The Ellettsville Parks and Recreation Board met on
Tuesday, February 5, 2002 at the Ellettsville Town Hall.
Members present were Darlyne Sowder, President, Art
Moynihan, Secretary, and L. D. Axsom.
Regrets: Edwin Macatangay, Patrick Stoffers
Guests: David Sorokoty - Town Board President, Chuck
Stephenson – Monroe County Parks & Recreation, Judy
Morran – Ellettsville Elementary School, Susan DeMoss – Ellettsville Elementary School
Darlyne
Sowder, President, called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
Minutes
Minutes of the January 8,
2002
were not available and will be acted upon at a subsequent meeting.
Public Comments
None
Old Business
Well Site Woodland Park
The Board heard comments from Dave Sorokoty, Chuck
Stephenson, Judy Morran and Susan DeMoss as to their thoughts for development
of the Well Site Woodland Park. Dave introduced the guests
and stated that he believes we can establish community support for the park.
Judy and Susan commented that historically, the elementary school students have
used Turtleback Creek for various inquiry-based learning projects (i.e. water
quality testing). Due to the relocation of the elementary school, travel to
Turtleback Creek will not be possible, and the teachers believe that the Well
Site would be an excellent natural laboratory in close proximity to the school
that could expand educational opportunities for students. Chuck related that it
is unusual to find a natural setting in good proximity to the schools and town
and believes that we have a great opportunity to develop this site into a
nature park. If property was made available by landowners, Chuck envisions that
it is possible to create a trail from the Well Site to Flatwoods (approximately
a mile and a half) that could be used to connect the parks. Chuck suggests that
the Ellettsville Parks Board create a Master Plan and then divide it into
phases of development. The Parks Board agreed to a special meeting on Sunday,
February 10th at 2:00pm, weather permitting, to
tour the Well Site land.
Skate Park
Dave Sorokoty shared with the Board his concern that
the Skate Park needs insurance that will cover the skaters who use
the skate park. He believes that it is not appropriate to expect Town of
Ellettsville citizens to have this type of exposure or to absorb the expense of
appropriate insurance and believes the group initiating the Skate Park should
take responsibility to fund the insurance. Dave cited the example of the Youth
League who uses various participant fees and fund-raisers to make certain
appropriate liability insurance is purchased for their programs. It has been the position of the town counsel,
Mike Spencer, that despite legislation enacted to
limit liability for extreme sports facilities provided by a local entity,
insurance, which includes coverage for participants, should be purchased.
Darlyne related that the Parks Board knew last year's insurance policy did not
cover the participants, and that is why the Board was careful to secure
appropriate release forms from participants and/or their guardians. As well,
volunteers supervised the skate park during open hours and Jim Ragle was asked
to monitor the safe condition of the ramps and other equipment in the skate
park. To the Board’s knowledge, there are no skate parks in operation that have
been able to find an insurer to cover the participants under a broad-based
liability insurance policy. We continue to hold Build Indiana funds that are
earmarked for the capital expansion of the skate park. Some of those funds
might be used to secure insurance, but it would be necessary to relate the
situation to Rep. Peggy Welch so that they could be properly released for this
purpose. The Board senses, and Dave agrees, that this would only provide a
temporary solution. With these thoughts in mind, the Board agreed to solicit
liability insurance quotations from agents to determine if it is possible to
secure such coverage and at what cost. Darlyne and Art agreed to take
responsibility to pursue this coverage and will report to the Board at its next
meeting.
Other
-Special meeting of the Parks Board will be 2:00pm, Sunday, February 10, 2002 at Well Site for a tour.
-The next meeting of the Parks Board will be 7:00pm, Tuesday, March 5, 2002 at the Town Hall.
Adjournment
Art Moynihan made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
L. D. Axsom seconded the motion. Motion passed and the meeting adjourned at 9:10pm.
_________________________ _____________________________
Darlyne
Sowder, President Edwin
Macatangay, Vice President
_________________________ _____________________________
L.
D Axsom Patrick
Stoffers
_________________________
Art
Moynihan, Secretary