Illinois Valley Times

City of Ottawa Playground & Recreation Board met Nov. 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Recreation Board Members Present: Brent Roalson, Phil McNally, Randy Bretag, Steve Brenbarger, Melissa Hulse , Jason Rix (Dave Marvin, Director of Ottawa Recreation).

Others City Officials attending the meeting: Steve Kuhn, Tammi Koppen Recreation Board Members Absent: Kari Hilton, Ryan Cantlin

Guests: Chris Stone – Presented the board with a USB drive with disc golf course plans for a new course in town. Also gave us a flier for an upcoming golf event he was holding.

1. Steve moved to approve the October Recreation minutes. Melissa second. Motion passed. 

2. Maribeth moved to accept the October Recreation Financial Reports. Steve second. Motion passed.

3. Commissioner’s Report: None ( Marla absent)

a. Train playground equipment was installed at Walsh Park

b. After hearing proposals on locations for a new disc golf course install on current city property the Board is going to take a pause with the additional disc golf course proposals at this time.

i. Board will look to explore some other project first.

4. President’s Report –

a. Brent had met me the mayor, and other city officials in regards to leasing land next to Peck Park with an option to purchase. Land would be mainly use as a home to Youth Soccer. He would keep us informed as they move forward.

b. Discussed possibly decorating parks for the holidays.

5. Director’s Report –

a. Fall Dance - Dave asked for a vote on bills from the Dance that we were unable to vote on at the past meeting due to a lack of a quorum.

i. Hall Rental – Maribeth made a motion to pay KC Hall $1200 for the hall rental fee, Melissa Seconded. Motion passed

ii. Band Fee – Randy mad a motion to pay Class Act Big Band $1600.00 for performing at the fall dance. Steve Seconded. Motion passed

b. Board discussed having a Spring Dance, Dave said he would contact Jane to look into dates.

c. Men’s Basketball – Registration opened 11/13/23

i. Games will again be at Central school, on Friday nights.

d. Directors payment vouchers – Dave discussed the nature of all our bills going up in price, just like all cost in our current economy. The increase of typical budgeted bills to do business is slowing down the process of paying bills with Dave only being able to pay $1000 without a board vote. Dave indicated he would like to get an increase of at least $500, feeling this would speed up paying normal bills and save time at the board meeting for items we will always have to have to pay for, all transaction show up monthly in the financial reports.

i. Randy motion to increase the recreations directors’ ability to pay budgeted bills to $2000 without presenting the bill to the board first.

Jason Seconded, Motion passed.

1. This will be added to the bylaws.

6. Old Business:

a. Outstanding committed money

i. Lights at Peck Park Tennis courts paid $6276.80

ii. Still waiting on Little League joint project, board was paying half the amount.

b. Parks – Train playground equipment was over the initial approved quote of $31,019.00, Dave asked for a motion to increase the limit to $31,069.00 so he could pay the bill.

i. Maribeth made a motion to pay for the increase in payment for the playground equipment at Walsh Park to $31,069.00, Steve Seconded the motion. Motion passed.

c. Code of Conduct- Dave asked the board for a motion to send the final draft of our Parks and Recreation Code of Conduct to the City Council for approval. 

i. Maribeth motioned to send the Code of Conduct to the City council for approval, Randy Seconded, motion passed

7. Long Range Planning and Board Goals

a. Construction in Progress –

i. Peck Park on hold for winter

ii. Train playground installed at Walsh Park

b. Park Inspections – None

c. Long Range Plans and Review – None

8. Committee Reports

a. By-laws (Maribeth) – Maribeth presented the update changes, she asked for a motion to accept the changes.

i. Melissa made a motion to accept the changes to the Rec board by laws, Steve Seconded motion passed.

b. Financial (Ryan) – None

c. Parks (Randy B., Steve B.) –

i. Thanked Steve Kuhn and his crew for the picking up the parks.

d. Programs – (Phil and Maribeth) - None

e. Leagues – (Phil, Brent, Kari, Melissa) - Wolfpack organization

i. Waiting on information / blueprint of improvements to the fields at Lincoln Douglass to be discussed at an upcoming meeting

9. New Business –

a. Park Brochures

i. Phil had obtained quotes for updating Ottawa Park brochures for visitors / tourist, he asked the board their thought on how many were need, the board felt 500 was an appropriate amount.

1. Maribeth made a motion to purchase 500 brochures from Allegra at a cost of $492.00 Phil Seconded, motion passed

b. Power Installation for Masinelli Storage Building – Phil made a motion to run power to a storage building at Masinelli field at cost of $4240.00, (Including electrical fittings) money would be drawing from the Construction in Progress Fund. Randy seconded, motion passed.

10. Meeting adjourned.

a. Steve made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Maribeth Seconded. Motion passed.

https://cityofottawa.org/wp-content/uploads/Government/Boards_Commissions/Play-Rec/2023_Minutes/Playground-Rec-NOV-2023-minutes.pdf