Warm thoughts

High temperatures won’t crack 30 degrees this week.

The park board is already thinking about warmer weather.

During its first meeting of 2025 on Tuesday, Portland Park Board discussed various topics regarding Portland Water Park.

Street and parks department superintendent Matt Shauver told park board members about several repairs or upgrades at the water park, including $3,500 in tile repairs that were completed by Blakely’s of Indianapolis after the close of the 2024 season.

Shauver noted that two local individuals helped the city save significant money for replacing the water park’s lily pads and replacing the awning that covers the slide. 

Brett Resler offered repair of the lily pads at a cost of $3,000 compared to the replacement cost of $14,700. (Resler has already repaired one of the four pads, which Shauver had with him at Tuesday’s meeting along with one of the degraded pads.)

Also, Chad Funk of Mainsteam Upholstery is repairing the slide cover at a cost of $1,316. The estimate from Spear Corporation for the same work came in at $8,985.

“Anything you can do local and it saves us money, that’s a win-win,” said board member Shauna Runkle.

Shauver also told the board that some of the umbrellas at the water park need to be replaced. He said he’s considering replacing them gradually rather than all at once.

He also said new grates that will be compliant with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act are expected to be delivered soon.

Board president Brian Ison encouraged fellow board members John McFarland, Jennifer Weitzel and Runkle, absent Michael Brester, to think about pricing, rentals and staff pay to prepare for discussion in February. He added that adjusting offerings at the concession stand to focus on more pre-packaged items could reduce staffing needs and result in cost savings.

Ison noted that Eliza Bader, who has been the water park manager for the last two summers, does not plan to return in 2025. He said he has reached out to some candidates who Bader recommended.

The board also approved a contract with Goodhew Roofing for work on the concession stand at Portland Memorial Park’s Runkle-Miller Field, home of the Portland Rockets, at a cost of $6,450. The contract calls for the work to be completed by May 1.

Shauver told board members he is working on getting quotes for upgrading electrical service at Runkle-Miller Field as well.

In other business, the board:

•Tabled discussion of installing new security cameras at Milton Miller Park. The board reviewed a quote from NuWave Technology of Coldwater, Ohio, with a cost of $9,123 for two cameras in the park. The board tabled the quote to seek clarification on details regarding electrical work.

•Re-elected Ison as president, McFarland as vice president and Weitzel as secretary.

•Approved the purchase of two mowers from K&L Tractor Sales of Fort Recovery at a cost of $14,800.