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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 2025 Board Minutes - reviewed PARKS & RECREATION BOARD December 4, 2025 MINUTES Present Absent With Reason Amy Sterner Jeff Cline Julie Sanders Eric Michael Dwayne Freeman Mike Tesla Lori Sines Chair, Amy Sterner, called the meeting of the Washington County Parks & Recreation Advisory Board to order at 3.24 pm. Guests were Jaime Dick, Director of Parks & Recreation; Andrew Eshleman, Public Works Director; Travis Allen, Comprehensive Planner; Tim Alexander, Assistant Parks Supervisor. Approval of Minutes Ms. Sterner asked for any additions or corrections to the minutes of October 2, 20257 Parks & Recreation Advisory Board meeting. With no corrections or additions, the minutes passed as presented unanimously, 5-0 by the Board. Lori Sines made the motion to approve the minutes, and Eric Michael seconded the motion. Citizen's Comments No one appeared for Citizen's comments. Department Reports Parks & Recreation Director's Report Mr. Dick gave the P&R Director's Report. Ag Ed Center Update Transitioning into the winter months, usage at the facility is slowing down. In the month of November, the facility hosted the Farm Toy, Hagerstown Model Railroad and Reptile Shows. Antietam Battlefield and the Boy Scouts have been using the facility to prepare for the Luminaire light display which is held every year at the Battlefield. This weekend the Friends of the Rural Heritage Museum will host their Holiday Open House. BlackRock Golf Course Update With the cold weather, play has slowed down at the Course. The Winter Simulator League has begun. Maintenance Staff are continuing to work on winter projects for tree removal and bunker upgrades. Golf Manger, Ryan Crabtree, is currently in the process of obtaining his Pro license. Parks & Recreation Update Woodland Way Park improvements are ongoing. Pavilion & Play Equipment have been selected. We hope to have this all complete in 2026. Marty Snook Park Inclusive playground planning is being finalized. The Tennis Court resurfacing project is ongoing. Winterzation and leaf removal continues for all 18 County Parks. Staff are preparing and planning for Earth Day 2026 Tree Planting. Woodland Way Park will be the Park selected for the Tree planting. Registration for the Recreation Winter Programs has begun. Most programs will begin the week after New Years. Opening Day for the Girls Middle & Elementary Volleyball League will be this Saturday at 9.00 a.m. in the ARCC. Two new programs that will be offered this winter are the 1 Mile New Years Resolution Run on January 3rd and Mix Doubles Pickleball League. Mr. Michael mentioned that USTA reached out to WCPS about renting out the tennis courts at the schools and starting USTA leagues in Hagerstown. Mr. Alexander said that USTA also reached out to the County about renting County tennis courts as well but would not be offering that to them because there are pickleball lines on the County tennis courts and that is against the interest of USTA. Next Scheduled Meeting Next scheduled Board meeting will be held on January 8, 2026, at 3.20 pm in the ARCC on the campus of HCC, Room 220. Election of Officers Election of Officers for Chair and Vice-Chair occurs in the month of December. Eric Michael nominated Amy Sterner to continue her role as Chair and Mike Tesla seconded the nomination. Eric Michael nominated Julie Sanders to continue her role as Vice- Chair and Amy Sterner seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously for Amy Sterner to serve as Chair and Julie Sanders to serve as Vice-Chair. Board Vacancies Discussion regarding Board vacancies. There are 4 new applications for the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board. The current Board members would like to send out "interview" questions to the 4 candidates to determine the best fit for the vacant board seat based on the responses from the candidates. After the interview questions and answers are collected they will be forwarded to the Board via email to rank the candidates for the Board vacancy. The goal is to have a candidate selected so it can possibly be approved by the BOCC at their meeting in January. Program Open Space Presentations will start in February and would like to have the new Board member present from the start of the presentations. Mr. Eshleman added as a recap that the applications for POS are due on Monday, January 5t". He will update the Board at the meeting in January what applications were received and will begin POS presentations in February. Unfinished Business Mr. Eshleman gave the Board an update on the application for the Greenspace Equity Grant which has been narrowed down to Marty Snook Park for a loop trail network and trying to accommodate more parking as well. That project would most likely be the County's POS project for this year. In the application, one of the components that is evaluated is community outreach and engagement. Mr. Eshleman is asking for a consensus for a letter of support from the Board for the grant application. The request has not been finalized yet, but it will be approximately $500,000 requested toward the project. The deadline for the grant is January 14, 2026. Marty Snook scores in both the overburdened and underserved area and with that try to choose projects that are both but do not have to be both and the project should try to fix one of the environmental justice scores as well whether it be high poverty rate or high obesity rate, etc. There was a unanimous consensus by the Board to support the project with a letter of support. New Business No new business was discussed. Mr. Michael gave the Board an update on the Fall Sport Season at WCPS. Smithsburg Boys won 1A Cross Country. Clear Spring, Williamsport and North made it to the State Volleyball Finals. Clear Spring was the only school in Washington County to win a State Championship. Mr. Michael also gave an update on Williamsport High School. The gym area wing is open, and sports teams have been practicing since November 15t". Game play will start this weekend. Mr. Michael again thanked HCC for their help in facilitating Fall sports for Williamsport. Adjournment With no further discussion, Ms. Sterner asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Lori Sines made a motion to adjourn; Mike Tesla seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 3.55 pm. Amy Sterner, Chair Jeannine Miller McVicker Washington County Recording Secretary Parks & Recreation Board Washington Co Parks & Recreation Board