Town of Cedar Lake
Park Board
Meeting Minutes

Call to Order

Mr. Rodriguez called the Park Board Public Meeting to order on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., with its members attending on-site. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.

Roll Call

A quorum was attained.

Consent Agenda

1. Minutes: February 5th Meeting Minutes.
2. Claims: Parks & Rec General Fund: $4,892.35; Park Impact Fee Fund: $—; Parks & Rec Non-Reverting Fund: $257.05; Clubhouse Non-Reverting Fund: $4,697.08. Total Expenditures: $9,846.48.
3. Donations: Mary Joan Dickson donated $60 worth of gift cards for Bingo prizes; Marie Sumara donated a coffee pot for the Senior programs; Fraternal Order of Eagles Cedar Lake #2529 donated $100 for the Easter Egg Hunt. Culvers of Cedar Lake donated one Easter basket, 219 Health donated 2 Easter baskets and Cedar Lake Ministries donated three Easter baskets for the Easter Egg Hunt.

Mr. Rodriguez thanked all the donors on behalf of the Park Board.

Ms. Brannon made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda and Mr. Marquardt seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously by roll-call vote.

Motion passed unanimously.

Old Business

1. Founders Creek Trail

Mrs. Ray reported there was no new update to provide on the Founders Creek Trail. The easement question on the property remains unresolved, and the NIRPC-required engineering work cannot proceed until the easement issue is settled. Mrs. Ray noted she does not receive real-time updates on this item, as Mr. Eldridge serves as the employee responsible charge of the project. Discussion ensued.

2. Potawatomi Park Improvements

Mrs. Ray presented the updated proposal for the Potawatomi Park lookout improvement project. Per Board direction at the previous meeting, the quote was revised to remove flag pole installation (to be completed in-house) in order to reduce the overall cost. The project scope includes replacement of the lookout railing with a commercial-grade aluminum system, including an increase in rail height appropriate for a public elevated overlook. The aluminum railing system meets a 200-pound push test standard for commercial use and is maintenance-free. Ms. Brannon confirmed this specification was documented in the exhibit. The total project cost is not to exceed $11,372. Approved as a capital improvement project for 2026.

Mr. Jostes made a motion to proceed with Potawatomi Park lookout improvement project (railing replacement) as presented made by and Mr. Marquardt seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously by roll-call vote.

Motion passed unanimously.

New Business

1. Recreation Aide Position

Mrs. Ray requested Board authorization to open a seasonal Recreation Aide position for the 2026 programming season. The position was posted late in 2025 and did not attract sufficient applicants in time to be useful. The Board discussed the nature of the position.

Ms. Brannon asked about the possibility of recruiting from the high school specifically students 16 or older, or through organizations like Key Club. Mr. Wiesemann noted that high school students with an interest in Parks & Recreation or athletic administration would be the likely candidate pool.

Ms. Brannon made a motion authorize opening a seasonal Recreation Aide position to assist the Recreation Coordinator as needed during the 2026 programming season and Mr. Jostes seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously by roll-call vote.

Motion passed unanimously.

2. Fleet Decals

Mrs. Ray presented options for additional vehicle decals on the Parks & Recreation fleet trucks. She acknowledged the item should have been placed as a discussion item rather than an action item on this agenda. The Board discussed three considerations and could not reach a final consensus. Mr. Jostes requested a mock-up showing Option A at both full-tailgate and badge/partial-tailgate scale before a final decision.

Ms. Brannon made a motion to defer the Fleet Decals item to the April meeting and Mr. Marquardt seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously by roll-call vote.

Motion passed unanimously.

Reports

1. Superintendent Report

Mrs. Ray updated the board that she is actively working with the engineering firm (V3) on data collection for the park impact fee study. A large Excel dataset has been provided to staff for completion. Mrs. Ray noted that GIS file coordination is being handled directly between V3 and Technology Director Cliff Wroe due to large file sizes. The impact fee study is being coordinated to align with the Town's comprehensive plan process, as population and development projections from the comprehensive plan are needed to complete the 10-year fee projections. The impact fee advisory committee meeting is anticipated within approximately three weeks.

The comprehensive plan advisory steering committee held its first meeting. The meeting was introductory reviewing the planning process, gathering input from committee members, and identifying information needs. The firm leading the effort is Commonwealth Engineering partnered with an additional firm. Mr. Eldridge is expected to report on progress at the next Town Council meeting.

Mrs. Ray stated she is working on pricing and structure for a memorial brick program and a SWAG program to generate fund inflows for memorials. A local nursery has been contacted regarding a tree program. Fee structures will be brought to the Board for approval; programs will be formally adopted by Board resolution.

Lake County Master Gardener Grant application submitted on time. Award notification expected by April 1, 2026. The project targets the Potawatomi Park parcel where the existing house will be demolished beautifying the transition area between the parking lot and the park green space.

2. Recreation Coordinator Report

• Fit and Active Program: 24 participants enrolled as of March 3. The instructor continues to draw strong numbers.
• Senior Gathering: February session had 41 participants; March session had 30, slightly lower due to illness in the community.
• Bingo: 34 participants on February 23.
• Blood Drive: 27 of 29 registered participants donated. Goal was 19 units; 24 units collected.
• Workshop Classes (March): All sessions have exceeded minimum enrollment and will proceed.
• Spring Soccer: 194 registrations one of the highest enrollment totals in recent years. Mr. Wiesemann attributed part of the uptick to the upcoming FIFA World Cup being hosted in the United States.
• Take Your Time Easter Trail: March 16–25, 2026 at Town Grounds. Six stations coordinated with the "Agents of Discovery" program; participants collect a prize at a treasure box upon completing all stations. A photo banner will be located near Cardinal's Roost.
• Easter Egg Hunt: March 28, 2026. Donations are still being collected.
• Bus Trip — Four Winds Casino: Sign-ups open March 6, 2026.
• Soccer Camp: Mr. Wiesemann expressed interest in repeating last year's four-day soccer camp but noted scheduling uncertainty given the walking path construction timeline and the Farmers Market schedule.

3. Maintenance Foreman Report

Mr. Banhart updated the board that the staff completed deep cleaning of the Clubhouse.

All older park entry/welcome signs have been repainted and refurbished to match the color scheme of newly installed signs. All signs now appear current and consistent.

Ms. Brannon inquired about replacing tires at 20,000 miles, noting that was lower mileage than she would expect. Mr. Banhart explained that the trucks plow snow, tow heavy loads, and operate off-road on grass regularly. These conditions accelerate tire wear significantly beyond typical highway use. During the most recent snowstorm, the truck slid near full stops twice, prompting the Foreman to request a quote after the Town mechanic confirmed the tires were past safe limits. Discussion ensued.

4. Town Council

Mrs. Rivera stated that she is looking forward to the March Joint Executive Session with the Park Board and Town Council.

Mrs. Rivera also thanked the crew for doing a great job with the snow removal.

5. Park Foundation Report

Ms. Sumara reported on Park Foundation activities:

• Plastic Cap Project: Over 500 pounds of plastic caps collected. The Board has sufficient volume to obtain two benches and will continue collecting toward additional pieces.
• Bingo at the Eagles — Saturday, March 7, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets: $25; raffle prizes available.
• Mother's Day Tea — May 9, in partnership with the Cedar Lake Museum. Tea and lemonade for mothers; children will plant flowers in terracotta pots. Free-will offering.
• Father's Day Event — June 20 (tentative), in partnership with the Cedar Lake Museum. Children will make and decorate paper airplanes; paper airplane contest with prizes. Free-will offering. Hot dogs will be served.
• Bingo at Summerfest — July 3 (Friday). Foundation has joined the Chamber of Commerce.

Public Comment

Marie Sumara — 13318 Morse Street

Marie Sumara, 13318 Morse Street, speaking as a business owner, asked the Park Board whether if there are plans to hold an event similar to last year's Bands, Brews & Bugaboos. Mr. Rodriguez indicated that formal event planning for the summer season will begin within approximately the next month.

Ms. Sumara asked why Bugaboos restaurant appears to receive first preference vendor selection at events, referencing both the Bands, Brews & Bugaboos event and the Taylor Ice Fest. Mr. Rodriguez explained that last year's Bands, Brews & Bugaboos was a first-time event with no vendor fee charged to any participant, as the goal was to gauge attendance and interest. He noted Bugaboos provided a full-service setup including a full kitchen, multiple food offerings, and a full bar factors that influenced their selection for the event concept. Going forward, any new events will likely include a vendor fee, and vendor selection will be based on meeting established event requirements. Ms. Sumara was encouraged to stay engaged as planning develops.

Kathleen Broomhead — 14351 W. 135th Avenue

Kathleen Broomhead, 14351 W. 135th Avenue commented that there were discrepancies between the printed agenda and the agenda posted online, noting that certain items including the claims section appeared to be missing. Upon review, no content was found to be missing; both the printed and online versions contained the same information. The difference was one of formatting only: the online agenda is formatted by the IT department for ADA accessibility compliance, resulting in a different visual presentation than the printed handout.

Adjournment

Ms. Brannon made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:12 p.m. and Mr. Marquardt seconded the motion.

Next Meeting: April 2, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.