Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Operations And Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Staff outlines tree replacements, staffing hires and Lions Park improvements
Summary
District staff reported plans to replace trees that died over the summer, described recent staffing changes and hires, and detailed a $60,000 Lions Park fencing project coordinated with a local baseball organization and a city street project that will add curb, gutter and sidewalk along Cameron.
District staff reported several operational items during the meeting: a program to replace trees that died over the previous summer, recent staff turnover and hires, and planned improvements at Lions Park that include fence replacement and coordination with a city street project that will add curb, gutter and sidewalk along the park's south border.
Director Steve Klotz said staff will prioritize tree replacement in early spring when ground moisture and root establishment are favorable but acknowledged the district has more trees to replace than can be completed in a single spring season. Staff will assess why trees died — possible causes include public damage, maintenance incidents, insects or disease — and will choose diversified species and placements to increase survival. Klotz said about 11 trees funded through a library-related project remain unplanted because of construction changes; those trees will be redistributed in the park system.
On staffing, Klotz said the district's crew size has been four or five staff plus the director since formation. Two recent employees left: one to the City of Bozeman parks department and one to an EMT position. The district hired one new employee with about 20 years of local landscaping and lawn-care experience and is scheduling interviews for three additional hires, with the goal of reaching a staff of six for the coming season.
Lions Park projects and tournaments
Klotz said Lions Park has an identified capital project in the current budget of about $60,000. District staff have been discussing improvements with a local baseball group; the group requested fence replacements on two small fields that host state tournaments. Staff said the district is coordinating the fence work with a city public-works street project that will install curb, gutter and sidewalk along Cameron from the Catholic church to the senior center on the park's south side. Staff and city engineers plan the work to avoid interfering with regular season play and special tournaments.
Staff also noted increased seasonal work from new walking-trail maintenance, cross-country/Nordic grooming and maintaining skateable ice rinks.
Next steps
Klotz said that with the master plan adoption the board will form a CIP ranking committee to prioritize capital projects; he asked board members to consider volunteering to serve. Staff said they will return next month with committee details and a proposed ranking schedule.
This article's attributions come from the meeting record and staff remarks by Steve Klotz.
