Visitors: Patrick Ridgeway was present to speak about the creation of a volunteer effort to aid with the Tree City USA Program and Arbor Day. He thought that the Boy Scouts could help and incorporate it into their program. Mayor Stewart told him that if he would like to be the chairman of the Arbor Day celebration, we would love him to do it. It is proclaimed on April 25. This year we would like to put trees along the tennis courts. Joni still needs to contact the school to see what they think about that idea. Mrs. Blair wants the whole middle school involved and the high school will probably be also. Mayor Stewart will contact Mrs. Blair to plan it out with her. It would be good to have all the schools present for a small program and then they could all go out and clean up around town. Presenting the idea of recycling would be good at that time also. Alice made the motion to move the discussion of the Tree City USA info and the nomination of a tree board up to this time in the meeting. Chuck seconded. Motion carried with all in favor and none opposed. Mayor Stewart gave everybody an information packet about what it will take to become a Tree City USA city. There was a lot of discussion about it. Mayor Stewart made the motion to appoint the Park Board as the Tree Board ~ Mark Lewis, Chuck Smith, Mary Ann Smith, Virginia Villemez, and Mayor Stewart. Patrick Ridgeway was also included in the motion. Mary Ann seconded. Motion carried with all in favor and none opposed.
Gloria Taylor was present to discuss a fee waiver for use of the Civic Center for the Chamber of Commerce fund raiser held on March 27, 2008. Mayor Stewart would like to see the Park Board make it a policy for any local group with a 501 status to be able to use the Civic Center for free. She will type it up and it will be on t he next agenda for discussion and approval. For now, everyone gave their permission to allow the waiver since the fund raiser is happening before our next meeting.

Superintendent’s Report: Superintendent Suta said that the DOT contract is up for the restrooms in the park. He contacted them to see what they intend to do about it. They said to drop them a maintenance proposal and they would go from there. The Lewis and Clark Committee and Ron Anderson informed Superintendent Suta that we would have to put in a triple sink that is accessible to all venders before the next Lewis and Clark Days. Without it, the sanitation department will have to shut down the chili cook off and the food venders. Superintendent Suta has a plan in mind to show the Mayor and the City Council.

Recreation Director’s Report: Recreation Director Biegler gave everybody a copy of her report and it was discussed.

New Business: The financial statement was reviewed and discussed. Mayor Stewart suggested that there be two line items to separate Recreation Director Biegler’s wages billed out from Superintendent Suta’s wages billed out so it doesn’t look like Director Biegler is going over budget. Mayor Stewart made the motion to accept the financial statement ~ Mary Ann seconded. Motion carried with all in favor and none opposed.

The Business of the Month for March will be all of the licensed daycares (Director Biegler didn’t get the information to them yet); and for April, Mrs. Olson’s Preschool and both Head Start Schools. Mayor Stewart made the motion to that effect ~ Mary Ann seconded. All in favor and none opposed.

The issue of free Civic Center and Pool passes was revisited. Technically, free passes should be included as income and we will have to be given a 1099. After some discussion, Mayor Stewart made the motion to allow only full time City employees to get individual free passes to the Civic Center and Swimming Pool. Mary Ann seconded. Motion carried with all in favor and none opposed. Recreation Director Beigler will make passes and only people with passes will get in for free.