The Clinton County Recreation/Park Board’s Executive Committee held a special meeting last Thursday, March 5, with six members on hand. Maintenance Director Michael Hood was also present.

Board member Chris Marlow opened discussion pertaining to the electricity bills and the electrical and lighting problems that needed to be addressed at the park as the Youth League baseball and softball seasons are soon to get underway.

The committee discussed options on repairing the electrical problems, rewiring and lighting that will be at a cost up front, but more importantly make the park safer and save money on electricity in the long haul.

Also discussed was the safety netting that will be put up around the ball fields and the needed polls to attach the nets, as well as problems with scoreboards on the fields not working properly, as well as some other minor needed repairs.

After a lengthy discussion, a motion was made by board chairman Wayne Glover to have Marlow get estimates on the most needed areas of repairs. The work can hopefully be done in a timely fashion and without the necessity of a special meeting to approve the needed work.

Board treasurer Gina Poore also noted that the middle school softball season was to open last week and a park director needed to be in place by that time.

On a motion by Gary Guffey, seconded by Jeff Pharis, the board voted to re-hire Tim Moons as Park Director for the 2020 season that runs through September. Moons has served in the position the last two seasons and was the only applicant last year.

It was also noted that during softball league play, the park director’s share of proceeds would be 65 percent with 35 percent of the profits from tournaments going to the park board.

Board members also announced that as of Monday of this week, the newly painted and repaired restrooms at the park would be open for public use.

Another long-term project Marlow and Hood discussed was possibly tearing down the old, now somewhat dilapidated concession stand and replacing it with a more efficient, one-story facility and utilizing the Farmer’s Market building for storage.

Although money is unavailable for such a project at this time, estimates will be taken for a possible new concession stand in the future.

It was also noted during the meeting that the Youth League is tentatively scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 18, and sign-ups at the park are being held the next two Saturdays.

Darrell Thompson will be heading up the Youth League baseball/softball league concession stand duties this year and also will apparently have health department required permits in place related to selling food at the concession stand during games and other activities.

Also during the meeting, the board approved the treasurer’s report and past meeting minutes.

The park board will hold its regular meeting Thursday, March 26, at 6 p.m. at the park. The meeting is open to the general public.