Parks, Recreation merger on track
The process of consolidating Minot Parks and the Minot Recreation Commission continues to move forward.
Tom Barry, city manager, unveiled an list of issues that he said needed to be addressed during a Friday morning meeting of the Parks and Recreation Ad Hoc Committee held at the City Auditorium. Barry went through the list, updating the progress that has been made on each issue. Upon completion he told the committee, “There are still a lot of very, very big issues to be worked on.”
However, further discussion revealed that several of the issues to be considered prior to any merger of the two departments had been resolved or were in the process of being resolved. Among the items listed by Barry was the transfer of recreation employees to the Park District, adjusting of city mills and budgetary concerns, a joint powers agreement and leases for city facilities.
One of the reasons previously given for merging the Recreation Commission with Minot Parks was a cost savings. Barry said that topic was “something we need to spend more time on.”
Barry singled out snow storage as “important to the city.” Currently snow removed from the city is dumped on parking lots at both the north and south softball complexes, which are operated by the Recreation Commission. Another issue raised by Barry was future expansion of the city’s Rosehill Cemetery. Currently there are recreation facilities on cemetery land that might be needed, said Barry, “in 30 to 60 years.”
Ron Merritt, parks director, addressed the committee and informed them that progress had been made on both the mill levy and pension issues, two items that were earlier identified as possible sticking points with the potential to add substantial delay to the project.
“Most other items can be worked out,” said Merritt. “All of the lease agreements are drafted.”
If the consolidation is realized, the city would enter into several leases with Parks and Recreation, including agreements for office space in the auditorium and snow storage. As Merritt indicated, those leases are available for discussion and the making of any necessary changes prior to consolidation.
Merritt noted that contracts with golf and tennis professionals would have to be modified but didn’t think that would be a difficult undertaking.
The group expected the issue of the transfer in funding from the city to Parks and Recreation to be addressed in the next session of the state Legislature. Noting that possibility, Mayor Shaun Sipma said he would like the timetable for consolidation, or “go date,” to “be at the end of the legislative session” which would be in late April of next year.
It was the consensus of the group that, if everything appears to be going as planned, some elements of the transition process could begin prior to any finalization. The entire matter will be brought to the City Council for input and consideration. A public input meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. at the Roosevelt Park Zoo.