ABOVE: The beach on the Budd Lake side of Gomsrud Park in Fairmont. A discussion was had at Tuesday’s Park Board meeting for the Fairmont Women of Today to potentially put a sand toy library here. The bookcase and toys would be provided by the Women of Today.

FAIRMONT – An idea for a potential sand toy library on the Budd Lake side at Gomsrud Park was heard by the Fairmont Park Board, which lacked a quorum, during its meeting on Tuesday.

The library would provide a selection of kids’ sand toys for all kids to play with, ensuring every child has something to play with. Jodie Pouliot of Fairmont Women of Today, who came up with the idea, said it came to her from a personal experience.

“Last summer I was there twice with my grandkids and I had my own milk crate with some toys in it,” she said. “I put it down, and the grandkids were playing around, but other kids wandered over and wanted to take toys out of the box, too. I saw an article about it over the winter and thought, ‘Well, this would be great to have.'”

The library and the initial round of toys would be given by the Women of Today, without any assistance needed from the city or park department. Pouliot said they would likely go around to collect donations for use in this project as well.

Board Chair Jodie Whitmore asked if they were being asked to vote on this, since they did not have a quorum to vote on anything. Park Department Superintendent Nick Lardy said it was only a discussion item, to talk about the project and see if it works for the board.

The biggest thing Lardy said could be a potential issue is toys being left out, and the wind potentially blowing them around.

City Council Representative Randy Lubenow asked if this would be placed on the north side of the shelter. Pouliot said she was open to suggestions. Lubenow said it could be placed on the shelter to help keep it out of the wind. Lardy suggested there could be a container that’s not just a standard reach-in and pull-out. Pouliot said it could be designed like a treasure chest to achieve that effect.

Whitmore and Lardy extended their seals of approval for the project and in seeing the idea move forward, but no vote was taken on it due to it being a discussion item.

Lardy also presented on the park department’s latest projects and items of interest. He said the docks are all in, but they are still waiting on the new dock for the Budd Lake landing.

“We got a new dock from the DNR,” Lardy said. “It’s an eight-foot-wide dock, so it’s going to be pretty nice for sitting down there.”

For Arbor Day, a new Triumph Elm was planted at Lincoln Park. Like last year, he said they plan to plant at least 100 new trees in Fairmont parks this year.

The Gomsrud Park work, including the parking lot, is pretty much complete. Lardy said the only thing left is finishing up the retention ponds, but the landings are usable, and the parking lot turned out great.

One comment was voiced by Whitmore, who said she appreciated the post lengths on the old dock at Gomsrud Park because it makes it easier for people on boats to grab onto.

In other news:

— With the first meeting of the year having been canceled and the second held without a quorum, Whitmore said they are in need of more board member in order to be able to vote on potential items. She said people can call City Clerk Betsy Steuber at (507) 238-3949 for more information or to apply to be on a board.

— After voicing their concerns at a Fairmont City Council meeting, Dawn Becker represented over half a dozen concerned citizens in their conviction that the new pickleball courts be put at the soccer fields. Becker said they wanted to make sure their opinions were heard by both the city council and park board for consideration.

—  A project from the group Kids Just Want to Have Fun was also received by the park board for a musical playground installation somewhere in Fairmont. Since no one from the group was there to present, and there was not a quorum, the item was pushed back to the next park board meeting.