Cedar Lake Park Board approves repairs for trailer and three vehicles

The Cedar Lake Park Board voted to repair an enclosed trailer and three park vehicles after staff described damage that could lead to rust and structural problems.

Josh Vanhart, parks staff, told the board that the enclosed trailer had bent aluminum with exposed wood behind it and that moisture could cause rot. ‘‘If that wood gets wet, you’re going to start having some issues,’’ Vanhart said, and he recommended repairing the trailer to protect the investment. The board approved the repair at a quoted cost of $994.

Vanhart also presented two quotes to fix a dented fender and door on a park GMC truck: Precision Autocraft quoted $1,824.20 and Auto Touch quoted $1,691.41 (tax discussed). The board selected the Auto Touch quote and approved the repair after a motion and roll-call vote.

A 2024 Ram tailgate that sustained two incidents of damage was quoted at about $950.40 by Auto Touch and a roughly $999 estimate from another vendor; the board approved the $950.40 repair. For a Jeep with minor scratches, Vanhart recommended a dealership touch-up pen rather than full bodywork; the board approved purchasing a touch-up pen (about $72.40).

Board members pressed staff on prevention. Vanhart said the trailer will require a two-person operation when backing up to reduce collisions and suggested instituting a policy to make that standard practice. The board discussed tailgate checks and monitoring to limit repeat damage.

All motions on the repairs were seconded and carried on recorded roll-call votes. The board’s actions covered routine maintenance and asset-protection steps rather than new policy changes; members signaled they would consider a formal backing-up policy to avoid future incidents.