by Joseph Back

Prior to the regular council meeting during the Parks and Cemetery Committee at 5:30 p.m., update was given on the Urban Forestry Grant application process as well as rules for Chapman Park Campground and needed cemetery upkeep. Committee head Laurie Foster filled the council in on the grant process, as well as needs at the cemetery and campground.

Saying that she had been filling the paper work out with public works operator-in-charge John Hoel and city clerk Nicole Thiel, Foster laid out the two types of grants available for taking down ash trees before wood starts falling from dead tree limbs.

The first, she said, was a beginner's or starter’s grant for $5,000, while the second used a 25 percent match on a pro-base grant. The grants were good for replanting. “We’re going to lose a lot of trees in town shortly,” Mayor Al Haas said August 15. “So any money we can get from these grants would help.”

Also on the meeting agenda for Monday before the regular council meeting was a work in progress: summarizing the camp ground rules in a camper friendly manner and to deal with potential problem tenants.

Among the models brought up for consideration was an example from Clayton, Iowa outlining camper expectations.

“We have to modify it if we use it at all,” Allen cautioned. Also up for consideration was a submission by Foster, who brought up a five page document from outlining Reser vation, check-in, check out, payment, cancellation, and “good sam” discount along camp ground rules and regulations. With the observation that it should be signed, a good ‘terms and conditions’ guideline was also brought up.

“If you want each of the campers to read it you can’t make it too long,” Mayor Haas said. With camping nearly over for this year, any policy changes would likely wait until next year.

Finally, not on the Parks and Cemetery meeting agenda but talked about for update purposes was needed road work at the cemetery, with Mark Fitzsimmons giving his take on things as the council discussed blue granite versus asphalt.

“I think we need to move on it sooner rather than later, just due to cost,” he said. A mile of asphalt currently costs $135,000, while blue granite allows for drainage while maintaining a compact surface.

No action was taken on cemetery roads, but the groundwork is getting done.

“We already have a drone video on that for a snapshot,” Foster said, with Hoel saying that he was waiting to hear back from stone services with regard to headstone repair off Pine Street.