PALMER TOWNSHIP RECREATION BOARD

FEBRUARY 16, 2010

The regular monthly meeting of the Palmer Township Recreation Board was held on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 with the following in attendance: Chairman Marc Knox, Vice Chairman Jeff Young, Secretary Bill Webb, and Members Bob Walker and Chris McBrairty. Also present was Supervisor Liaison Bob Smith. Knox opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m.

MINUTES FROM JANUARY – Minutes from the January meeting were approved on motion by McBrairty, seconded by Webb, and agreed by all.

TREASURER’S REPORT – hold until next month.

PUBLIC COMMENT -

Stealth Baseball Tournament request - They are requesting the use of the fields at the Palmer Complex for July 3 and 4 with a rain date of the 5^th. Smith stated if they are going to be using the gator that under no circumstances are children allowed on it. Young asked if they will be using field 2 and 6. Webb stated they wouldn’t if they were needed that there will not be any conflict at all. There will be a charge of $50 per field per day. On motion by McBrairty, seconded by Walker, and agreed by 5, Webb abstaining, the request for the fields was approved.

Palmer Veteran’s League – Senior Division – John Dununzi of the Palmer Veteran’s League Senior Division was present requesting permission for their fields from April 1 through August 31^st. This would be the Keystone park field. Board noted they don’t have any problems with this league and there is a charge which will be verified and the league will be informed of. On motion by Walker, seconded by Young, and agreed by all, the Board approved the use of the field for the veteran’s league. Approval is conditioned that the rosters be submitted as well as insurance.

Palmer Veteran’s League – John Kerbaugh was present with an application for their league to reserve the fields at Keystone from April 1 to September 4. They only play Monday through Friday, not weekends. Insurance notification was sent to the township; rosters will be submitted when they are ready and the fee will be checked. They are not having any tournament this year. On motion by Webb, seconded by Young, and agreed by all, this request was approved.

Palmer Softball League – Bill Raven – Raven informed the Board that in 2004 they had 16 teams in their league. Now it is down to 6 teams. They had started a co-ed team which increased their league. He stated Palmer Township teams will be using the fields on Tuesday nights and they will be using the fields after the kids are done. They will be done by 11:00. Their team also will use the fields on Monday and Wednesdays. Thursday and Fridays are the co-ed teams. There are 20 co-ed teams. Young stated when they met with Raven they didn’t talk about using the fields on Saturdays and asked when they had tournaments. They will work together on this. Raven noted that the Softball Association will open the refreshment stand and keep the proceeds. Young noted since Palmer is going to use the fields maybe there should be a reduction on the electric bills/field rental. Raven stated they need to repair the fields again with lots of dirt. He also stated they had an issue with someone who used the fields last year. This gentleman reserved the fields and the game was played during rain and damaged fields. The fields had to be repaired. Bill wanted to know who has the authority to cancel games on fields. He asked if there could be a field fee to put on hold until games are over and someone checks on the condition of fields. Board agreed that Raven will have the authority to cancel and if there is a problem he should call a board member. He was assured that the Board will stand behind him for whatever decision makes.

Raven noted they are continuously upgrading the fields but asked about the grass area. How do they improve this area without making it more work for the grass cutters. Smith explained to him about during off season they aerate fields and revamped areas. Bill stated they are willing to do it but they need information. Smith informed him that if they were planning to fertilize/spray these areas they have to check with Scott Kistler since people have to be licensed to do this. Raven noted they were looking at new dugouts and wanted to get some information on them. Smith told him to contact Tom Adams; he would be able to help him with designs on these. On motion by Walker, seconded by Young, and agreed by all, the request for Riverview ball fields for the Palmer Softball Association was approved. They season runs from April 1 to November 5 and there are tournaments throughout the season. Young asked if soccer would be able to use the fields in November for practice under the lights. Everyone will work together for this.

Pastor Daniel Cook of Bethel Memorial Baptist Church was present seeking a baseball field for 1 night a week for about an hour or two. This would be for the church’s team and would be from April 12 to July 7, Monday through Thursday. Board informed him that they really don’t know where to put them. Young stated they only thing they could do was wait until his numbers come in and they discuss it. Board agreed to hold this application until next month.

Jason Kleedorfer and Brian Otto were present representing a newly formed semi-pro football team that would like to play in Palmer. Kleedorfer felt having their team here would help Palmer kids and feels there is a need for something to do for older people to do. They would work with the township on the field fees and camps for kids. He stated they would also donate to the Athletic Association. They would really like to be in Palmer but they need a field. Their season runs from the end of August until November. He also noted they do not play in the rain. They would help maintain the fields and they would arrange to play on alternate dates of when Palmer plays. If they would play Saturday nights they would need lights. Whatever field they could get they would just use it for games, not practice, even though they would love to practice here also. They play 10 games; 5 home and 5 away. Board members noted they have LaCrosse and football now on this field now and the field is in bad shape. Kleedorfer stated they would like to bring money into the township and knows this would be a great way to do that. There are 36 teams total now for this league and it is a full contact sport, NFL rules. Young feels using the football field would be a nightmare but would love to have them here. Kleedorfer noted he spoke with John Olah of the AA and was told they should attend the meeting on Thursday night to see what they could do for them. Board told him to do that and see what comes out of this meeting. They have their try outs this weekend and they are able to have 40 players on their roster. Board agreed to see what comes out of the AA meeting and will discuss this later.

Todd Doerner, La Crosse Commissioner was present with a request for girls Lacrosse. He stated they have enough equipment to cover this team. There have been16 signed up with more interested. This team would be for grades 2-3-4. Dan McKinney asked if it is true that six year olds are playing with 11 yr. olds. The community center employees are getting questioned on this by parents that are coming in and signing up their children. Board members informed Doerner that the minimum age for Lacrosse is 8 years old. Young then read minutes from the Recreation Board when Lacrosse was formed that 7 year olds were the instructional team, learning the sport. There are a handful of 6 year olds that signed up. Board told him he would have to notify these parents and inform them of the rule. Walker asked who set the grades instead of ages. Doerner stated the girls’ league did. Walker noted the Recreation Board sets the ages not the league. Board feel 6 years old is too young. Walker asked if anyone has a problem with the grade and not the age. Discussed this and we go by ages not grades. U9 team is 7 and 8 year olds. Knox brought up the Fox Run field and Smith stated they didn’t know about that yet. Doerner stated he could make Mill Race work better with playing games Saturday and Sunday only. They won’t need the football field.

The season runs from March first with practices and starting games in April. Doerner was asking for $1,500+ for girls lacrosse plus there is an $1,800 bill from last year that has to be paid this year. Smith feels if he is requesting to add a girls’ team it is a good thing but the Recreation Board needs to look into their budget for this money since there isn’t any to be used from other accounts. Smith will check with the township manager on the recondition bill from last year. Board went over the requested budget and reduced the number of pinnies from 20 to 15; goggles from 20 to 15 and they can use wrestling’s table timer. This reduces the request. On motion by Walker, seconded by Young, and agreed by all the Board agreed to fund the girls’ lacrosse from their miscellaneous account up to $1,200.

Baseball – Webb reported that the initial sign ups over and they have 308 that signed up. The numbers a little low but feels it will increase soon.

Basketball – Walker noted that everything is okay and Laura is doing a good job. New uniforms have ordered.

Maintenance – Young and Smith discussed the softball field at Fairview Park. They had a plan from Tom Adams and were supposed to get back to him with the new foul line distances/set up for the fields. Young asked what type of backstop should be there. Board feels they need information on this. Maybe whatever type the high school has on their field. The township would like to light this field and use the existing poles. They have half of what would cost for the lighting and will be putting the other half in next year’s budget. Walker stated the LED’s are the thing now but is there one for a sporting field. This all has to be checked on.

Softball – Young noted the numbers are down slightly but he expects more. He reported that Palmer has the 9-10-11-12 All Stars games this year. They could have over 1000 people attending. It is scheduled for June 26^th. They will play 2 games on field 6 and 2 on field 2. AA can service fields with gator for food. Parking will be a little problem. This will have to be worked on this.

Wrestling – Webb reported that the season has ended and there were three 3 varsity champs.

Soccer – McKinney requested the use of the fields for practice at Tracy and Keystone from March 15 to June 15. On motion by McBrairty, seconded by Webb, and agreed by all, the Board approved the request for the Community Center to use these fields for practice.

Development – Young had a plan for Woodridge Falls recreation area/open area and stated that the Board is to give the township some suggestions as to what to do with this area. Baseball field or what? The grade is too steep for a baseball field. Ask Adams to see if the slope can be reduced from 4% to 1%. There is a dog park proposed for this development but it will be for just the residents of this area. Maybe just keep the open area for the kids to use.

Community Center – McKinney stated they would like to build volleyball courts/sand courts outside the center. This is a great idea and with Jill’s contacts this is fantastic. Dave Colver would like to have this done by summer and asked Dan to talk to the Recreation Board about this. Where should they be? There were different areas discussed but feels the best place is the front, which faces Rt. 22. This would be a great advertisement for people to see it. This is the area that is proposed for the garden. This is going to be looked into for more information. McKinney feels the courts should have lights so we will get more use out of them. McKinney to tell Colver the ideas of the Board but noted that everyone should remember that the location chosen should not be a spot that will have to be torn up in the future. McKinney feels something needs to be outside to show that this building is a community center. This would be great advertising for us.

Grube reported for Tom Adams that there is going to be trees planted through a tree vitalization grand that the township received. Trees will be placed at the community center to match the original landscaping plan. Young asked about the trees on Southwood Drive that were removed and never replanted. Grube will ask Adams about that.

Dog park – Grube stated she had a township resident call her and felt very strongly that the township needed a dog park. He was willing to help. Board noted they are considering this and looking for an areas for this. Board felt a good location would be in the Fox Run or Woodridge Falls area.

On motion by Young, seconded by Walker, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

Diane Grube, Corr. Sec.