Board backs short-term safety fixes for pavilion and limited consultant work for Fire Station 1

The board directed staff to prioritize short-term repairs to the Fireman's Park picnic shelter and allowed Parks & Recreation to use budgeted funds to address immediate safety and cosmetic issues at the shelter and in Fire Station 1. Gail, the Parks & Recreation presenter, described an engineering assessment showing multiple columns with rot and several wood kickers needing replacement; the engineers estimated $122,599 to perform necessary repairs on the shelter and noted other costs to address suspected hazardous materials and ADA issues in Fire Station 1.

Trustees debated two approaches: spend $30,000 on a consultant to develop a long-term remodel plan for Fire Station 1 or use the existing $50,000 budgeted line to make immediate, safety-driven repairs and preserve the shelter through the summer community celebration. Concerns included deferred maintenance, asbestos-floor replacement costs (which would be high if removed), limited indoor/outdoor program space alternatives, and whether the village has funds to support a major renovation.

Trustee Kaminski moved (and a second supported) a motion to: assess and perform repairs that will keep the pavilion safe for at least a year and to allow use of the existing budget line (about $50,000 originally, with ~$27,600 already spent) for safety and cosmetic repairs and to allocate remaining funds toward consultant work as appropriate. The motion passed by roll call (Aye: Warren, Katz, Baum, Jan Miller, Borst, Rick Miller, Kaminski/President Soderbergh; No: Pieper). Several trustees emphasized making the pavilion safe as the immediate priority and bringing back more detailed cost estimates for major renovation during the budget process.

Next steps: staff will scope emergency repairs to extend pavilion life (target: through the July celebration), provide cost estimates for medium-term fixes (3–5 years), and return options for the board to consider in the budget cycle.