Commissioners propose parks and recreation reorganization; resolution to buy trailer for Higgins Ferry trash to be presented

Commissioner Perkins said the county will reorganize parks and recreation to place Higgins Ferry and Minooka under a single department and will ask the commission to approve new job descriptions and reclassify existing staff.

"We are going to do a little revamping on how the park departments currently operate," Perkins said, noting the change is intended to make the parks more self-sustaining and free county funds for other priorities.

Commissioner Bone described a separate but related request to address recurring trash pickup issues at Higgins Ferry: he proposed using park funds to buy a trailer and a truck so county crews can haul accumulated trash to the transfer station rather than rely on external contractors. "I would like that money coming from the park, purchase the trailer so we can haul the trash off to our local transfer station," Bone said. Staff said McKeeson will write a resolution for the regular meeting to (1) designate park funds and (2) purchase the truck; commissioners said the resolution will be considered at the next meeting.

Commissioners said the change to parks operations will include job-description updates, reclassifications and steps to make parks operations more financially self-sustaining. They also discussed operational details for vehicle marking and operator assignment if the county purchases a truck with lights.

No purchase was approved in the work session; a formal resolution and bid or contract are expected at the regular meeting the following evening.