Council tables decision on parks and rec program contractor agreement

By Kegan Arduser

Express Sports Editor

At the Monticello City Council meeting Dec. 1, a motion to approve a parks and recreation blanket independent program contractor agreement failed to pass.

The agreement, P&R Director Jacob Oswald said, “would allow us to move a little quicker when someone comes to us with a program idea.”

At the meeting, Oswald said the same contract was approved last summer for the department’s Nature Immersion program.

Oswald said the department was recently proposed an idea for a music program for 2–4-year-olds by someone with music teaching experience, which brought this agreement back on the council agenda.

Council members Dave Goedken and Mary Phelan questioned the blanket agreement.

Goedken asked Oswald who would run the program and questioned why the individual didn’t run the program on his own.

Phelan questioned the overall need for the program, along with the city paying for a background check and other costs.

“Right now there’s only two things,” Phelan said. “I would like to see this fleshed out a little bit. I’m not saying it’s a bad idea, I’m just trying to figure out what’s triggering this need to now have a blanket contract to do this. There’s a contract there, does it make the city need to carry additional insurance? I’d like to have legal look over this if it’s going to be a contract people will be signing.”

City Administrator Russ Farnum answered a few of Phelan’s questions.

“It’s no different than when we split the rental on the Berndes Center for the inflatable events, no different than the Growing Up Wild program last year,” Farnum said. “What we’re asking is, when we find an event that we can put on and split proceeds with somebody, this is the contract we use. Legal reviewed this contract last year and we have insurance for liability; we’re covered no matter what happens.”

“I’m not a huge fan of the blanket proposal, I kind of like knowing what you’re doing down there, what people are interested in,” council member Scott Brighton said. “I think the contract is fine, maybe I’m just nosy.”

After a motion to approve the contract made by Candy Langerman wasn’t seconded, the resolution didn’t move forward.

Oswald said he plans to answer the questions that the council brought up and looks to bring the contract back to the council in January. “The contract allows Kara (Burrack) and Milo (Breitbach) to explore different ideas and move on them,” Oswald said. “Without a second motion, it seemed like there was still some optimism and some questions from the council, so I’ll work to answer those and bring it back in January.”

Other council news

The council approved scheduling a public hearing on the proposed rezoning of Lot 1 of Merrinoll second addition for Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. The lot is located at the northwest corner of Carmel and El Camino Real and is looking to go from an R-1 lot to R-2 to facilitate the construction of a duplex.

The council continued to approve the plat of survey to Parcel 2025-15, Parcel 2005-16, Parcel 2025-17 and Parcel 2025-18, along with approving the plat of survey to Parcel 2025-86 for property located at 18294 Amber Road X44.

Council also approved moving forward with Eli Moestchen’s proposed nature trail Eagle Scout Project at the Park and Ride south of Monticello.