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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PARK COMMISSION <br /> Monday,March 6,2017 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Meyers requested Commissioners Ruegemer and Johnson stay on the committee unless someone else <br /> from the Park Commission volunteers. <br /> 4. SAGA HILLS PARK IMPROVEMENT PLAN <br /> Edwards noted the Park Commission identified Saga Hills as a focus park for 2016 and 2017. At the last <br /> work session,the Park Commission reviewed and discussed ideas on a number of improvements for the <br /> park. The main difference between the two scopes of work is the amount of tree clearing. <br /> Option 1 is for nine acres of hilltop clearing at a cost of$59,000,and Option 2 is approximately 4.5 acres <br /> of clearing at a cost of$38,000. Also included in both options is the planting of the hilltop area with <br /> native grasses,clearing the trail pathways and around the parking lot, installing trail and information <br /> signs, and installing trail gates. <br /> Williams asked what the existing condition of the park is. <br /> Edwards indicated it is a passive park and it has been left as a natural area. The land originally was <br /> pasture,with some nice stands of trees that will be preserved, and the middle of the park has become <br /> overgrown with scrubby,volunteer trees. The overarching idea is to restore the park to its original <br /> condition. <br /> Meyers stated the parking lot has become overgrown and there are no maps to orient people. Meyers <br /> stated the Park Commission would like to make the park more user-friendly. <br /> Bryce Johnson stated the signs will help re-enforce the historic perspective of the park. Johnson noted <br /> approximately two-thirds of the park is covered by a conservation easement that is administered by the <br /> DNR. Johnson stated by reading through the document it is pretty clear that there was to be vegetation <br /> management, which has not been done, and clearing out the invasive species along the trails keeps with <br /> the spirit of the conservation easement. <br /> Meyers noted there was a big involvement by the community to obtain this park originally and that the <br /> Park Commission would like to maintain it. <br /> Edwards stated the two biggest pieces of either proposal are the clearing and restoration of the vegetation. <br /> Both proposals attempt to create a 10-foot wide cleared area along the trail. That work would be done by <br /> STS,which stands for Sentence-To-Serve. Edwards stated the City has a contract with the County and <br /> the City receives so many days to use their STS crews. Edwards stated because the corridors will be <br /> cleared,gates will also be installed to prevent people from riding their four-wheelers into the park. <br /> Roath asked what the status is of the parking lot. Roath commented the parking lot seems to be a mud pit <br /> at times. Roath asked if there is anything in the plan to improve the parking lot. <br /> Edwards stated he has the parking lot listed as a regular maintenance item this year and that there are <br /> other parking lots the Park Commission would also like to see addressed. Edwards noted part of this <br /> project is to clear a 10-foot area around the parking lot. <br /> Page 5 of 11 <br />