Board reviews security options

Portland Water Park is expected to open Memorial Day weekend, but the Portland Park Board is nailing down final decisions on security and public address systems.
Streets and parks superintendent Ryan Myers received quotes from two companies — Nu Wave Technology in Coldwater, Ohio, and Consumer Security and Audio Systems in Muncie — for a PA system and security cameras.
Board member Donald Gillespie had also looked up his own quotes for security systems with motion detecting features, separate from PA systems. He also wants cameras at the entrance or exit of the pool.
“If we ever have a case that something happens, we can see somebody’s face coming in and going out,” said Gillespie.
Myers said he would look for quotes for both systems separately. Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman said he would see if a final donor for the park would be willing to put the donation toward the PA or security system or both.
The board — Gillespie, Kristi Betts, Rod Ashman, Shauna Runkle, absent Chris Compton — also approved $5,000 to go toward the purchase of the donor board that will hang outside of the west wall of the entrance across from the admission office at the water park. If the project comes in under $5,000, the balance will be used to replace the old pool sign on Hayes and Water streets to indicate the location of the pool.
In other business, the board:
•Approved hiring Missy Bader as the Portland Water Park manager.
•Heard from Myers the difficulty of using city hall’s electronic pay system, PayGOV, for the water park. He discovered any purchase under $33 would charge a $1 fee to an individual’s debit or credit card and would cause the city issues because some cards take longer to process funds. Myers added he would look into alternatives.
•Agreed to review a contract with Coca-Cola as the fountain drink vendor for the pool at the next meeting April 5.
•Discussed where to place a potential pickleball court. Myers suggested the it should be installed at Portland Memorial Park near the shuffleboard court, southwest of the old restroom, to attract senior citizens.
Work on the restroom has been delayed because of rain. The construction will continue when the ground dries, but the job is weather dependent and could be finished in three months, Myers noted.
•Heard Geesaman say he wants to schedule within the next two weeks a walk through for all boards and committees that were involved in the water park to see the facility before it opens.
•Reviewed the suggested ticket prices and hours for the water park. Suggested prices range from $4 for a general admission, a 10-day pass for $30, single passes for $60, a family up to four $110 and $150 for a family more than four. It was suggested for residents who would like to buy passes ahead of time, might be able to do so Portland City Hall, 321 W. Meridian St., or at the pool admission office a week before it opens. Suggested hours included Monday through Friday 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., Saturday noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
•Heard from Myers, who noted he is seeking quotes from companies for the water park parking lot extension. The lot, east of the admissions office, will be extended north toward Hayes Street. This project is also weather dependent. The goal is to finish by May 30, but the end date is uncertain.
•Heard from John Moore of Jay County Trails Club he created a survey to fit residents of Portland to rank items from one to 10 determining what the most important priority within the parks department is.
Suggested methods for distributing the survey included The Commercial Review and Survey Monkey. Runkle said the board should only expect to get five to 10 percent responses back.
Moore reminded the board the deadline for the 2017 master plan draft is Jan. 15 and the final approved plan must be submitted by April 15 or they will not be eligible for grants. Park plans submitted after April 15 will be used for 2018.
•Heard from Jay County Trails Club president Samantha Thomas and Geesaman who told the board the club would seek quotes for the materials to make a 10-foot wide trail, which would start at the bridge connecting Hudson Family and Weiler-Wilson parks, continue along the south side of Weiler-Wilson, remain south of the water park and continue to Jay-Randolph Development Services on Water Street. Geesaman said the club would like the quotes by late summer.