The Elkhart Parks and Recreation Department park board voted to approve a series of contracts, permits and financial items at its Aug. 19 meeting, with several approvals made by voice vote and a small number conditioned on legal review.

Most votes were routine and passed by unanimous voice vote. The board approved claims totaling $94,943.58 and accepted donations of $690. The board also approved contracts for performers and event permits tied to the Island of Blues Music Festival and other community events.

Liz Stoutnauer, event coordinator for Elkhart Parks and Recreation, presented two performer contracts for the Island of Blues Music Festival on Sept. 13: Apache Blues, an all-female band based in the Chicago area, and Big Daddy Dupree's Bridal Hungry Blues Band, described as a local favorite. Stoutnauer described Apache Blues as “out of the Chicago area, and they're an all female band.” Both contracts were approved by motion and voice vote.

The board approved a permit for a disc-golf anniversary tournament at Nylen Park and several community event permits, including two Burn Boot Camp workout permits — Sept. 6 at Walker Park and Sept. 27 at NIBCO — presented by Stoutnauer.

The board also approved contingent use of the Pierre Moran Park pavilion by Elkhart Schools for an immunization clinic on Aug. 28, provided the city legal department signs off on the user agreement. James, superintendent of city parks, told the board the schools are requesting an immunization clinic from 1 to 6 p.m. on Aug. 28 and asked for contingent approval so staff could finalize the agreement.

Rose Rivera from the legal department said the recommendation was to approve contingent on legal review. Rivera summarized the legal staff position: “My request today would just be that you approve this contingent on approval of legal, and we can work with her to see, yeah, if there's a way to get this done the way she wants to.”

The park board granted contingent approval for the Constitution of the United States wreath-laying event planned for Sept. 21 and approved the event permit contingent on legal review, after a lengthy public comment from a resident-organizer describing the program.

All routine approvals — agenda amendments, minutes from Aug. 5, claims, donations and the performer and event contracts listed above — passed by voice vote with board members responding “aye.” The meeting adjourned following a motion to adjourn that also carried by voice vote.

Votes at a glance
- Amend agenda to include Pavilion use at Pierre Moran Park: approved (voice vote).
- Approve meeting agenda (Aug. 19, 2025): approved (voice vote).
- Approve minutes of Aug. 5, 2025: approved (voice vote).
- Approve claims: $94,943.58 — approved (voice vote).
- Accept donations: $690 — approved (voice vote).
- Approve Apache Blues contract (Island of Blues, Sept. 13): approved (voice vote).
- Approve Big Daddy Dupree's Bridal Hungry Blues Band contract (Island of Blues, Sept. 13): approved (voice vote).
- Approve disc-golf anniversary tournament at Nylen Park (date associated with Island of Blues festival): approved (voice vote).
- Approve use of Pierre Moran Park pavilion by Elkhart Schools for an immunization clinic on Aug. 28: approved contingent on legal department review (voice vote).
- Approve Constitution wreath-laying event permit (Sept. 21): approved contingent on legal department review (voice vote).
- Approve Burn Boot Camp permits: Sept. 6 at Walker Park and Sept. 27 at NIBCO — both approved (voice votes).
- Adjournment motion: approved (voice vote).

Board actions were recorded as voice votes; the audio transcript records the motions, seconds and repeated “aye” responses but does not include formal roll-call tallies by member name.

Ending: The board completed routine business and approved the event, contract and financial items noted above; several approvals were contingent on review by the city legal department.