Parks commission recommends city accept $1,600 memorial-bench donation for Montrose Park Wildlife Area

The Lake Elmo Parks Commission recommended that City Council accept a $1,600 donation from Christina Tunseth to purchase and install a memorial bench and plaque in memory of Peter David Eppeland at the Montrose Park Wildlife Area.

Commission staff member Adam said the donor requested the bench be placed near the park's south entrance, at or near the kiosk, where the bench would also afford a view of the lake. "It's ordered separately from the vendor, but it is attached," Adam said about the plaque.

The donation would cover purchase and installation; the commission was told funds would be placed in the parks general maintenance fund and that public works staff would handle installation. Adam described the bench material as a hard plastic designed to last longer than wood and estimated a multi‑year life expectancy barring vandalism: "we expect in the last 10 plus, 15 plus years, in our community." He said the benches would be identical or very similar to previous benches installed in Sunfish Lake Park.

Commissioners raised routine questions about liability, construction standards and maintenance. Adam said construction would be inspected and conducted by public works staff and that if a bench were later destroyed the city would communicate with the donor about replacement rather than automatically replacing it. The commission noted that any special terms or departures from prior practice should be recorded in the minutes.

A commissioner moved to recommend that City Council approve the donation "to purchase and install a memorial bench to be placed into Montreville Wildlife Park, in with a plaque in memory of Peter David Eppeland not to exceed $1,600." Another commissioner seconded the motion. The commission approved the recommendation by voice vote; the meeting record does not specify a numeric tally.

The commission's recommendation now goes to City Council for final action. The donation form included the donor's placement preference and a request that the plaque commemorate Peter David Eppeland.