FAIRMONT– The Fairmont Park Board considered a variety of park ideas and requests for 2023 capital projects during its meeting Tuesday evening.

Parks and Streets Superintendent, Nick Lardy, said that some of the ideas have been sitting on the list for several years.

The ideas and requests ranged from big projects like the Sylvania Park Band Shell rehab, which carries a price tag of roughly $450,000; Lincoln Park Shelter House at $300,000; Cedar Creek Park Trail Extension at $550,000. The Gomsrud Park renovations, which are currently in the design and concept phase, is estimated at $2.5 million.

Some of the smaller projects include Veterans Park court resurfacing at $125,000; multi-use trail loop near the soccer complex at $75,000; Skate Park repairs at $40,0000.

Board Member Jodie Whitmore asked how often the Lincoln Park Shelter is used. Lardy said it’s used frequently in May and June but as there’s no air conditioning, it’s not used much later in the summer.

At a previous meeting, the board learned that extensive work was required on the Lincoln Park Shelter and it had questioned whether it was worth it to repair or whether they could tear down the structure.

“I don’t know if it’s worth putting any money into this at all,” said Whitmore.

Board Member Craig Norkus asked if they needed to make a choice out of the items on the list. Lardy said he was seeking the opinions of the board.

“Personally I would like to see the entire amount for the Sylvania Park Band Shell recommended before it gets any more expensive, because it will,” Norkus said.

Whitmore pointed out that more and more groups are starting to use the band shell and that she, too, would like to see improvements made there.

Board Member Greg Gellert asked the board what its recommendation was.

Whitmore said they’ve been talking about the Veterans Park resurfacing for a long time. Lardy said that the cost for it has surpassed what they previously budgeted for and that he’s ben having a hard time getting bids from companies for the project.

“If we can find somebody to resurface the courts and have the council move money from the liquor store or something and get it done and get a firm date that they’re going to do it,” said Randy Lubenow, explaining that he would like to see it get done.

Norkus questioned why there were two items on the list involving trails. He asked why they’re not coming out of the half-cent local option sales tax that was passed in 2017.

City Administrator Cathy Reynolds said, “you have $15 million for the half-cent sales tax. Fourteen million right now council has pledged to the community center so that leaves $1million and of that $1 million we’ve done at least one project.”

She said when looking at the Gomsrud Park renovations, some of the money could potentially be used to offset that high cost as well.

“Really any of these items could qualify for the half-cent sales tax. It’s just a matter of what are the recommendations,” Reynolds said.

Norkus said that trails were specifically on the ballot in 2017, whereas recreational amenities was a vague term.

Ultimately, the board recommended that Gomsrud Park, Sylvania Park Band Shell and Veterans Park resurfacing be recommended for projects to the city council.

Moving to other matters, the board heard from the city’s intern, Derek Hughes, who presented an updated draft of the “Park Policy.”

Hughes said in doing his research on park policies in other communities, many of them were charging rental fees for their open air shelters. He questioned whether the board would like to charge $25 for renting out the open air shelters in the community.

The general consensus of the Board was to not put a fee on renting the open air shelters, but to keep them as first come, first serve and for use free of charge.

The draft will be brought back to the board at its August meeting for approval to formally recommend to the council.