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Murray County approves kayak rental contract, parks bylaw changes and awards fairgrounds building bids
Summary
The board authorized a $20,000 contract for a self-service kayak rental station at Sundquist Park, approved parks-advisory bylaw amendments, and awarded multiple bids for the Cattlemen’s Association Building at the fairgrounds, including a concrete award that carried with one abstention.
The Murray County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 18 approved several parks and fairgrounds actions, including a contract for a self-service kayak rental station, amendments to the parks advisory board bylaws and multiple construction-related bid awards for a Cattlemen’s Association Building project at the fairgrounds.
On a recommendation from the county parks board, commissioners approved a five-year contract with Rent Fun LLC to place a four-unit self-service kayak rental station near the swimming beach at Sundquist County Park on West Lake Sarah. The vendor’s one-time fee is $20,000; rentals will be $25 per hour and revenue will be split 50/50 with the county. County Attorney Travis Smith told commissioners the contract contains no early termination option other than for breach or bankruptcy, and said he did not see other legal issues with the agreement. The motion to install the station was moved by Jackie Meier and seconded by Mark Carlson.
The board approved recommended amendments to the Murray County Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission bylaws, including membership and meeting-minute handling changes. The park advisory changes were recommended by the parks board at its Jan. 23 meeting; Mark Bartosh and Justin Hoffmann were listed on the parks board recommendation record.
Regarding fairgrounds work, the Cattlemen’s Association Building project—previously tabled to allow the local association to review bids—moved forward. The county has budgeted $110,000 toward the project, with the association responsible for remaining costs. The board awarded the concrete bid to Huset Construction ($42,072), construction to Ankrum Cabinets & Construction ($141,300), electrical to Mear’s Electric ($23,500) and plumbing to Slayton Plumbing & Heating ($43,285). The concrete award passed with a roll-call vote: Loy Woelber abstained; Jackie Meier, Mark Carlson, Dennis Welgraven and Roger Zins voted aye. Motions to award the remaining bids were approved as recorded.
Parks Director Justin Hoffmann provided a detailed update on 2025 and preliminary 2026 parks and fairgrounds projects, including dust control, racetrack lighting, restroom and shower repairs, tree replacement plans tied to emerald ash borer damage, site electrical upgrades, sidewalks and picnic shelter work and Fair Board grant priorities such as installing a water hydrant at the FFA barn and upgrading sound and lighting.
The board instructed staff to proceed with contract finalization and standard project execution steps.
The concrete bid roll-call and the county contribution toward the fairgrounds project were recorded in the minutes; other votes were recorded as passed without roll-call tallies.
