The Jefferson Parks and Recreation Board met yesterday.

During the open forum, Linn Price with Animal Protection and Education and People for Animal Welfare Society spoke to the Board about using a side field at the Greene County Community Center to host a animal vaccination event in April and no action was taken on the issue.

After receiving several estimates to repair the two roof top units and heat exchangers on the GCCC the Board decided to go with Drees Company from Carroll’s estimate of $24,884 and discuss with them the possibility of re-configuring how they are set up.

There are cracks in the ten-ton unit that sits next to the gym along with a seven-ton unit that is on the north side of the building.  The heat exchangers have large cracks in them which need to be dealt with soon and both units are 16 years-old.

The Board discussed possibly charging the Iowa West Swim Conference to hold the conference swim meet at the Jefferson Municipal Pool.  Board member Shannon Black cautioned everyone that if they tried to charge the conference to hold the meet at their facility, the conference may come back and not have it at the pool but take it somewhere else instead.  However, the Board decided that the savings to the City and for JPRD was not significant enough to warrant charging them.

The Board then approved having the Jefferson swim team pay to have lifeguards at their party at the end of the year.  Currently the City pays for the lifeguards but the JPRD Board felt that if the swim team is having its own private function, that they should be the ones paying to have lifeguards at their event.

During an Active Shooter Policy discussion, the Board felt that since they are a public entity on City-owned property, that they should be a policy in place for staff members to know what to do in case someone with a gun enters their facility.  A committee was formed consisting of president Steve Haupert, vice-president Mary Pederson, Director Vicky Lautner and Wellness Supervisor Simone Lang to draft a procedure that will be voted on by the Board later this year.

Finally, the Board discussed Greene County Superintendent Tim Christensen’s request to have part of the freshmen and junior varsity basketball games for nine nights next season at the rec center.  The Board didn’t take action on the issue but suggested to discuss further with him about their concerns with having enough people to fulfill all of the responsibilities for the games and using the school’s facilities for their displacement programs like the youth basketball leagues through JPRD.