Park Board Minutes - 01/28/2010".r
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Wichita Falls Park Board Meeting
January 28, 2010
W.F. Recreation Center
Room 202, 60011 m Street
1:30 p.m.
Presiding: Alan Donaldson /Chairperson
Members Present: Alan Donaldson, John Hirschi, Stephen Garner,
Penny Miller, Ben (Chip) Filer, Sharon Roach,
Stephen Priester and Jim Miller
Members Absent: Robert Riddle, Mary Ward and Peg Marquardt
Staff Present: Jack Murphy and Genice Wilson
City Council Representative: Councilor Jim Ginnings
Guest: Elmer Emory
CALL TO ORDER:
Alan Donaldson called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.
A Certificate of Appreciation signed by Mayor Lanham Lyne was presented to
Elmer Emory for his service on the Park Board since December 18, 2001.
Jim Miller was introduced to the board as the newest member and the Oath of
Office was read.
Minutes of December 3, 2009 meeting were put before the board and Ben (Chip)
Filer made the motion to accept the minutes. Penny Miller seconded the motion.
Minutes were approved.
The election of officers for the 2010 Park Board was put before the board. Ben
(Chip) Filer nominated Alan Donaldson as chairperson. Stephen Garner seconded
the nomination and it was approved unanimously. Sharon Roach nominated
Penny Miller as Co- Chairperson and Stephen Garner seconded the nomination.
Approved unanimously. Ben (Chip) Filer nominated Stephen Priester for the
position of Secretary. Penny Miller seconded the nomination and it was approved
unanimously.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORT:
_ 1. The Holliday Creek Trail project has been awarded by the TXDOT. There will
be a pre- construction meeting a week from Tuesday. Maybe, by next Summer
or Fall we will have a three mile trail along Holliday Creek that will connect the
two six mile trail systems. One is the Lake Wichita trail system and the other
'lA is the Lucy Park trail system.
2 The construction of the connector trail on Rhea Road should begin in about a
week or so. This is intended to be a neighborhood only connector and there
o will be no parking for the public. Access to this connector trail is on Rhea
Road on the east side of the drainage ditch. The contract for this was awarded
to the Garza Construction Co. out of Vernon.
3. The grant for the Wichita Bluff Open Space was turned down by the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department, so, the City will have to do the project on its
own. Jim Ginnings inquired why it was turned down. Jack Murphy said that
N they stated it was due to a lack of funding. We will be able to apply again in
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July. Mr. Ginnings also wanted to know if the City will have any say in the
Holliday Creek Trail project. Yes, it is a joint project with TXDOT.
4. There was a discussion on the Wichita Bluff Open Space trail, whether it needs
to be concrete or some other material. Several of the board members would
like to see it stay as natural a setting as possible.
5. Other projects that the Parks Department is doing are the usual winter tasks.
We are planting about 200 more trees at the Flyover site to complete Phase 1.
6. Another ornamental structure is going in over the traffic control cabinet on
east bound Kell. It will be the Water Mill, which we have had stored for at least
five years.
7. The City Council is finishing the boundary survey at Lake Wichita.
8. The City has a new assistant City Manager, Kevin Hugman.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Discussion of Lake Wichita and Park Improvement committees.
Penny Miller volunteered to take over the chair position for the Lake Wichita
Committee and Stephen Garner, Ben (Chip) Filer, Stephen Priester, and Jim
Miller will assist her
The Park Improvement Committee consists of Alan Donaldson, Sharon Roach,
Penny Miller and Peg Marquardt.
Alan Donaldson wanted to know when the City Council will be having the Town
Hall meeting with the property owners about the survey of property in order for
members to attend. That meeting will be held Thursday, February 0 at the
First Baptist Church in Lakeside City at 7:00 p.m.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. There was a discussion on trying to get more advertisement out on the Park
Board's success stories.
OTHER ITEMS:
Penny Miller had some concerns about some issues she had heard about from the
public. One was why the City has no Dog Park. The other was about the
maintenance of the restrooms and score board at our softball complex. Jack
Murphy was unaware of the problems and said he would check into it.
She also wanted to let the board know about the Spring training coming up in
March for the Texas Master Naturalist.
Stephen Garner suggested that Elmer Emory might be recognized at the Boards &
Commission Luncheon this Fall.
Sharon Roach ask about the Southwest Parkway Pond Project. It seems to be
going well.
Ben (Chip) Filer wanted to know about the horses grazing on city property next to
Weeks Park. Jack Murphy said that would be up to the City Council.
Jim Ginnings ask if Jack had any interest in the retention pond by the Academy
Sports for fishing activities support by Texas Parks & Wildlife. Mr. Murphy said
that the site was planned by the City to be a storm water retention pond site and
not a park and promotion of a fishing activity will predictably result in demand for
additional City resources that are not now available.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 2:40 p.m.
Signature: I
Alan Donaldson /Chairperson