Blue Earth works on park problems
Sarah Day — Staff WriterBLUE EARTH - Overdue developments at Putnam Park in Blue Earth are back on track.
The Park and Recreation Committee met in conjunction with the former Pool Committee on Tuesday to remedy several problems.
With pool reconstruction, several items had to be taken out of Putnam Park - a statue of a girl on a rock, a hole for the disc golf course, a picnic shelter and memorials. They have yet to return.
People who donated to the pool bought bricks with their names engraved on them. While the bricks have been purchased, they are not installed at the site.
Also promised with the pool was a basketball court.
City Administrator Kathy Bailey reviewed funding for the pool project, which had revenues of $2.37 million and expenses of $2.35 million.
First-year operating revenues were less than $77,000, while expenses reached $123,000. The excess pool fund revenues were spent on the deficit, with the remaining expenses covered by the city's general fund.
Last year, Pool and Park Partners donated $100,000 for the bond payment on the pool, and the city levied $45,000 for the rest. Debt service for the pool is about $150,000 per year until 2027.
Bailey said that while the city still needs to work on the other Putnam Park projects, it must come up with funding. Given a budget shortfall, the projects get deferred until funds are available.
Dave Kittleson, parks committee member, asked how much money the city was losing at the pool prior to reconstruction. Mayor Rob Hammond said 2007 was comparable, but 2008 was higher.
The last plan for the bronze statue was to build a fountain with the statue in the center. The base of the fountain would have the engraved bricks in it.
Bailey thought the city should look into working with a local landscaping contractor and an Eagle Scout to finish the projects. Several pool and parks committee members volunteered to help.
Volunteers also stepped forward to select a structure for a picnic shelter. The committees discussed having volunteers build it. Bailey said she would speak to the League of Minnesota Cities to find out about the liability.
Tobi Squiers, parks committee member, suggested they ask Lamperts if it has a structure that would work.
"Maybe they'll give us a deal if we got it in town," she said.
Basketball court discussion was a little trickier. There are six tennis courts at Putnam Park, and the school district wants another built at the site so it can hold tournaments.
Squiers wants to see a basketball court before a tennis court because Blue Earth doesn't have any outdoor basketball courts.
Terry Barnes, middle school teacher, addressed several issues with the tennis courts. He said the courts need cracks filled or weeds will start growing through.
The biggest problem is the lights, he noted. Many don't point down on the courts. They also require players to pay a quarter to keep them on, although the time limit is different for different sets of lights.
"My point here is, the dang things don't work," Barnes said.
Blue Earth Light and Water is looking into the lighting issue.
Councilman Glenn Gaylord, chairman of the parks committee, suggested an easy fix for the missing disc golf hole - putting it back up near the pool. Gaylord said all that is needed is a concrete stand, which city workers could build. Bailey suggested Gaylord work with staff to resolve the matter.
Putnam Park wasn't the only city park to be discussed. The newest one - Steinberg Park - is experiencing at least weekly vandalism issues.
The committee approved using funds from the estate donation to put up a gate to deny access to the park at night.
The other issue with Steinberg Park is weeds in the flower gardens. The committee thought caring for the garden could be a good project for the Girl Scouts.
