FAIRMONT — The Fairmont Park Board met on Tuesday and revisited some old business including the topic of air conditioning in the Lincoln Park Shelter house.

Board Member Vicki Schulte brought up the possibility of redoing the shelter house and questioned its purpose. Public Works Director Matthew York responded by explaining that clubs and groups meet there commonly for meals and meetings. Park and Street Superintendent Nick Lardy added to York’s statement about Lincoln Park. The park committee had removed the isometric flower beds and replaced such with kinder and raised beds.

The park board also asked about Gomsrud Park. Lardy noted that vandalism and theft in Gomsrud Park bathrooms has been taking place. One toilet paper roller had been lit on fire and a faucet had been broken. He said both issues have been resolved. The park board responded by proposing the idea of locking up park bathrooms at night to eliminate criminal damage to the property. York suggested adding automatic locks, which would allow the bathrooms to still be an accessible place to sleep for Fairmont residents suffering from homelessness.

Concerning the revamping of the tennis and basketball courts in Veteran’s Park, York shared that he received costs for the project. One upgrade option came in around $190,000 while another offer would be up to $400,000 for complete rehabilitation of the courts. Further conversation will take place at an upcoming budget meeting.

Schulte stressed that the city requires pickleball courts–ones in good shape.

“It becomes a huge safety issue [if the parks don’t get fixed],” she said.

In other business, Lardy shared news regarding the Fairmont parks and fields. Lawnmowers have remained busy as crews mow the lawn three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), especially the land in the soccer complex.

“We mow as fast as we can; we mow as often as we can,” Lardy said.

The scoreboard for the baseball field on Winnebago Avenue is ready to be hung, and Lardy will be in touch to make sure said scoreboard is adequate power-wise.

He noted that one of the Gomsrud Park’s (Hall Lake-side) docks had faced a considerable amount of damage from the flooding that was most prominent in the middle of June. Due to this inconvenience, the dock will not be placed back in the lake. Further discussion about replacement was not provided by the park board.

There was no official Community Education and Recreation (CER) update, however, the board mentioned that the T-Ball program has finished and the Flag Football program begins this week.

In other news, the board heard from Ned Adams, who offered his sailboat as a donation to the city before he moves out of town later this year. He suggested the sailboat could be on display in an oval bed in Lincoln Park but the board mentioned the risk of children climbing on it. A counteroffer was putting the sailboat on display on State Street or near the ‘Welcome to Fairmont’ signs.

The board tabled the topic for future discussion.