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Jamie Larson provided a virtual invocation, while Kathy Austvold was our in-person song leader. Zack Stach told us we will do our highway clean-up on Thursday, May 12th starting at 6:00 p.m.; we will also be out at Inspiration Peak on July 16th starting at 8:00 a.m. to assist during Habitat for Humanity's bike ride. It was announced that donations in honor of Dave Peters to the Splash Pad amounted to $2,015, and that provided a lead-in to a reminder to sell raffle tickets to support our further efforts to raise funds for this worthy effort. A thank you to Shane Thiekle at the High School was pronounced as his efforts to find students interested in attending Camp RYLA resulted in us sponsoring two students to attend. The full slate of officers for 2022-23 was recommended for a vote this week, the candidates being Ken Harty for President, Zack Stach for President-elect, Katie Johnson for Vice President, Brian Tjaden for Treasurer, Kathy Austvold for Secretary, Mark Bring and Dean Monke for Board members and Bob Russell for Past-President. Team Golden Guys, consisting of Steve Andrews, Mark Bring, Greg Darling, Jake Hexum, Dean Monke and Anthony Nordan are in charge of set-up and take-down in May. An announcement of the Wahpeton-Breckenridge Rotary Club's 100th anniversary celebration scheduled for Wednesday, May 3rd, was made and it appears we will have three members in attendance. April birthdays were also announced, with Jamie Larson singing the birthday song to Greg Darling and, prospectively (only those in attendance may understand that reference), to Lisa McFarland. When it came time for brags and fines, Greg Darling celebrated his birthday and his and Connie's 29th anniversary the prior week, also contributing for a couple missed meetings. Jamie Larson was equally generous, commenting on the fine article about Dave Peters that appeared in The Daily Journal. Lisa McFarland finished it off by matching Greg's and Jamie's contribution to our club coffers for also missing some meetings. Mick Johnson representing the City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department was our program. Mick is a Fergus Falls native, having graduated from our high school in 2005, subsequently graduating from St. Cloud State in 2010, playing baseball throughout his college years. He started with the City five years ago when he was hired to staff the hockey arena at night during the school year and then worked in our parks during the summer. When Dave Umlauf retired, Mick was elevated to the position of Park Supervisor and this will be his fourth summer serving in that capacity. To maintain our parks and attend to other matters entrusted to his care, the City will hire about 15 people for the summer, which Pam Muxfeldt hires about the same number to help with coaching, life guarding, etc. New additions to our park system that have been made or are planned include the dog park on Channing Avenue, to which lights have now been added; planting a tree in Wright Park on Arbor Day to celebrate our designation as a Tree City every year since 1978; and plans for a facelift at Athletic Park, adding pickle ball courts to the fenced-in tennis courts. A 100-foot-long fishing pier was added on Hoot Lake last year, and the BMX track is being moved to DeLagoon Park and will be ready for riders this summer. An archery range was also added at DeLagoon, and you can shoot from 20, 40, 50 and 60 yard ranges. In response to a question, Mick said the area south of the soccer field is going to be planted in native prairie grass, and that will also happen at Grotto Park and at the two water tower properties. Mick said we have about 25 parks within the city limits, consisting of approximately 600 acres. The Park Department is also responsible for all boulevard trees and he indicated that about 130 trees will be planted this summer, compared to about 100 last year. Andrew Nelson is the City Forester. In terms of trees being planted, he mentioned several common varieties but also noted they are trying out some disease resistant elm trees -- a few have already been planted in the northwest corner of Athletic Park just north of the playground. |
