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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-07-10 Regular Meeting Parks and Recreation Board July 10, 1978 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board was called to order by Acting Chairperson Zella Stierwalt at 8: 15 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Euless City Hall . Members present were Messrs. Billy Owens, Winn Porter, Don Calhoun, Matt Cushing, and Mrs. Jolly Rawlings. Also present were Parks and Recreation Coordinator Larry Morgan and Recording Secretary Maurine Butler. VISITORS Visitor in attendance was Mrs. Willie Mae McCormick. INVOCATION The invocation was given by Mrs. McCormick. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Owens made a motion to approve the minutes of the last regular meeting dated May 8, 1978, as written. (There was no meeting in June. ) Mr. Calhoun seconded the motion and the vote is as follows: Ayes: Messrs. Owens, Calhoun, Porter, Cushing; Mesdms. Stierwalt and Rawlings Nays: None Acting Chairperson Stierwalt declared the motion carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Chairman Mrs. Rawlings made a motion to elect Mr. Calhoun as chairman. (Page Two, Regular Meeting, Parks and Recreation Board, July 10, 1978) Mr. Cushing seconded the motion and the vote is as follows: Ayes: Mrs. Rawlings; Messrs. Cushing, Owens, Porter, and Mrs. Stierwalt Nays: None Abstain: Mr. Calhoun Acting Chairperson Stierwalt declared the motion carried. Vice-Chairman Mr. Owens made a motion to elect Mr. Porter as vice-chairman. Mrs. Stierwalt seconded the motion and the vote is as follows: Ayes: Mr. Owens; Mrs. Stierwalt; Messrs. Calhoun, Cushing, and Mrs. Rawlings Nays: None Abstain: Mr. Porter Chairman Calhoun declared the motion carried. Secretary Mrs. Rawlings made a motion to elect Mrs. Stierwalt as secretary. Chairman Calhoun seconded the motion and the vote is as follows: Ayes: Mrs. Rawlings; Messrs. Calhoun, Owens, Porter, and Cushing Nays: None Abstain: Mrs. Stierwalt Chairman Calhoun declared the motion carried. II . PARK AND RECREATION COORDINATOR' S REPORT Parks and Grounds Maintenance Mr. Morgan stated with the drought we have had they have been trying to keep everything alive and have only lost one of the trees that were planted around the Public Safety Building, due to non- establishment. (Paqe Three, Regular Meeting, Parks and Recreation Board, July 10, 1978) Mr. Morgan stated several small projects have been completed in Midway Park. A two rail fence has been built in front of the play area and shrubs will be planted behind it, so that children can be seen yet give it an aesthetic value. A passageway and wheel-chair ramp have been made. The portable building used by DSA during the construction of the Public Safety Building has been moved to Midway Park and placed by the shop. Mr. Phillips is using this building to keep small items and records in. Future plans are to fence this area and keep the vehicles inside the fenced area. Mr. Morgan reported that a water fountain has been put in at Carr Park for the joggers. The 30' x 60' covered pavilion in Kiddie Carr Park is finished except for painting. Several items have been added for the Day Camp; a grate to cook on, a water fountain, and a slab made for the two flag poles given by McDonald' s Restaurant. A two rail fence is under construction for the parking lot side, which is by Burgundy Towers. Shrubs will be planted behind the fence when the irrigation is in. Work is being done on the parking lot at Kiddie Carr Park with a small turn around. A six foot spruce fence has been erected behind the greenhouse area; lathing has been put up and screened with shade cloth. In the past we have used Mr. Phillips' greenhouse. Plants that were grown in the greenhouse will be moved to the shaded area, where they will continue to grow. This is located in Kiddie Carr Park. Mr. Morgan stated a lot of money has been spent on repair of lights and timers on the handball court located at Trinity High School , due to vandalism. They took a box from the old police building, cut holes in it and erected it on the outside of the court, on the northeast corner, outside of the building. All four of the timers are housed in the box, and so far they have not been vandalized. He stated they have completed the Lexan cover on the lights at West Park and haven' t had any breakage as of yet. Approximately $3,000 has been spent on replacing lens and bulbs this year. The Lexan for West Park cost $400. The total cost for installing the Lexan is $2,200; this includes rent of the crane and labor for the electrician. Chairman Calhoun asked if they plan to put the Lexan on lights in the other parks, if the vandalism continues. Mr. Morgan stated he wanted to try it one full season and if the Lexan doesn' t discolor too much, they will use it at the other parks. The Lexan is one inch from the lens and the only way vandals can shoot the lens is to hit in the one inch space. They would have to be a marksman. Mr. Cushing inquired if the lights at Midway Park are compatible? Mr. Morgan stated we have spent $7,800 there. Some of those systems are so antiquated the bulbs can be knocked out with a rock. The wire on field No. 3 is rotten and had to be shut down last year and we have a problem with field No. 2 now. We could put the Lexan on some of the lights of the other fields. (Page Four, Regular Meeting, Parks and Recreation Board, July 10, 1978) Mr. Owens asked if there were any plans for a footbridge connecting Carr Park and Kiddie Carr Park? Mr. Morgan stated there is a problem; there is a sharp bend in the creek which forces the water to swirl . The banks have been sloped and we took out the culvert pipe and put in a dry weather crossing. Hopefully, we are going to reroute the creek and have a crossover arch type bridge there. Mr. Porter asked the width of the span. Mr. Morgan stated the bridge that is there now is 20' . Mr. Porter asked about a suspension bridge there. Mr. Morgan stated they are unable to put a suspension bridge there until the creek is rerouted. They have several plans but do not know at this time what they want. Mr. Cushing stated the right of way is not a problem as the City has the easement. Mr. Morgan stated the City has the easement but there is a gas line along there and anything you put in permanent would possibly have to be moved. Recreation - Summer Activities Mr. Morgan reported they have had 110 to 115 children per session enrolled in Day Camp. This is a fifteen per cent increase. They try to have a 10 to 1 ratio of participants to teachers. The cost was $1 .00 per child for a two week session. Mr. Morgan stated the soft crafts are coming to a close at the end of this month. They will have a month to clean up and start back in September. They had a class in Disco dance with 60 applicants, teen agers and adults, but have had trouble getting a teacher. Athletics Mr. Morgan stated they took 30 boys and girls to a swim meet in Lewisville on June 24, in the Senior Citizens bus. He stated there would be a swim meet at the South Euless pool , June 15 and welcomed anyone who would like to help with the meet. He stated Mr. Cushing has been helping with the swim meets and they need volunteers. Mr. Morgan reported there was a track meet June 24th in Euless at Central Jr. High School with 200 participants, (Page Five, Regular Meeting, Parks and Recreation Board, July 10, 1978) from Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Haltom City, Lewisville and Grapevine. Twenty- four runners went to track meet in Grapevine and sixteen qualified for meet in Mesquite. A school track coach was employed for the summer and the track program has been very successful . Mr. Morgan stated that Mr. Cal Hopkins has worked with the tennis program this summer. One hundred fifty youth and adults recently participated in a tennis match. Winners from this match, which amounted to sixty people, will go to Arlington for the Regionals. The tennis courts have been brought up to par and are receiving a lot of play. Nylon nets were put up at Midway Park and have only been vandalized one time. The softball leagues have had a good season. All teams that won in their league are going to the Regionals. Mr. Cushing stated he recently attended a banquet to end the ball season and comments were made regarding the outstanding cooperation received from Mr. Morgan, Mr. Phillips and other people involved from the City. Mr. Porter stated that he has been involved with the Euless Athletic Association for several years and asked if it is fair for the youth from Bedford and Hurst to play ball and pay the same rates that the the Euless youth pay. Mrs. McCormick stated they all have cooperated together and in the last year or two there has been a great deal more provided or interchanged from Hurst and Bedford. Mr. Morgan stated he thought there were only nine youth on teams from other cities. In order to have enough people to play and make up a team in the high juniors, they had to get members from the other cities. As the program grows and as the facilities are enlarged, we are getting more participation from the Euless citizens. Mr. Porter asked if the baseball program, Euless Athletic Association, is sanctioned by the National or American League. Mr. Cushing stated the Euless Athletic Association is accepted into tournaments with Texas Teenage Baseball . Euless can do what they want to with certain limitations and still qualify for the tournaments. III . VANDALISM Chairman Calhoun asked if a vandal has ever been prosecuted in Euless. (Page Six, Regular Meeting, Parks and Recreation Board, July 10, 1978) Mr. Morgan stated, not to his knowledge. Mrs. McCormick stated the Council gave an award to someone for reporting vandalism but she did not know if anything was done. Mr. Cushing asked if the City could prosecute the child or parent for vandalism; take it to court as an example. Mr. Morgan stated it has been tried before. Mr. Cushing stated the vandalism takes money from the things we want to do. IV. COMMENTS Mr. Owens stated that he had received some complaints about the ladles restroom in West Park and a better maintenance program is needed there next year. Mr. Morgan stated the restrooms are cleaned twice a week. He wanted to be made aware of complaints as this is the only way they can improve. Chairman Calhoun stated that he had two mothers contact him and advise that the swimming pools were closing fifteen to twenty minutes early; he investigated and found this to be true. They should close at 8:00 p.m. as posted on the signs or change the signs. V. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m. APPROVED: /a ( �, C irman ha