By MARGARET L. WILLIS

In his report to the Park Board Tuesday, Superintendent Bruce Mathias told the board that Coffee Creek Park took a “pretty good hit” during the recent flooding.

The bridge and walkways were damaged by the overloaded and fast-moving Coffee Creek.

A FEMA application for repair funds has been submitted, and there is a good chance the park will receive some FEMA funds, he said.

In addition, park employees worked to correct some drainage near the Prairie-Duneland Trail in September, a 397 foot sidewalk has been installed at Golfview subdivision and playground equipment has been ordered. New playground equipment has also been ordered for Coffee Creek Park.

The park maintenance compound was cleaned up, and the park department hosted the Sophomore Class float decorating crew for Homecoming.

The board approved additions to the Duneland Swim Club payment rules, as well as approving additional funds to be expended for officials for swim meets.

Swimmers will still pay the $52 annual fee for a U.S. Swim number; $292 for the school year club membership and $249 for the summer season membership.

All meets directors and deck officials at meets will be paid between $6 and $9 per hour and must be certified through the state of Indiana “We’re trying to catch up to other organizations,” explained Mathias.

A request from the head coach, Jim Voss, for additional pay for his estimated 2,203 hours of annual work for the Club was taken under advisement. There are over 200 swimmers of all ages involved in the club. Board members felt they needed more information and time to review it before making a decision.

Expenses such as equipment purchases and arrangements with the schools for use of the pool come out of the Swim Club contingency fund, reminded board member Roy Flaherty.

“I don’t necessarily see a direct link between the contingency fund and your salary,” he said. Voss serves as a contract employee for the Parks Department Duneland Swim Club.

The board approved Superinten-dent Bruce Mathias having discretion to waive shelter fees for church groups, non-profits and town employees.

Thanks for Support

The board profusely thanked R.V. Sutton, as did Bill Mullin and Florian Steciuch of the Duneland Extreme Sports Club, for all the recent work provided at the new Skate Park.

The excavating firm provided a total of $11,703 in in-kind donations for work at the Skate Park.

The work included excavation, use of a payloader, dozer and dump truck, hauling off removed asphalt, over-time for labor, as well as fuel for the trucks.

Board members are grateful for the continued support R.V. Sutton gives to the town, said president Vincent Emanuele. This is the second significant donation of labor and materials from R.V. Sutton for a park, he added. In 1997, R.V. Sutton provided equipment, labor and materials at the baseball park at 5th St. and Porter Ave, Emanuele said.

Mullin and Steciuch agreed, saying the project has really gotten off the ground due to the aid of R.V. Sutton. Board member Eric Witt credited park board liaison and town council member Sharon Darnell for ‘motivating’ the R.V. Sutton donation.

Also, the board acknowledged and thanked the Duneland Resale Shop for another $100 donation to the Park Gift Fund. The board will send a letter of thanks.

Posted 10/8/2008