Parks officials request restored per-park capital and outline equipment, maintenance priorities

Parks representative Becky told county commissioners the parks department is seeking restoration of per-park nonreverting capital funding and described planned upgrades and ongoing maintenance changes. "We'd like to get that nonreverting back up to $2,000 per park if that's a possibility," Becky said, adding that generational swings cost about $1,500 each.

Why it matters: Commissioners review department budget requests to decide how to allocate limited county funds. Restoring nonreverting capital would increase the parks department's ability to pay for small capital repairs and equipment without seeking a separate appropriation.

Becky said the department is planning several capital improvements: generational swings that allow adults and toddlers to swing together, a proposed disc golf installation at Hillsdale, and pickleball courts at Miller Park using an existing asphalt area. "They're about 1,500 each though," Becky said of the generational swings. She said Miller Park's large asphalt area — a former tennis court — would be a logical site for pickleball because courts would sit near the main playground.

Becky described cuts to grounds services this year that removed county mowing at several locations including the library, the old jail, the Ernie Pyle Museum and the old Hillsdale steps. She said two parks have been added since 2019 — Santa and Trailhead — and that the department's grounds line covers mowing across eight parks. That shifted mowing responsibility for some historical and nonprofit properties to the groups that manage them; Becky said those groups are struggling to find volunteers and budgets to cover the work.

Becky provided budget context: the department had a roughly $163,000 adopted budget last year and, as of July 31, had about $74,702 unspent from that allocation. She asked for flexibility so the department can save unspent capital for larger projects: "So that nonreverting capital improvement with the 8 parks where it's 16,000... I became it came on the park board in 02/2009 ... and last year that was cut to $1,000 per (park)." She asked commissioners to consider returning the line to $2,000 per park.

Staffing and classifications also came up. Commissioners and Becky flagged a misclassification in the county budget system that moved seasonal labor and maintenance into a "part-time help" line; Becky said the work should remain budgeted as seasonal full‑time hours. Commissioners agreed to move the money back to the correct line so seasonal maintenance remains funded.

Commissioners and parks staff discussed projects in the pipeline and partnerships that reduce local cost. Becky said the parks board is partnering with the Vermillion Trails Alliance and the Soil and Water Conservation District to plant pollinator gardens; she said SWCD will pay 75% of plant costs. She also asked that the parks board be notified to coordinate mowing and project schedules.

The parks presentation ended with a request that commissioners consider restoring the nonreverting per-park allotment and ensuring seasonal maintenance remains correctly budgeted; no formal action was taken during the hearing.