Gallatin Park Board approves lease agreement for multiple organizations at July 19 meeting

The Gallatin Park Board met July 19 with J.D. Dowell, Sue Downey, Sharon Berten, Joe Griffin, Michelle Allen, Damon Hennen and Alan Bradford attending. Mayor John Thomas and approximately 30-40 other members of the community were guests.

Lance Rains presented a lease agreement for the FFA, Daviess County Fair Board, Knee-Hi 4-H Club, Gallatin Men’s Club, and Gallatin Saddle Club. He asked the park board to vote on this agreement, which has already been approved by the city council.

Sandra Alden discussed that the grass at the area was approximately 6-8 inches tall and had not been mowed.

Sharon Berten stated that Toby, David and she decided the play area should be mowed first.

J.D. Dowell moved to accept the lease agreement. Approving the agreement were Michelle Allen, J.D. Dowell, Alan Bradford, Damon Hennen, and Sue Downey. Sharon Berten and Cassie Richards were opposed.

David Rains has requested that he be sent five copies of the minutes. Mayor John Thomas also needs a copy of the minutes.

J.D. Dowell moved to table the bills for Kevin Berten for the mowing until the board is able to meet with him. The motion was seconded. It was decided that Michelle Allen will contact Kevin Berten by phone to make sure that he can be at a special board meeting set for July 26. Michelle will contact the board members to let them know that Mr. Berten will be at the meeting.

Damon Hennen moved to pay the rest of the bills. Motion was seconded.

Soccer was discussed. It was decided to leave the price the same as last year, $25 for one child, $45 for two children.

Michelle Allen discussed that the boy Scouts didn’t keep the ball park clean this year while they had the concession stand, and this is part of having the concession stand. This will need to be addressed next year if the Boy Scouts want to have the concession stand next year.

The outside bathrooms need to be finished, and the inside bathrooms at the shelter house need to have handicapped rails installed. It was decided to have these things taken care of as soon as possible. Dennis Carpenter is interested in completing these jobs.

Alan Bradford discussed the pond at the park and stated that biologist Jerry Wiechman has been to the pond. The biologist feels that the pond needs to be started over. The deepest part of the pond is six feet, with three feet of water. There are cattails in the pond that is killing everything in the pond. The pond issue will be tabled until the next meeting.

Three porta potties were demolished at the park. Alan Bradford will check into getting plans for a concrete bathroom for the park. Damon Hennen will get information on permanent bathrooms for the park and report back to the board.

J.D. Dowell is going to look into the north field grass area having a possible RV parking area for a couple of slots, and then later putting in another ball field.

Alan Bradford discussed a possible carnival during the Daviess County fair time. Discussion was tabled until the next meeting.

Dennis Carpenter presented the board a bill for putting the playstation together for $14,915. Payment of the bill was approved.

The next regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Aug. 16, 2004.