A new fee structure for use of the city?s park system is in place following action taken Wednesday night by the Trenton Park Board.
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A new fee structure for use of the city?s park system is in place following action taken Wednesday night by the Trenton Park Board.
Following months of discussion concerning the need to make adjustments in user fees, especially for use of the ballfields, the board adopted a new structure for 2002.
Under the new structure, the fees would be as follows, with the past fee in parentheses:
Rock Barn Rental – $250 per day for for-profit events ($100); $30 per day for non-profit events (unchanged); cleaning and damage deposit, which applies to all renters, $250 per event ($200).
Moberly Park Enclosed Shelterhouse – Rental fee, $35 per day ($25); cleaning and damage deposit, $50 per event (unchanged).
Baseball/Softball fees – Trenton Ball Association, $20 per player, per season (unchanged); Church League, City League, Trenton High School softball, Trenton Middle School softball, $250 per team, per season ($100); North Central Missouri College women?s softball, North Central Missouri College men?s baseball, $750 per team, per year, which is two seasons each, $750, ($100); American Legion Blue Jays, $250 per team, per season, ($100).
The increase in the NCMC women?s and men?s fees were discussed at length, with it being noted that the college plays two seasons, spring and fall, at times when rain often requires extra field preparation. Park Superin-tendent Jason Shuler presented a breakdown of direct expenses for the two teams, which totaled $670, not including equipment and supply usage and labor-related benefits. Shuler also noted that the Chillicothe Parks and Recreation Department charges $125 per game, plus $50 per event to drag fields. Shuler said that he recently received a compilation of user fees in cities and towns across the state and that the 2002 fees fall ?right in the middle.?
The new fees were passed on a 7-1 vote, with Marti Williams, Steve Muff, Chuck Lankheit, Kimbra Mullenix, Ben Moore, Duane Helmandollar and Frank Kinney voting yes, and Gary Berry voting no. Berry said he feels the changes, especially in the fees for the college teams, came too quickly and noted that the college teams have done a lot of work over the years on the fields.
Board members tabled a decision on how to charge ?all-star? teams who play after the regular season. Some board members feel that if those youngsters chosen for the teams are TBA members, they should not have to pay an additional fee, although if they were not members of a TBA team and have not already paid the $20 fee, they should be required to do so. That matter will be taken up at the next meeting.
Also approved by the board was a policy that requires leagues to pay the fees prior to the start of the season unless other arrangements have been made with the park superintendent. It is hoped that this arrangement will eliminate the current problem of teams not paying. All of the teams that played last year have been invoiced, with the NCMC, American Legion and some City League teams not yet having paid.
Pool prices for 2002 were also set, with very few changes. In fact, the only change was to raise the single person season pass from $30 to $35. Prices for the 2002 season will be as follows: daily admission – 0 to 5 years, $1; 6 to 12 years, $2; 13 to adult, $3; and senior citizens, $2; pool passes -single, $35; family $80, plus an optional babysitter pass for $10 extra; and senior citizen, $20; pool parties – $75 for the first 25 people, with $1 per each additional person up to $100. Pool parties are held from 6 to 8 p.m.
The pool was a topic of discussion at the meeting, with Pool Committee Chairman Steve Muff noting that the pool was $4,600 over budget last year. Muff said he feels sure the overrun can be attributed to the cost of providing senior swims (which required three lifeguards to be on duty even if there was one or two swimmers) and to the fact that the manager and assistant manager, who are paid more than lifeguards, were required to work at the same time toward the end of the season when many of the lifeguards were involved in sports practices. Muff said he feels certain that the pool budget would have been very close to the figures projected if not for those two situations.
Muff and other members of the committee, Marti Williams and Kimbra Mullenix, presented information on the possible purchase of new ?play? equipment for the pool, such as a slide. Cost estimates for even a ?plain Jane? 8-feet tall and 12-feet down slide were approximately $2,000. Board members said they feel strongly that something extra is needed at the pool and that it should be something that can be moved to a new pool if one is constructed at a later date. It was noted that the Grundy County Church Women United recently made a $1,000 donation for use at the pool and that those funds should be used to purchase a ?fun? item at the pool. Research will continue on this subject, with a presentation to be made at an upcoming meeting.
Board President Ben Moore also said he feels that the board needs to move ahead with plans to remodel the present pool or construct a new pool. Moore said he would like to see the board retain an architect to help determine if the old pool can be remodeled or if a new one will be necessary. Moore noted that it is important for the board to be ready when they have the opportunity to run a sales tax issue to generate funds for the pool.
In other business, the board:
? discussed the need for volunteers to help with the Rock Barn Courtyard roofing project, which will get under way when the weather is better.
? heard a report on the curbing for the upper Moberly parking lot, for which the material and labor has been estimated at $4,900. Bids will be sought for the project and will be discussed at the March meeting.
? discussed fund-raising possibilities and decided it would be best to designate any fund-raiser for a certain project, such as the pool or tennis courts.
? approved the planting of a tree adjacent to Trenton Middle School near the new walk/bike trail. The board will pay for the purchase of a tree up to a maximum of $150, with the tree to be dedicated at the April 26 Arbor Day observance. Chuck Lankheit said eighth grade science students will receive training on planting and caring for the tree. The students will plant the tree about one week prior to Arbor Day and will water it during the school year. Lankheit also updated the board on various tree projects currently under way.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 6.