Fall Activities Keeping Recreation Commission Busy

The Grant County Recreation Commission board met on Monday, November 1, 2021 in the Terry Stuart building. All five board members were in attendance: Jen Hittle, Amy Orosco, Josh Eddie, Sam Hayden and Daron Cowan. The meeting was also attended by Director Krista Anderson, Kristi Breese, Cheri Hoppenstedt and Tammie Hensley. The meeting was called to order by Hittle at 5:30 p.m.  A motion to adopt the agenda was made, seconded and carried.

Cowan gave the Treasurer’s report. Payroll and accounts payable totaled $94,949.59 for the month of October 2021. The motion to accept the Treasurer’s report, the previous meeting’s minutes and the consent agenda was approved.

Hoppenstedt reported on what is going on at the pool. There was a good turnout for the dive-in movie with 35 enjoying the movie “Jaws” while swimming. She held a CPR class on October 30th with five participants. Another class is scheduled in November. Hoppenstedt said she had been approached by some senior citizen swimmers about allowing seniors to swim for an hour anytime between 5:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. free of charge. There is already a senior citizen hour scheduled from 8:30 to 9:30 each morning. The board told her they would discuss the proposal and make a decision.

In the written staff reports. Anderson reported that the Story Book Trail was installed in Prairie Winds Park by students from Ulysses High school. 

Kristi Breese reported that the annual Trick or Treat trail had 49 businesses signed up to participate, eight did the window painting contest and there were seven donors to the trail. She also asked if it would be possible to change the hours at the Activity center during the winter hours. Since it gets dark so early, the patrons are staying to wait for rides which is making the employees later in getting done with cleanup. The board said they had no problem with the hours being changed during the winter.

Steve Carrithers added two more bids to finish the concrete around the batting cages and a 26’ by 26’ pad beside the cages which will be a 4-person batting station. The additional bids were from B & E Construction for $12,300 and S & R Construction for $15,728.16. The previous bids were from Barrios Construction for $13,407.84 and Armando Anguiano for $11,050.00.

In sports, Edeka Hauser said that coed volleyball was done and it was a fun season. Adult flag football is starting with five teams. Zach Romero will be supervising this. Boys basketball is underway with six teams plus two from Johnson in the third and fourth grade. Fifth and sixth grade numbers are low, so Hauser will continue to take registrations for that group. The deadline for girls basketball is December 3rd.

From the Wellness center, Zach Romero reported that the Turkey Trot was coming up on November 6th. He had to have the chain on the air bike fixed. Otherwise, all the equipment is running fine.

In new business, the board members signed a contract with Lesli Lerma who will be coaching the boys and girls basketball. Anderson reported that she is waiting for some paper work to be returned by the man interested in coaching wrestling.

In old business, board members talked with Keith Jackson of Anixter via phone regarding the LED lights purchase for the ball fields. Mr. Jackson said that it would be February or March before the lights could be delivered. He could order them with a purchase order from GCRC and would not need a payment until the lights are delivered. Anderson will take care of getting him that purchase order. Cowan rescinded the motion from the previous meeting to cash out the CD to purchase the LED lights for the coed softball fields and the motion was approved. It was also decided to table the issue of charging for adult soccer teams to use the fields since the season is over. 

A motion to move into executive session was made by Eddie for the reason of personnel matters not to exceed 30 minutes beginning at 5:58 p.m. At 6:20 p.m., the board came out of the session with the decision to keep senior citizen swimming at the same time and not to extend it to any time of the day. Orosco moved for adjournment with Cowan seconding. The meeting adjourned at 6:22 p.m.

The recreation board held a special meeting on November 8, 2021 at the rec office. The meeting was attended by all five board members and Kristi Anderson. Jen Hittle called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Hayden asked to go into executive session at 5:31 p.m. with the session lasting no more than 15 minutes. The board came out at 5:43 p.m. with Cowan moving to have the lights replaced on the two softball fields for a total of $70,094. CD 56001 will be cashed out to pay for the lights and the Utility Vehicle for the sports complex when the CD matures. The CD will be split into a cash value for $45,532 with the remaining amount ($56,536) put into a three month CD.  This would then be cashed out at maturity to pay for the remaining lights and utility vehicle in 3 months. Hayden seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Orosco made the motion to adjourn the meeting, Eddie seconded and the meeting was adjourned at 5:43 p.m. The next meeting of the Grant County Recreation board will be Monday, December 6, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.