Island Oasis, (City of Grand Island, Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND – Four major projects are part of the Grand Island Parks and Recreation Department proposed budget, Director Todd McCoy told Grand Island’s City Council Aug. 19.
The proposed Parks and Recreation Department budget was one of two things on a City Council study session that lasted from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 19. The other item on the agenda was VenuWorks’ Heartland Events Center budget proposal.
The projects are Island Oasis Water Park Renovation ($15.9 million), Ryder Park baseball field improvements ($3,313,004), Stolley Park train area improvement ($2.25 million), and South Locust Street Trail ($7 million) for a total of $28,463,004.
Personnel costs are expected to rise by 8.8 percent, and operating costs are projected to rise by 12 percent. The Department expects to receive up to $150,000 in revenue for services provided for the Good Life District, specifically at Eagle Scout Park and the Veterans Sports Complex.
The Department is requesting a 1.0 FTE park maintenance worker who will be responsible for oversite and maintenance of the 62 commercial irrigation systems currently operating in the city’s 34 parks.
Other capital projects are Pier Lake trail renovation ($1.5 million), East Faidley irrigation system replacement ($45,000), greenhouse renovations ($91,000), cemetery columbarium ($23,000), Ashley Park playground replacement ($160,000), Lincoln Pool Diving Board pedestals replacement ($25,000), parks projects contingency ($100,000), parks roads and parking upgrades ($165,000), picnic shelters ($75,000), tennis/pickleball court renovations ($50,000), west connector trail development ($50,000), parks air compressor ($16,000), Parks 6-foot mower ($60,000), turf tank robotic line painter, ($18,000), and cemetery track loader ($90,000).
At Jackrabbit Run Golf Course, recommended capital projects are tree removal/planting ($25,000), maintenance building roof replacement ($49,000), and cart path repair ($23,000). Landscapes Golf Management manages the course.
At Heartland Public Shooting Park, recommended capital projects are drainage solution for trap and skeet fields ($47,000), new sporting clay loop enhancement ($97,000), and house, trap and skeet field, and shooting bay projects ($263,506). Another suggested improvement at the shooting park is replacement of a World War II era storage building ($390,000). Hornady Manufacturing manages the Shooting Park.
Council member Chuck Haase asked about the current operation of fountains at the Pier Park Lake that keep water circulating in the lake. McCoy responded that there are two fountains and that his department has not received any calls regarding odor from the lake.
Council member Mitch Nickerson asked who is responsible for maintaining the newly renovated flower gardens at Stolley Park. He doesn’t want the city to be dependent on volunteers for those tasks. McCoy responded that it is a partnership between the city and volunteers to maintain the gardens.
McCoy was asked if the four major projects could be completed within the next year. He believed that they could.
Several council members described the South Locust trail as a “sidewalk to nowhere.” They suggested the project could be delayed until more is developed at Camp Augustine.
Council member Mark Stelk said that there are only one or two city parks west of Highway 281. He encouraged McCoy to buy some land west of Highway 281 for parks.
“I totally agree,” McCoy said.
Jason Hornady of Hornady Manufacturing said that a number of things have been fixed at the Shooting Park. He said that Hornady Manufacturing has a three-year plan for the Shooting Park.
He said that Hornady Manufacturing is enjoying the opportunity of managing the Shooting Park.
Greg Geis of the Grand Island Men’s Golf Association said that the group thinks that Jackrabbit Run Golf Course is being managed well. A representative of Landscapes Golf Management said that managing the course over the last five years has been fantastic. The golfing experience and service have been improved, as well as technology improvements and golf cart improvements.
Gerald Poels of Grand Island said he was concerned about the amount of money being spent on Parks and Recreation Department projects. He said that the children who benefit from parks do not pay property taxes. Poels referred to the South Locust Trail as the “trail to nowhere.” He said that Ryder Park does not need artificial turf. He said that many major league baseball fields do not have artificial turf. Poels said the city needed to reconsider all of the major expenditures.
A presentation was given about the budget for the Heartland Events Center, managed by VenuWorks. Total projected revenues are $4,366,603. This includes building rent ($294,850), contractually obligated revenue such as naming rights ($400,986), reimbursed event expenses ($406,319), food and beverage revenue ($1,102,183), and other revenue such as tickets ($2,162,265).
Expenses are $4,868,282. They include cost of goods sold ($1,939,354), personnel costs ($1,429,693), general and administrative costs $63,615), occupancy costs ($557,740), services and operations cost ($197,790), event expenses ($548,607), and food and beverage expenses ($131,483). The net operating cost is $501,679. The owner operating investment from the hotel occupation tax is $500,000. The net income is ($1,679).
