HomeMy WebLinkAboutNRRC Minutes 12-2006
City of Hastings
Natural Resources and Recreation Commission Minutes
December 12, 2006 – 6:00 pm
1) Roll Call at 6 pm: Commissioners Brown, Christenson, Popp, Rohloff, and Vandehoef, Parks and Recreation
Director Bernstein, Superintendent Smith
Absent: Commissioners Schommer and Vaughan
2) Approved October meeting minutes. Motion by Brown. Seconded by Rohloff. Passed unanimously. Since
there was no quorum at the November meeting, the November minutes are informational only and no action
will be taken.
3) Setting Agenda: Director Bernstein added that a group from the Wetland Health Evaluation Program will be
presenting the data from this year’s findings.
4) Departmental updates were passed out. Ice skating rinks were flooded last week when it got really cold.
However, due to the unseasonably warm weather we have had since then, we’ve lost any ice that we had. All of
the rink attendants have been hired, and we are hoping to be able to open the rinks by Christmas.
Commissioner Christenson mentioned that the warming house shingling project has been finished at Lake Isabel
and there is a small plaque on the building stating that the roof was donated. He also mentioned that the East
Hastings Association received an award for Civic Duty from the Modern Woodsmen about a month ago.
Director Bernstein also informed the NRRC that Barr Engineering is writing the specs for the Lake Isabel
dredging project. They are hoping to seek bids in January, 2007 with work beginning in late January or early
February.
5) Girl Scout Troop #366 Donation: Girl Scout Troop #366 made a donation to the Parks & Recreation
Department to purchase a dog waste station. Director Bernstein is planning to place two of these stations along
the Mississippi River, on either side of the boat launch. A small “donated by” sign will be placed on the waste
station in appreciation of the girls’ donation.
6) Freitag Property: Director Bernstein asked if there were any further comments or recommendations from the
NRRC regarding the Freitag Property that was discussed at the November meeting. Commissioner Popp stated
that he feels we should support this property being purchased by the County, and if possible, the City should try
to grant a variance so that some form of hunting would be allowed.
MOTION: Commissioner Brown made a motion that the City aggressively work with the County and the DNR
to protect the Freitag Property. Seconded by Commissioner Popp. Passed unanimously.
7) WHEP Presentation: Joe Beattie, Kevin Smith, Jennifer Oknich, Brian Huberty and Dave Bart made a
presentation to the NRRC on the findings of WHEP during this past year for Hastings’ 4 monitored wetland
areas.
8) Recognition of Outgoing Commissioners: The NRRC recognized Commissioners Brown and Christenson for
all of their hard work and dedication to the Commission over their past 3 terms. The Commissioners mentioned
that they especially appreciated being able to be instrumental in creating the underpass trail by Vermillion Falls
and the natural area by the Mississippi River.
9) New Business
- No new business.
10) Old Business
- No old business.
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Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 9, 2007.
Adjourned at 7:43 p.m.
Minutes submitted by: Kristin Behrens