Districts security services for the 2011 season. The hourly rate is the same as the 2010 figures. After a discussion among the Park Board Members Commissioner Stindt motioned to approve the Metro Enforcement security contract for the 2011 season as presented. Commissioner Walker seconded the motion. Roll call vote. All ayes. Motion carried.
Director Michael P. Sterba presented a check for $1500 from the Rock Falls Civic Fund. The check represents the Rock Falls Civic Funds 1st Quarter Distribution. The Rock Falls Civic Fund is a sub agency of the Whiteside County United Way.
Director Michael P. Sterba presented copies of the IAPD Legislative Update dated for February 2011 for the Park Boards review.
Director Michael P. Sterba presented copies of a letter from Whiteside County Clerk, Dana Nelson thanking the Park Board for the use of the Little Red School House for a polling place. As you can see by the letter they have difficulty finding appropriate election locations.
Director Michael P. Sterba reminded the Park Board that the Coloma Township Park District will host the Northwest Illinois Association of Park Districts bimonthly meeting on Thursday, March 24th at the Candlelight Inn. Social hour will be at 6:00 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Peter Murphy the Executive Director of IAPD will be the speaker for the evening. Also Jason Anselment the new legal legislative representative for IAPD has also been invited to attend. Obviously, all of the Park Commissioners and their wives are invited to attend. It should be an interesting meeting with Peter presenting some of the challenges of the future for the Leisure Movement in Illinois as well as across the country.
Director Michael P. Sterba reported that he had attended the “Friends of the Hennepin Canal” meeting held at the Rock Falls Hotel on Wednesday, March 2. Their main function is to try and get the canal restored from the Rock River down to Sheffield then over to the Mississippi. The committee has done some amazing things in the last 2 years of their existence. One of the main reasons for that is it’s being represented by former State Senator Todd Sieben out of Geneseo. Geneseo is 100% behind getting the three locks in their area repaired so that people can travel again thru the locks. They gave a very informational Power Point presentation as well as a YouTube video of what is happening right now currently in Ireland and in England with the canals that they have throughout their country. We will see a great deal more information coming out on the restoration of the canal because they have the IDNR as a partner to see if the canal might be renovated. Enclosed please find some documentation in regards to the current status of the canal renovations.
Director Michael P. Sterba presented copies of an article written by Karla Nagy that will appear in the “Northwest Quarterly Magazine” this Spring. Karla called the Park District and got some information for the article. Sterling and Rock Falls are being featured along the Rock River in the article.
Director Michael P. Sterba reported to the board that he has made a formal complaint to Dan O’Connell from the Illinois Department of Joint Purchasing in regards to the problems that the Park District had in purchasing two new Kabota tractors off of the state bid. Mr. O’Connell stated that he would look into the problem and he thanked us for making our problems known so that they can improve the systems for all governmental bodies that participate.
Director Michael P. Sterba also reported that he has been conducting the research trying to secure funding to purchase a new pump for Centennial Park and possibly some sort of a decoration (whale or dolphin) to enhance the look at Centennial Park. The pump and featured item would be located at the south end of Centennial Park.
Director Michael P. Sterba presented his Monthly Directors report to the Board.
IPRA also sent us the Monthly Board Meeting Minutes for our review.
The Park District has received the Monthly Newsletter from the Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce for our review.
Commissioner Walker motioned to adjourn the Regular Monthly Board Meeting until Tuesday, April 12th, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at the Park District Office located at 508 East 11th Street in Rock Falls, Illinois. Commissioner Bubbers seconded the motion. Roll call vote. All ayes. Motion carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 12th, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at the Park District Office located at 508 East 11th Street in Rock Falls, Illinois.
Adjournment 9:00 p.m.
______
Minutes Submitted by
Michael P. Sterba
Director of Parks & Recreation
______
Date Donald E. Stindt, Secretary
Coloma Township Park District
Board of Commissioners
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