As children make their Christmas lists this time of year, the Estherville Parks and Recreation Board went through a similar process in determining its capital improvements budget request for fiscal year 2013-14, at its regular meeting on Monday.
Estherville City Administrator Penny Clayton submitted a proposal capital budget using revenues from the hotel/motel tax ($34,000) and from the local option sales tax ($100,000) for the parks and recreation use.
She also reviewed the parks and recreation comprehensive plan to come up with suggestions for the capital improvements budget.
Currently, Parks and Recreation has three revolving fund balances. At the end of the current budget year-June 30, 1013-the fund for a shelterhouse in Joe Hoye Park will have $74,396, the fund for additional tennis courts $64,926 and for the eventual replacement of the Lincoln Park surface $8,000.
The following is the capital budget arrived at following Monday's discussion.
Park signs: $22,000
Thoreson ball field ag lime: $3,000
Thoreson ball field misc.: $10,000
ADA accessibility at Thoreson: $6,000
Concrete under King Park shelter: $2,000
Thoreson Trail plan: $3,500
Playground equipment (Trinity Park): $20,000
Lincoln resurfacing (revolving fund): $5,000
Hoye shelter (revolving): $25,000
Pool - bathhouse roof: $15,000
Pool basketball hoop: $2,500
Aquatic Center planning $20,000
Thoreson miscellaneous items include batting cage nets and surfacing, foul posts, yellow fence guard, trees for shade between Thoreson 1 and 2, fence repairs and bleacher repairs.
Clayton remarked that the funds allocated for the improvements would be used as far as they can go and the remainder handled by subsequent budgeting.
Board members discussed how much additional tennis courts are needed. It was determined that Clayton will discuss with school officials if they are able to put funds toward shared tennis courts.
If an agreement isn't reached with the school, the parks and recreation board discussed using the funds earmarked for the tennis court for the shelterhouse at Joe Hoye Park.
Clayton noted there isn't disability access at Thoreson for the ball diamonds. Part of the funds will be used for a curb cut at Thoreson I. Previously, the parks and recreation board has discussed a trail within Thoreson Park. Board members suggested putting together a design and then doing a section each year with the first portion giving disability access to Thoreson II and III fields.
In discussion of Trinity Park, board members noted in preparing a comprehensive review of all the parks that it has the oldest equipment.
Board member Gary Phillips suggested any new equipment be targeted at a "younger crowd."
The $20,000 designated toward an aquatic center, along with Excel! Estherville monies, will be the beginning of planning and designing such a facility.
The capital improvement requests will be submitted to the Estherville Finance Committee for its approval.
In other business Monday, the board reviewed the budget for new park signs and drawings. The materials for the signs will be similar to the Estherville gateway signs and the first one will be installed at Spurgin Park.
Under updates, Clayton told the board that the Army Corps of Engineers and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources have approved the plan to install a berm to protect the Estherville Rock Garden. Bids are due in February and work will start in the spring if there is no flooding.