The Elkhart City Parks & Recreation Board unanimously approved a set of routine administrative and event-related items at its November meeting, including the 2026 wage and fee schedules, acceptance of donations and a grant, and several vendor memoranda of understanding tied to the city’s Winterfest celebration.

Chair (unnamed) read claims of $142,701.32 and the board voted to approve the claims. The board also accepted $2,000 in donations — $1,500 from Granger Community Church and $500 from Hotel Elkhart — to help support Winterfest, and unanimously accepted an AEP Foundation grant of $5,000. Staff noted these acceptances are being formalized for controller and state board of accounts paperwork.

Brianna, identified in the meeting as the parks office manager, presented the 2026 wage schedule and explained the department combined pool and beach pay categories and added a separate line for interns. Board members questioned whether front-line staff working with children, such as camp directors and assistant directors, should receive higher pay; Brianna said the department had previously increased wages but did not see improved candidate quality and that the current schedule remains competitive with neighboring cities. The board approved the 2026 wage schedule.

Staff also described modest increases in the 2026 fee schedule tied to facility operating costs and recent pavilion improvements; McNaughton sessions rose by $25 while some other fees remained unchanged. The board discussed ensuring fee increases align with completed improvements and approved the fee schedule unanimously.

On a capital project item, Jamieson (parks staff) reported the Walker Park restroom building is complete after delays. Staff said they had considered assessing $20,000 in liquidated damages for the contractor’s late completion and identified an unexpected $19,800 cost for a water-service hookup. The department negotiated an agreement in which the contractor would waive certain fees to offset delays and additional costs; legal reviewed the terms, and the board approved the agreement with J. A. Wagner.

Event coordination items for Winterfest were also approved. Liz Dautner, event coordinator for Elkhart Parks and Recreation, presented a memorandum of understanding with Entertaining Angels (EA Pro) to provide sound and event IT across Main Street and Central Green. Rose Rivera from the city’s legal office advised two contract edits — limiting indemnification to negligence and clarifying that “adequate security” means intermittent police presence — and recommended approval contingent on legal changes and delegation of signature authority to Jamieson; the board approved that approach.

The board approved a separate memorandum with Jingles All The Way Reindeer Farm to provide a live reindeer at Winterfest; staff said the vendor will manage the animals’ care and cleanup. That motion passed with one board member abstaining. Liz also outlined Winterfest logistics, including a lighted parade at 6 p.m., tree lighting at 7:30 p.m., live ice sculptures, multiple partner activations and free ice skating for children 12 and under.

In department news, Jamieson announced the recent hire of assistant superintendent Nathan Kane, who will begin next month. Bethany Auton, assistant lead park ranger, delivered monthly ranger statistics (2,572 patrons in October, down 33% from September) and summarized ranger responses to incidents including a lost child reunion and referral of a stray kitten to the humane society.

The board set its next meeting for Dec. 16 in Council Chambers and adjourned.

What’s next: Staff will finalize contract documents per legal edits, complete required filings for grants and donations, and implement the Walker Park restroom agreement; consultant reports and staffing updates will return to the board for future review.