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Park board accepts 2024 fourth‑quarter variance report; multiple finance items approved
Summary
The board accepted the 2024 fourth‑quarter PARCC variance report with discussion about rising insurance and utility costs, approved payment of claims and payroll and accepted gifts and donations. Board members asked staff to have city controller’s office explain insurance allocations at an upcoming staff meeting.
The Michigan City Parks and Recreation Board on Feb. 19 accepted the department’s 2024 fourth‑quarter PARCC variance report, approved payment of claims and payroll, and accepted several gifts and donations.
Board members questioned notable variances in the report. A presenter said property insurance increases are handled centrally by the city controller’s office and that the parks department is self‑insured for some items; the controller negotiates rates citywide and allocates costs to departments. Staff invited board members to a March staff meeting at which the city insurance administrator (Charlie Keane) will explain how property and liability allocations are determined.
Members also discussed a rise in utility costs, which staff attributed in part to water main breaks and leaks at Millennium Plaza and the amphitheater and to higher NIPSCO energy rates. Staff noted that last year’s first quarter included two major storms that also affected heating costs.
The board reviewed the zoo and golf revenue variances. Staff said golf revenue appears inflated in the report because the course received a $119,000 insurance payment for hail damage that was recorded in revenue for the quarter; zoo revenue benefited from additional open weekends. Longevity pay increases and higher staffing costs also accounted for some category increases.
Actions taken at the meeting included: - Motion to accept the fourth‑quarter PARCC variance report — approved by voice vote. - Motion to pay the claims docket totaling $74,582.45 — approved by voice vote. - Motion to approve payroll for Jan. 19–Feb. 1 (pay date Feb. 7) — approved by voice vote. Payroll was reported during the meeting as approximately $65,000 (transcript reports $65,000.75); the transcript did not record a roll‑call tally. - Motion to accept gifts and donations (including multiple $400 youth baseball sponsorships and a $10,000 park donation listed under an MOU) — approved by voice vote. - Motion to approve zoo endowment invoices totaling $561.90 for avian and barnyard fence repairs — approved by voice vote.
Why it matters: The finance approvals keep department operations solvent and scheduled maintenance and repairs funded. Board attention to insurance and utility drivers suggests an interest in understanding departmental cost allocations and potential mitigation steps.
What’s next: Staff will invite the city insurance representative to a March staff meeting to explain allocations and to answer board questions about self‑insurance and ways departments might reduce risk and cost.
