Elkhart City Parks Board approves agenda, financials, contract and event permits

The Elkhart City Parks Department Board on Tuesday, Sept. 16, approved the meeting agenda and minutes, accepted financial statements showing claims of $42,091.91, authorized staff to request quotes for pond enhancements at High Dive Park, approved an updated contract with RICO and granted permits for three upcoming seasonal events.

The board voted unanimously to approve the agenda at the start of the meeting and later approved the Sept. 2 minutes. After a brief discussion of claims, the board approved financials listing $42,091.91 in claims; the staff reported there were no donations or grants to note this period.

On new business, the board approved a request for quoting — not a construction contract award — to pursue landscaping, boulder placement and erosion-control work at the pond in High Dive Park. The board also approved an updated contract with RICO; staff and the city legal representative said the meeting included signature execution following legal revisions.

Event permits approved included the Winterfest parade and tree lighting on Dec. 6, an Island Park trunk-or-treat event on Oct. 11 and Pinewood Park’s “Not So Haunted Woods” event on Oct. 18. Each permit was considered and approved individually during the meeting.

All formal motions that received a recorded voice vote were carried by unanimous voice vote. Specific recorded motions and outcomes from the meeting are listed below.

Votes and formal actions at a glance:
- Motion to approve the meeting agenda — outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve Sept. 2 minutes — outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve financials (claims $42,091.91; no donations or grants) — outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve request for quotes for pond enhancements at High Dive Park (landscaping, boulder work, erosion control and ecological restoration) — outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve updated contract with RICO (execution/signature authorized after legal revisions) — outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve permit for Winterfest parade/tree lighting (Dec. 6, Main Street/Second Street route; tree lighting on Central Green) — outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve Island Park trunk-or-treat (Oct. 11, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.; estimated ~2,500 participants last year) — outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve Pinewood Park “Not So Haunted Woods” (Oct. 18, behind Pinewood School; police and fire department partnership; ~1,600 participants last year) — outcome: approved (voice vote).

Notes: Meeting roll call established a quorum. The board used voice votes throughout; no nays or recorded roll-call tallies were read into the record. Where motions were made and seconded, the meeting record shows unanimous “Aye” responses and the chair stated the motion carried.