Franklin Park Board swears in new member, elects officers and approves athletic fund appropriation

The Franklin Park Board in Franklin City swore in Tim Shuck as a board member, elected officers, and approved a 2025 appropriation that allows the parks department to spend from the Athletic and Recreation Fund.

The board administered an oath to Tim Shuck, appointed by Mayor Steve Barnett, who responded “I do.” The board then nominated and approved Beth Admire as president, Michelle Stringer as vice president and Tammy as board secretary by voice vote. The board approved Resolution 25-01, the annual athletic and recreation fund appropriation, authorizing the department to spend from that fund; board members voted by voice with no roll call recorded. The board also ratified contracts for the 2025 concert series, approving three acts the department had arranged.

Why it matters: The parks department’s operating budget is roughly $4,500,000, financed about half by appropriated taxes and half by athletic and recreation fees. The appropriation gives staff authority to spend fee-generated revenue for programs and facilities that the department runs directly.

Board actions and outcomes

The board formalized several routine governance and budget items by voice vote. Those included swearing in an appointee, electing officers, approving minutes and claims, confirming personnel actions, adopting the athletic and recreation appropriation, and ratifying summer concert contracts. The appropriation sets initial spending authority from the athletic and recreation fund at roughly $1,250,000 for 2025; staff said they may return later in the year if additional appropriations become necessary.

Department and program highlights discussed

- Cemetery staffing: Staff reported that Green Lawn Cemetery’s long-time sexton had resigned earlier and the board has appointed Dale Mason as the new cemetery sexton; staff said Mason has worked at the cemetery previously and "is doing a great job." (staff comment)

- Pickleball-court lighting: The Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council has worked on adding lights to the Young Scribe pickleball courts; staff said the Board of Works accepted a quote of about $40,000 and a pre-construction meeting has already taken place. Staff said the lights should be installed by spring.

- Active adult center: Construction on the active adult center is underway and staff estimated the project is about 40% complete; a prior completion estimate of July 4 has shifted and staff said the latest target was April. The board was told to expect forthcoming requests to approve furniture and equipment purchases.

- Concert series: The board ratified three contracts for the 2025 concert season: a Taylor Swift tribute scheduled for June 21, an Elvis tribute band in September, and Soul Juice Band (based in Las Vegas). Staff said contracts were reviewed by the city attorney before ratification.

- Program finances and fees: Staff reviewed the athletic and recreation fund and program-level revenue trends. Examples provided included amphitheater revenue figures presented by staff as 2.73 (this year), 3.13 (last year) and 0.446 (the prior year) as presented in department materials; staff cautioned that those numbers were presented in the packet and may reflect internal unit conventions. Kickapoo program revenue was discussed: staff reported $222,000 in revenue last year (with prior years at $184,000 and $180,000) and said Kickapoo has historically run at a loss; staff described measures for 2025 including a modest fee increase ($5) and taking additional participants (each 10 participants roughly adding $15,000–$18,000 to revenue). Staff attributed past shortfalls in part to unanticipated pay increases for seasonal staff after enrollment numbers were set.

Public comment and other business

There were no substantive public comments recorded beyond a brief exchange about a citizen who regularly attends meetings. Staff noted ongoing routine items — claims, minutes and human resources approvals — and said they will provide new members with prior meeting minutes and reports so they can review earlier decisions.

What’s next

Staff said the full 2025 concert schedule should be announced by Feb. 1 and that items such as furniture quotes and other purchase approvals for the active adult center will return to the board for action over the next few meetings.