Although the Eureka Recreation Commission (ERC) monthly meeting was relatively short last Wednesday, March 27, the commission approved several items, including hiring a pool director, donating basketball goals and possible changes to the upcoming baseball/softball season.
Last month, the ERC accepted the resignation of Eureka Aquatic Park pool manager Laura Neill. ERC President Austin Evenson shared that one applicant was received. The commission approved to hire Tonya Koehler to serve in the position. Koehler served as the pool director before Neill took on the role in 2022.
Evenson also noted CrossWinds Counseling & Wellness had received a grant and would be installing playground equipment just west of their location at 905 N. Main Street, in Eureka and would like to add basketball goals to the area.
Evenson was asked if that was something the commission would be interested in funding. The commission was in favor of adding two 10-foot and one eightfoot fixed basketball goals for the community. After a short discussion, the commission approved the purchase of three fixed goals, with backboards, at an estimated expense of $7,500. Treasurer Alan Johnson noted that the ERC has a credit with BSN and could reach out to the sales representative for recommendations and costs as the credit could be used for the purchase. Following the meeting, Evenson reached out to City of Eureka representatives and shared that the city would assist in the installation process of the goals.
In discussing the summer baseball/softball seasons, Evenson shared that Ian Denton of Howard had reached out with concerns about their league dissolving and was curious if they could join the ERC this summer. Denton was expected to have an answer over the weekend; however, the deadline to join the Burlington League is April 10, which is before the ERC’s next meeting. Although the ERC was in favor of bringing those additional teams to Eureka; over the weekend the league elected to stay together.
Evenson also shared that Cris Samuels, with the Eureka Lions Club, reached out about the bathrooms at Lions Park. Evenson plans to meet with Samuels to discuss the previous bid received to repair the bathroom and/or build a new one. ERC member Brandon Hall believed that the prices should be within range but, a new bid would need to be gathered if moving forward, due to prices changing.
ERC Director Derek Larcom shared that the track and soccer seasons are underway. Larcom noted that Eureka will host a track meet on Saturday, April 27. He shared that high school students and volunteers will be helping with the event and that the commission needed to discuss awards. The other tournaments provide ribbons for first, second and third place in the various events for boys and girls in both the 3rd/4th grade and 5th/6th grade. It was decided that the commission would provide a gold, silver and bronze medal for those 33 events.
The ERC meets routinely on the last Wednesday of each month. Their next scheduled meeting is April 24.
